# SWPPP: What It Is and Who Needs One in California > A SWPPP is a site-specific plan to keep pollutants out of stormwater. Learn who needs one in California, what it contains, and who prepares it. Source: https://www.exoduswater.com/post/what-is-a-swppp Compliance October 30, 2026Exodus Water Services # What Is a SWPPP? California Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans Explained A SWPPP is a site-specific plan to keep pollutants out of stormwater. Learn who needs one in California, what it contains, and who prepares it. **Short answer:** A SWPPP (Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan) is a written, site-specific plan that identifies the pollutants a construction site or industrial facility could release in stormwater and the best management practices (BMPs) used to keep them out. In California, a SWPPP is required for every site covered by the State Water Board’s Construction General Permit (Order 2022-0057-DWQ) or Industrial General Permit (Order 2014-0057-DWQ, as amended). A SWPPP is not a one-time filing. It is a working document: it is kept at the site, updated as conditions change, and uploaded to SMARTS, the State Water Board’s online stormwater reporting system. Inspectors from the State Water Board, a Regional Water Board, or a city can ask to see it. ## What does SWPPP stand for? SWPPP stands for **Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan** . People in the field often say “swip.” The plan is the core compliance document under California’s two statewide stormwater general permits, which carry out the federal Clean Water Act stormwater program in this state. ## Who needs a SWPPP in California? California has two statewide general permits that require a SWPPP. Which one applies depends on whether you are building something or running an industrial operation. | Construction General Permit (CGP) | Industrial General Permit (IGP) | | | --------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Order | 2022-0057-DWQ | 2014-0057-DWQ, amended by 2015-0122-DWQ and 2018-0028-DWQ | | In effect | September 1, 2023 | Amended version effective July 1, 2020 | | Who it covers | Construction that disturbs one or more acres of soil, or less than one acre if part of a larger common plan of development of one acre or more | Facilities in the federally defined industrial categories, identified by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code in Attachment A | | Typical examples | Grading, clearing, excavation, and stockpiling for subdivisions, commercial buildings, and linear utility projects | Manufacturing, landfills, recycling facilities, transportation facilities with vehicle maintenance, larger wastewater plants | | SWPPP prepared by | A Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD) | The discharger; a QISP is required once a facility enters Level 1 status | **Construction.** Disturbed acreage, not distance to a creek, is what triggers coverage. The CGP covers clearing, grading, stockpiling, and excavation. Routine maintenance that restores the original line, grade, or capacity of a facility is not covered construction activity. Linear underground and overhead projects such as pipelines and utility lines follow their own attachments to the permit (Attachments E, E.1, and E.2). Projects in the Lake Tahoe Hydrologic Unit apply to the Lahontan Regional Water Board’s permit instead of the statewide CGP. **Industrial.** Coverage under the IGP is tied to the facility’s SIC code. The permit’s Attachment A lists the covered categories. A facility whose industrial materials and activities are not exposed to stormwater can apply for a **No Exposure Certification (NEC)** , which conditionally excludes it from the SWPPP and monitoring requirements. NEC facilities still complete an annual evaluation to confirm they continue to qualify. Cities and counties may add their own SWPPP or erosion control requirements on top of the state permits, so check your local grading or building permit conditions as well. ## What goes into a SWPPP? The contents depend on the permit. Both permits require the plan to identify pollutant sources and the BMPs that control them, but the details differ. ### Construction SWPPP contents (CGP Section IV.O) Under the CGP, the SWPPP must include, among other items: - **Pollutant identification:** every pollutant, its source, and how it is controlled, including sediment from all construction activities and materials such as paint, cement, stucco, and cleaners. - **Pollutant source assessment:** a list of potential sources and the site areas where additional BMPs are needed. - **BMPs:** erosion control, sediment control, and run-off control measures that meet the permit’s technology standards and water quality standards. - **A monitoring plan:** visual inspection locations and procedures, sampling locations, sample collection and handling procedures, a chain of custody form, and the analytical methods for each parameter. - **Title sheet:** project name and location, a preliminary schedule, site operating hours, and contact information for the QSDs, QSPs, and trained delegates, with license or certification numbers. The QSD who prepared the SWPPP signs it. - **Site drawings:** a pre-earthwork drawing and construction and earthwork drawings showing boundaries, drainage areas, discharge locations, sampling locations, BMP locations, and storage and staging areas. - **Final stabilization procedures** to carry out as soon as reasonably practicable. The SWPPP must be available at the site. It may be kept electronically, but maps must be legible and available in hard copy. Changes and amendments must be uploaded to SMARTS within 30 calendar days (CGP Section V.A.2). ### Industrial SWPPP contents (IGP Section X.A) The IGP lists ten required SWPPP elements: 1. Facility name and contact information 2. Site map 3. List of industrial materials 4. Description of potential pollution sources 5. Assessment of potential pollutant sources 6. Minimum BMPs 7. Advanced BMPs, if applicable 8. Monitoring Implementation Plan 9. Annual Comprehensive Facility Compliance Evaluation 10. The date the SWPPP was first prepared and the date of each amendment Each facility must also have a **Pollution Prevention Team** described in the SWPPP. A significant revision must be certified and submitted through SMARTS within 30 days. Other revisions do not need to be submitted more than once every three months (IGP Section X.B). ## Who prepares and implements a SWPPP? **On construction sites** , the CGP assigns specific roles: - The **discharger** (usually the property owner or project owner) is responsible for all permit compliance, including work done by consultants and contractors. - A **Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD)** prepares and amends the SWPPP, assesses how construction will affect erosion and sediment transport, and must be retained from the start of the project