Process and Record of Revising the Stormwater Management Regulations and Guidebook

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The following is an overview of the development of the regulations and guidebook from 2003 to the present, including the process, timeline and key documents for each revision.

2025 & 2022 Amendments

In 2025 DOEE finalized amendments to prioritize the use of High-Impact SRCs and provide an option to comply permanently with an Off-Site Retention Volume (Offv) requirement for a project in the Gray Combined Sewer System (Gray CSS) area, extensions for some deadlines to certify Stormwater Retention Credits (SRCs), and additional flexibility for site owners who self-generate SRCs. In 2022, DOEE finalized amendments to update fees that DOEE charges to review plan submissions and to update them annually for inflation.

Timeline:

• September 18, 2020 – published Proposed Rulemaking (SRCs/Offv and Fee updates)
• March 11, 2022 – published Final Rulemaking (Fee updates only)
• May 30, 2025 – June 29, 2025  – published Second Proposed Rulemaking (SRCs/Offv)
• June 23, 2025 – online information session for Second Proposed Rulemaking (SRCs/Offv)
• August 1, 2025 – published Draft Stormwater Management Guidebook (SWMG) Chapters 6 and 7
• October 31, 2025 – published Final Rulemaking (SRCs/Offv) and notice of final SWMG updates

Key Documents

• Proposed Rulemaking (SRCs/Offv and Fee updates)

•  2022 Final rulemaking (Fee updates) 

• Second Proposed Rulemaking (SRCs/Offv) 

• Draft Chapters 6 and 7 

• 2025 Final rulemaking and SWMG (SRCs/Offv) 

2020 Amendments

DOEE finalized amendments to provide flexibility and exemptions for projects that have been disproportionately burdened by compliance requirements, to improve environmental outcomes through updates to the Stormwater Retention Credit (SRC) program, and to update review fees and processes. 

Timeline:

• February 15, 2019 – published Proposed Rulemaking and SWMG updates
• March 20, 2019 – public hearing at DOEE
• April 1, 2019 – public comment period ended
• January 31, 2020 – published Final Rulemaking and final SWMG

Key Documents:

• For the regulations:
  • Proposed rulemaking – narrative
  • Proposed rulemaking – full 2013 regulations with 2019 proposed changes tracked
  • Proposed rulemaking – full 2013 regulations with 2019 proposed changes accepted
  • Final rulemaking – full regulations with changes tracked relative to 2013 regulations
  • Final rulemaking – full regulations and comment response with changes accepted
     
• For the SWMG:
  • Summary of the changes to the 2013 SWMG – including changes proposed for public comment and revisions based on public feedback
  • Draft 2019 SWMG – Proposed changes to the 2013 SWMG with changes tracked
  • Final 2020 SWMG – Changes tracked relative to the 2019 draft SWMG
  • Final 2020 SWMG – All changes accepted
  • DOEE Response to Public Comments for the 2020 SWMG

2013 Stormwater Regulations

On July 19, 2013, DOEE released the 2013 Stormwater Management Regulations and Guidebook, which were designed to accomplish the following:

• Significantly reduce stormwater pollution flowing into the Anacostia and Potomac rivers, Rock Creek, and other District waterbodies by making the land “spongier” to better mimic how the vegetated natural environment captures rainwater and soaks it into the soil.
• Improve the health of District waterbodies over time, making them more usable and attractive for District residents, businesses, and visitors.
• Update the District’s existing requirements to reflect the current scientific, engineering, and practical understanding in the field and to be comparable to other urban jurisdictions, such as Philadelphia, PA, and Montgomery County, MD.
• Improve equity in how the burden of stormwater management is allocated in the District.
• Provide flexible compliance options for regulated sites to maximize cost savings while still protecting District waterbodies.
• Create a financial incentive and business opportunity for voluntary installation of stormwater retrofits to earn Stormwater Retention Credits that can be sold to regulated sites to meet part of their requirements.
• Enable the District to comply with federal requirements established in its Municipal Separated Stormwater Sewer System (MS4) permit, which is issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Water Act.

Timeline:

• August 10, 2012 - published first draft - “Proposed” version
• November 8, 2012 - completed first formal public comment period
• March 29, 2013 - published second draft - “Revised” version
• April 30, 2013 - completed informal public comment period
• June 7, 2013 - published third draft - “Second Proposed” version
• July 8, 2013 - deadline for second formal public comment period
• July 19, 2013 – finalized the Rule and SWMG
• May 1, 2014 –published 2014 Errata for the 2013 SWMG
• December 23, 2014 – Publication of Clarifications for the 2013 Rule
• November 17, 2017 – Publication of 2017 Errata for the 2013 SWMG

Key Documents:

• Proposed rulemaking – Full rulemaking
• Comment response – response to comments on proposed rule
•  Comment response – response to comments on proposed SWMG
• Revised rulemaking – Full rulemaking with changes accepted
• Revised rulemaking – Full changes tracked relative to proposed rulemaking
• Second proposed rulemaking – Full rulemaking with changes accepted
• Second proposed rulemaking – Full rulemaking with changes tracked relative to revised rulemaking
• Superseding rulemaking – Correction to an error in the second proposed rulemaking
• Comment response – response to comments on second proposed rule
• Comment response – response to comments on second proposed SWMG
• 2013 Stormwater Management Guidebook – Final SWMG
• 2013 Stormwater Management Regulations – Final rulemaking
• Errata and Clarifications for the 2013 SWMG
• Process for Publishing Errata for the 2013 SW Rule and SWMG

2003 Stormwater Guidebook

Prior to the 2013 Stormwater Management Regulations and 2013 SWMG, DOEE implemented stormwater management according to the 2003 SWMG. Section 552 of the 2013 SW Rule described DOEE’s plan for transitioning to the performance requirements in the 2013 SWMG. While the official language is in the regulations, for the convenience of the public DOEE provided a summary of the transition plan. Other provisions of the 2013 Stormwater Management Regulations (including those for erosion and sediment control, Stormwater Retention Credit trading, and service fees) took effect upon final publication of the rule. Projects that are regulated under Transition Period 1 of the transition plan may continue to use the existing design standards and specifications in the 2003 SWMG that is attached below. On rare occasion, DOEE receives projects which may be regulated under Transition Period 1.

Key Documents:

• 2003 Stormwater Management Guidebook
• Summary of the Transition Plan from the 2003 to 2013 Stormwater Management Regulations