Erosion Prevention & Sediment Control Program

The City of Corvallis' Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control (EPSC) program has been developed to comply with a number of Federal, State and City regulations and citizen’s concerns to minimize the impact of development activities on local waterways, adjacent properties, streets and storm infrastructure.

The City has authority to enforce erosion prevention and sediment control through the Section 9.03 of the Corvallis Municipal Code. This code establishes uniform standards for preventing erosion and sediment discharge during any development within the City limits, and requires a permit for any ground disturbing activity affecting 2,000 square feet or greater, cumulatively, throughout the duration of the development.

Quick Reference Guides
A. Permit Process:

   Residential Construction

• EPSC Permit Process for Residential Construction (PDF) - Provides an introduction to the program and requirements for residential construction activities.
• Residential EPSC Plan Requirements (PDF) - Provides a checklist to assist in creating the required EPSC site plan, sample plan, details, and standard conditions.

   Commercial Construction

• EPSC Permit Process for Commercial Construction (PDF) - Provides an introduction to the program and requirements for commercial construction activities.

B. Inspection Process:

• EPSC Inspections (PDF) - Explains the erosion control inspection process throughout the duration of a project and answers frequently asked questions.
• EPSC Inspection Checklist (PDF) - Helps walk through the process of inspecting a site and documenting the performance of various measures.

C. Additional Guides:

• Wet Weather Erosion Prevention (PDF) - Summarizes additional requirements for construction during the wet weather season of October 1 through April 30.

Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Manual

The Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Manual has been updated, effective May 1, 2024! The new manual now has hyperlinks within the document for quick referencing, as well as many other significant changes. See the Summary of Changes, which outlines the changes since the last update in 2009.

The manual provides technical guidance for the design, installation, maintenance and inspection of temporary and permanent erosion prevention and sediment control “best management practices” (BMPs). The manual is intended for use by site designers, developers, contractors and inspectors during the construction process, before, during and after clearing, grubbing, grading and excavation. The manual is also intended to have educational value to the public.

The manual includes the following information:

• Chapter 1 - Introduction  - Introduces the goals of the manual, outlines the background and basis for the City’s development of erosion prevention and sediment control guidelines, and provides an educational overview of erosion processes and the potential impacts of erosion.
• Chapter 2 - Erosion Control Plan Development - Discusses the planning and design process for an effective erosion prevention and sediment control plan. Best management practices for erosion prevention and sediment control on development sites are presented. It is intended to help with choosing the most appropriate control measures for a project.
• Chapter 3 - Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Permit Requirements - Outlines permit submittal requirements, as well as inspection and maintenance procedures.
• Chapter 4 - Erosion Control Best Management Practices - Details the best management practices introduced in Chapter 2.
• Appendix A - Acronyms and Definitions - Lists of acronyms used in this manual, and definitions of key terms.
• Appendix B - Reference Materials - A variety of sources, forms, checklists, handouts, and examples that may be useful for erosion control planning, permitting, and inspection.

How Do I Apply?

Apply online at www.corvallispermits.com. More information on the application process can be found here.