through Notice of Termination approval. - A **Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP)** carries out the SWPPP in the field: monthly inspections, pre-storm inspections, and oversight of BMPs and sampling. - **Trained delegates** , such as a superintendent or foreman, may perform delegated inspections and sampling after QSP training, but cannot perform the inspections the permit reserves for the QSD or QSP. For the qualifications behind these roles, see our guide to [QSD vs QSP in California](https://www.exoduswater.com/post/qsd-vs-qsp-california) . **At industrial facilities** , the IGP does not require a credentialed person to write the initial SWPPP. The discharger develops and implements it. Once a facility’s sampling results push it into **Level 1 status** in the Exceedance Response Action process, the discharger must designate a **Qualified Industrial Storm Water Practitioner (QISP)** to help evaluate pollutant sources and prepare the required reports. ## How does a SWPPP get filed? Everything runs through **SMARTS** (Stormwater Multiple Application and Report Tracking System). - **Construction:** the discharger submits Permit Registration Documents, including the Notice of Intent with the Risk Level determination, site drawings, the SWPPP, and the annual fee, before construction begins. Coverage starts when SMARTS issues a Waste Discharge Identification (WDID) number, which must be posted where the public can see it. - **Industrial:** new dischargers submit Permit Registration Documents, including the SWPPP, at least seven days before industrial activities begin. Both permits also require an annual report filed in SMARTS. Deadlines are covered in our guide to [SWPPP requirements in California](https://www.exoduswater.com/post/swppp-requirements-california) . ## Common SWPPP mistakes - **Treating the SWPPP as a one-time document.** Both permits require the plan to be revised as site conditions, activities, or BMPs change. - **A SWPPP that does not match the site.** Drawings that show BMPs or storage areas that are not there are easy for an inspector to find. - **Missing inspection records.** Inspections that were done but not documented are hard to defend. - **Outdated contacts in SMARTS.** Under the CGP, contact information for the discharger, Legally Responsible Person, QSDs, and QSPs must be updated in SMARTS within 90 days of a change. - **Ignoring local requirements.** A city or county grading permit can carry its own stormwater conditions. ## How Exodus helps Exodus Water Services, based in Thousand Oaks, has certified stormwater staff who prepare SWPPPs for construction sites under the Construction General Permit and for facilities under the Industrial General Permit, and who carry out the inspections, monitoring, and SMARTS filings those plans require. See our [stormwater compliance services](https://www.exoduswater.com/stormwater-compliance) , read [what businesses need to know about California stormwater compliance](https://www.exoduswater.com/post/what-businesses-need-to-know-about-california-stormwater-compliance) , or [contact us](https://www.exoduswater.com/contact-us) . To talk through your site, call (805) 991-7333. ## Frequently asked questions **What is a SWPPP?**A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan is a written, site-specific plan that identifies potential sources of stormwater pollution at a construction site or industrial facility and the best management practices used to control them. In California it is required under the Construction General Permit and the Industrial General Permit. **Do I need a SWPPP for a project under one acre?**Usually not under the Construction General Permit, unless the project is part of a larger common plan of development or sale that disturbs one acre or more. Your city or county may still require erosion and sediment controls under its own permit. **Who can write a SWPPP for a construction site in California?**A Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD). The QSD prepares and amends the SWPPP and signs it. A Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP) implements it in the field. **Does an industrial facility need a QISP to write its SWPPP?**No. The Industrial General Permit requires the discharger to develop and implement the SWPPP. A QISP must be designated once the facility enters Level 1 status because of sampling results above the permit’s numeric action levels. **Where is a SWPPP filed?**In SMARTS, the State Water Board’s online stormwater system. Construction SWPPPs are submitted with the Notice of Intent before work begins, and amendments are uploaded within 30 calendar days. **How long must SWPPP records be kept?**The Construction General Permit requires dischargers to keep required records and reports for three years from the date they were generated or submitted, whichever is later. **Can an industrial facility avoid needing a SWPPP?**A facility with no exposure of industrial materials or activities to stormwater can apply for a No Exposure Certification. It is then conditionally excluded from the SWPPP and monitoring requirements but must still evaluate the facility once a year. Last reviewed: October 30, 2026. ## Sources - State Water Board, [Construction Stormwater Program](https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water%5Fissues/programs/stormwater/construction.html) - State Water Board, [2022 Construction Stormwater General Permit, Order 2022-0057-DWQ](https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water%5Fissues/programs/stormwater/construction/general%5Fpermit%5Freissuance.html) : Order Sections III.A, IV.O, V, and VI.F - State Water Board, [Industrial Stormwater Program](https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water%5Fissues/programs/stormwater/industrial.html) - State Water Board, [Industrial General Permit, Order 2014-0057-DWQ as amended (PDF)](https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water%5Fissues/programs/stormwater/docs/industrial/2014indgenpermit/order.pdf) : Sections X, XII, and XVII - State Water Board, [Industrial General Permit Attachment A, facilities covered (PDF)](https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water%5Fissues/programs/stormwater/docs/industrial/2014indgenpermit/atta.pdf) - State Water Board, [SMARTS resources](https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water%5Fissues/programs/stormwater/smarts/) ## How Exodus can help - Related service [Stormwater compliance services ](https://www.exoduswater.com/stormwater-compliance) - Free tool [Compliance Deadline Checker ](https://www.exoduswater.com/tools#deadline-checker) [Request a Compliance Review](https://www.exoduswater.com/contact-us?service=stormwater) [(805) 991-7333](tel:+18059917333) [Browse all articles](https://www.exoduswater.com/blog) Related service [Stormwater compliance services](https://www.exoduswater.com/stormwater-compliance)