SMC administers the countywide Lake County Watershed Development Ordinance (WDO). The WDO was adopted to ensure that new development does not increase existing stormwater problems or create new ones. The WDO establishes minimum countywide stormwater management, including floodplains, detention, soil erosion/sediment control, water quality treatment, and wetlands.
SMC has delegated WDO permitting authority to Certified Communities for incorporated areas; and the Lake County Planning, Building and Development Department (PB&D) for unincorporated areas. SMC is the permitting authority for Non-Certified Communities. A WDO Permit is required for major and minor development in the county.
Even in Certified Communities, however, certain floodplain and floodway development applications are forwarded to SMC for review and approval.
WDO Permit
Required for major and minor development See Do You Need a WDO Permit?
Wetlands Approval
Required for any impacts to Isolated Waters of Lake County (including isolated wetlands).
Soil Erosion/Sediment Control Approval
A U.S. Arncy Corps of Engineers-generated SE/SC review and site inspection process for impacts to Waters of the U.S.
Earth Change Approval
SMC oversees earth change approvals (i.e., grading permits) in Non-Certified Communities.
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) Approval
SMC reviews and approves hydrologic and hydraulic models to estimate the base flood elevation resulting from critical storm events.
