SWPPP Requirements in Arkansas

Who needs a SWPPP in Arkansas?

Any construction project that disturbs one acre or more — or is part of a larger common plan of development reaching one acre — needs a SWPPP under Arkansas permit ARR150000.

Arkansas runs its own delegated stormwater program. Operators obtain coverage from DEQ under Construction Stormwater General Permit (CGP) (ARR150000), not directly from the EPA. A small subdivision, a solar pad, and a road-widening project all clear the same one-acre line.

Arkansas adds requirements worth flagging early: Large sites (5 acres or more): submit the NOI, complete SWPPP, and initial permit fee through DEQ’s ePortal at least 10 business days before construction begins (Parts I.B.4, I.B.6.B, II.A.1.B); Small sites (1 to under 5 acres): automatic coverage without an NOI, SWPPP submittal, or fee, provided the SWPPP is completed before the Notice of Coverage is posted and the completed NOC is posted on site before construction until final stabilization (Parts I.B.6.A, II.A.1.A); Post the Notice of Coverage near the main entrance, visible to the public, showing the SWPPP location (Parts I.B.8, II.A.2.D); Follow the SWPPP order in Part II.A.4 and 5; DEQ’s basic SWPPP format is on its website and other formats need DEQ approval before use (Part II.A); Use the DEQ inspection form, or a form with the Part II.A.4.N.2 minimum content (Part II.A.4.N.2); Sediment basin, where attainable, for common drainage locations of 10 or more acres: the smaller of 3,600 cubic feet per acre or the 10-year, 24-hour storm runoff volume, draining in 24–72 hours (Part II.A.4.I.3.a); Train the personnel who implement the SWPPP, identify periodic training dates in the SWPPP, and keep training records with it (Part II.A.4.P); Make required SWPPP changes within seven business days of any DEQ notice that the plan does not meet permit minimums, and certify the change in writing (Part II.A.2.C); Existing permittees must bring their SWPPPs into line with the reissued permit’s Part II.A.4 by 2026-11-01 (2026 permit Part II.A.1.C).

What the plan must contain

An Arkansas SWPPPis the site's compliance binder — the document an inspector opens first. It documents:

1. 1Site & project descriptionTotal and disturbed acreage, soils, slopes, and the sequence of construction.
2. 2Receiving waters & discharge pointsWhere stormwater leaves the site and the waterbodies it reaches.
3. 3Erosion & sediment control BMPsSilt fence, stabilized entrances, inlet protection, and stabilization measures.
4. 4Inspection schedule & recordsDated, signed inspection logs and the corrective actions taken.
5. 5Operator certificationThe SWPPP is signed by the legally responsible party before work begins.

Required and conditional BMPs

Filing your Notice of Intent

Large sites (5 acres or more): submit the NOI, SWPPP, and permit fee through DEQ’s ePortal at least 10 business days before construction. Small sites (1 to under 5 acres): no filing; complete the SWPPP and post the Notice of Coverage on site before construction (automatic coverage).

A Notice of Termination closes coverage once the site reaches final stabilization. Keeping the SWPPP and its inspection records on site is what keeps a project clear of stop-work orders.

Inspection requirements

The permit allows 2 inspection schedules; the operator follows one and records the choice in this plan: (a) 7-day schedule — inspect at least once every 7 calendar days (ARR150000 (2021) Part II.A.4.N.1); or (b) 14-day schedule with storm inspections — inspect at least once every 14 calendar days and within 24 hours of the end of a storm producing 0.25 inch of rain or more (rainfall measured with an on-site rain gauge) (ARR150000 (2021) Part II.A.4.N.1). Every inspection is dated and signed, and any failed control is corrected before the next storm.

How Arkansas differs from the federal permit

Because Arkansas administers its own program, the federal EPA Construction General Permit does not apply directly here — the state permit governs. Sites inside a regulated municipal storm sewer system may carry additional local ordinance requirements on top of the state permit.

Frequently asked questions