Who needs a C-SWPPP in South Carolina?
Any construction project that disturbs one acre or more — or is part of a larger common plan of development reaching one acre — needs a C-SWPPP under South Carolina permit SCR100000.
South Carolina runs its own delegated stormwater program. Operators obtain coverage from South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES), Bureau of Water under NPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities (SCR100000) (SCR100000), not directly from the EPA. A small subdivision, a solar pad, and a road-widening project all clear the same one-acre line.
South Carolina adds requirements worth flagging early: Submit the Comprehensive SWPPP (C-SWPPP) with the NOI for review and approval by SCDES, a regulated MS4, or an entity delegated under Regulation 72-300 before construction begins; after approval, keep the condensed On-Site SWPPP (OS-SWPPP) at the site (SCR100000 Sections 3.1.1 and 3.1.5); Hold a pre-construction conference, attended by each contractor and subcontractor, with the SWPPP preparer or the permittee to review the OS-SWPPP; document attendance in the OS-SWPPP (SCR100000 Section 4.1); Each contractor whose work may disturb soil signs a project-specific Contractor Certification kept with the OS-SWPPP (SCR100000 Section 2.2.3); Non-linear sites disturbing more than 5 acres submit a phased erosion prevention and sediment control plan (SCR100000 Section 3.1.1.G.II); In the Coastal Zone, obtain a Coastal Zone Consistency certification from the Bureau of Coastal Management with the NOI (SCR100000 Sections 1.3.1.B and 2.3.3); Keep a rain log in the OS-SWPPP and report rainfall since the last inspection on each weekly inspection report (SCR100000 Section 4.2.D); Major SWPPP modifications must be approved by the reviewing authority before they are implemented; minor modifications are recorded in the OS-SWPPP (SCR100000 Sections 3.1.5 and 3.1.7).
What the plan must contain
A South Carolina C-SWPPPis the site's compliance binder — the document an inspector opens first. It documents:
- 1Site & project descriptionTotal and disturbed acreage, soils, slopes, and the sequence of construction.
- 2Receiving waters & discharge pointsWhere stormwater leaves the site and the waterbodies it reaches.
- 3Erosion & sediment control BMPsSilt fence, stabilized entrances, inlet protection, and stabilization measures.
- 4Inspection schedule & recordsDated, signed inspection logs and the corrective actions taken.
- 5Operator certificationThe C-SWPPP is signed by the legally responsible party before work begins.
Required and conditional BMPs
| Best management practice | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Perimeter silt fence / sediment barrier | Sediment control | Required |
| Stabilized construction entrance | Tracking control | Required |
| Storm drain inlet protection | Sediment control | Required |
| Soil stabilization (seeding, mulch, blankets) | Erosion control | Required |
| Concrete washout containment | Good housekeeping | Required |
| Sediment basin or trap | Sediment control | Conditional |
| Dewatering / turbidity controls | Pollution prevention | Conditional |
Filing your Notice of Intent
Submit the NOI with the Comprehensive SWPPP and fees through the SCDES ePermitting portal (a signed wet-ink Certifier Agreement is required to sign electronically); land disturbance may not begin until SCDES grants written approval.
A Notice of Termination closes coverage once the site reaches final stabilization. Keeping the C-SWPPP and its inspection records on site is what keeps a project clear of stop-work orders.
Inspection requirements
Inspect at least once every calendar week (no more than 9 days between inspections, until final stabilization is reached on all areas of the site) (SCR100000 Section 4.2.B). The permit recommends (does not require) that the contractor assess BMPs within 24 hours of the end of a storm event of 1.0 inch or greater and during the first rain event after construction begins and after BMPs are installed; SCDES may require more frequent inspections case by case, for example for sites with compliance problems or discharging to Sensitive Waters (SCR100000 Section 4.2.B). Every inspection is dated and signed, and any failed control is corrected before the next storm.
| Trigger | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Routine | At least once every calendar week (no more than 9 days between inspections, until final stabilization is reached on all areas of the site) |
| Rainfall | No rain-event trigger — inspections follow the calendar |
How South Carolina differs from the federal permit
| South Carolina | Federal (EPA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES), Bureau of Water | U.S. EPA |
| Permit | SCR100000 | EPA CGP |
| Disturbance threshold | 1 acre | 1 acre |
| Plan name | C-SWPPP | SWPPP |
Because South Carolina 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
Does South Carolina require an engineer to prepare the C-SWPPP?+–
For sites disturbing more than 2 acres, the Comprehensive SWPPP must be prepared, certified, and stamped by a registered professional engineer, registered landscape architect, Tier B land surveyor, or qualifying federal employee; for sites subject to Regulation 72-400 disturbing 5 acres or more, it must be sealed by a professional engineer licensed in South Carolina. In the Coastal Zone, sites under 2 acres within one-half mile of a coastal receiving water need the same licensed preparer when runoff storage is required for water quality (SCR100000 Sections 3.1.2.B–D).
What is the disturbance threshold in South Carolina?+–
One acre — including sites under an acre that are part of a larger common plan of development totaling one acre or more.
How often must inspections happen in South Carolina?+–
Inspect at least once every calendar week (no more than 9 days between inspections, until final stabilization is reached on all areas of the site) (SCR100000 Section 4.2.B). The permit recommends (does not require) that the contractor assess BMPs within 24 hours of the end of a storm event of 1.0 inch or greater and during the first rain event after construction begins and after BMPs are installed; SCDES may require more frequent inspections case by case, for example for sites with compliance problems or discharging to Sensitive Waters (SCR100000 Section 4.2.B).
Is a C-SWPPP the same as a SWPPP?+–
Yes. South Carolina uses the term "C-SWPPP" for what other states call a SWPPP — the same plan and the same requirements.
South Carolina-ready in minutes
Siltworks fills in your site data automatically, applies the South Carolina requirements, and hands you an inspection-ready C-SWPPP — at 70–90% less than a consultant.
Requirements summarized from the publicly available NPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities (SCR100000) (SCR100000) for planning purposes. The operator must review and certify every C-SWPPP before use.