The County's erosion prevention code is applicable within two areas:
1.  The County-administered Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) Area around the Eugene and Springfield urban growth boundaries, and
        2.  The Mercury Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Area within the Willamette River Basin
              

See the County-Administered MS4 Area map and the Mercury TMDL map, or visit the County's Zone and Plan Maps, to determine if your property is in the MS4 Area or the TMDL Area.

All land-disturbing activities within the MS4 Area and the Mercury TMDL Area, unless otherwise exempted, must use best management practices to meet the erosion prevention outcomes of Lane Code 9.090.030.

In the MS4 Area:

• Erosion prevention permits are required, depending upon a site's location, the type of project, and the amount of land that will be disturbed.
• Land disturbances that do not need a development permit (e.g., grading work and driveways) may still require an erosion prevention permit, even though a development permit is not required.
• Development permit applications that involve land disturbance, but do not require an erosion prevention permit, must submit a self-certification form.

In the Mercury TMDL Area:

• Erosion prevention permits are not required, but land-disturbing activities must still meet the erosion prevention outcomes of LC 9.090.030.
• Development permit applications need to provide a signed self-certification declaration, stating that erosion prevention methods will be used throughout the course of construction.

Erosion Prevention Permit Triggers

• 1/4-acre or 400 cubic yards (CY) or more
• 5000 square feet (SF) or 200 CY or more AND located in a sensitive area with either:
  • Slopes of 15% or greater, OR
  • Highly erodible soils
• 5000 SF or 200 CY or more AND either:
  • For commercial, industrial, or multi-family development, OR
  • Located on a property that is zoned for commercial, industrial, or multi-family uses

Submitting an Erosion Prevention Permit or a Self-Certification Declaration

Permit applications, declaration forms, and helpful handouts are located on the Erosion Prevention Documents: Handouts, Forms, and Manual page.

When an erosion prevention permit is required, it must be submitted at the same time as, or prior to, submittal of the associated development permit. Erosion prevention permits must be approved prior to the beginning of any land-disturbing activities.

Self-certification declaration forms may be submitted with the development permit application.

Development in the Eugene and Springfield UGBs

The County has agreements with the Cities of Eugene and Springfield that grant each City the authority to administer city erosion prevention code requirements in the urban growth boundaries (UGB's) surrounding their city limits. Please contact City offices directly if your site is located in one of these two UGBs. Use the links on this page to access the Cities' erosion prevention webpages.