Annual BMP Inspection: What Actually Gets Checked
If your property has a stormwater pond, rain garden, underground system or filter, someone is expected to inspect it and keep the record. Here is what a stormwater inspector actually looks at, BMP by BMP, what you get back in writing, and how to find the rule that applies where your property is.
The checks are the same anywhere in the country. What changes from place to place is how often, who may sign the report, and where it gets filed. Those answers come from three layers of rules.
Where the requirement comes from
Clean Water Act NPDES / MS4
EPA’s MS4 rule requires each permitted city or county to “ensure adequate long-term operation and maintenance of BMPs” on new and redeveloped sites.
State permit or regulation
Your state writes that duty into its MS4 permit or stormwater regulations, sometimes with a minimum inspection interval.
Your city or county program
The local ordinance and your recorded maintenance agreement set the deadline, the form, who may inspect, and the penalty, including a Notice of Violation.
The checklist by BMP type
Wet & dry ponds
- Embankment: erosion, burrows, seepage
- Outlet structure and trash rack
- Emergency spillway
- Sediment depth in the forebay
- Vegetation and woody growth
- Erosion at inlets and side slopes
Bioretention / rain gardens
- Ponding and drawdown after rain
- Mulch and soil media condition
- Plants: coverage and bare or eroded areas
- Inlets and curb cuts clear
- Underdrain cleanout accessible
Underground detention
- Access and inspection ports
- Sediment and floating trash
- Inlet pipes
- Outlet pipes and control orifice
Drop inlets, inserts & filters
- Silt sacks / inserts: fill level and tears
- Bypass working as designed
- Sediment at the grate and surrounding surface
- Filter media condition
Permeable pavement
- Chip stone in the joints
- Sediment on the surface
- Standing water after rain
Pond inspection points
Schematic cross-section, not to scale. Numbers: 1 Embankment · 2 Outlet structure & trash rack · 3 Emergency spillway · 4 Forebay sediment depth · 5 Vegetation / woody growth · 6 Erosion (inlets, side slopes, outfall).
What the inspector documents
Every Exact inspection ends in a written report. It follows the same order every time:
- Report details: service date, scope, and when the next service is due
- A page per BMP: the device, the route the inspector walked, and captioned photos
- Comments and observations for each structure
- Routine and corrective recommendations per BMP
- A summary of corrective actions the owner can take to a contractor or board
Below is a real 2026 Exact report for a residential property owners association with two wet ponds, shown with identifying details removed. The wording and photos are from the report.
Report details
| Client | A residential property owners association |
|---|---|
| Service date | September 30, 2026 |
| Next service | Inspection in 2027 |
| Scope of service | Inspection of two stormwater wet ponds and corresponding outlet control structures, inlets, riprap dissipation zones and embankments. |
The report also includes a location photo and satellite site maps marking each pond. They are left out here to protect the client’s privacy.
Pond 1
| Service conducted | Inspection |
|---|---|
| Stormwater device | Stormwater wet pond |
| Comments & observations | Pond was approached from the south and inspected clockwise. |
Editor’s note: Photo captions and recommendations are shown as written in the original report.
| Routine operational recommendations | Continued annual inspections per the association’s governing documents. Continued routine embankment maintenance and material removal as needed. |
|---|---|
| Corrective maintenance recommendations | Minor erosion was observed on the embankments, but the soil is shallow and has a slate stone base. Extending the pine straw zones or adding soil and seed is recommended, especially near the NE inlet. The south inlet and northeast inlet need to be cleared of sediment and the riprap dissipation zones reset. Address/remove the sediment build-up around the perimeter of the pond, which is most pronounced at the inlets, where the sediment is rising above the water level. |
Pond 2
| Service conducted | Inspection |
|---|---|
| Stormwater device | Stormwater wet pond |
| Comments & observations | Pond was approached from the southwest and inspected counterclockwise. |
| Routine operational recommendations | Continued annual inspections per the association’s governing documents. Continued routine embankment maintenance and material removal as needed. |
|---|---|
| Corrective maintenance recommendations | Minor erosion was observed on the embankments, but the soil is shallow and has a slate stone base. Extending the pine straw zones is recommended. The south inlet needs the riprap dissipation zone reset and the sediments removed from the pond. Doing so would require removal of the woody vegetation zone covering this area. Similar to Pond 1, water was observed as being shallow along the pond perimeter and could be addressed when servicing the inlet and removing the woody vegetation. |
Recommended corrective actions
Bare vegetative zones. Both Pond 1 and Pond 2 have bare areas. However, the soil was not deep in most of these instances; a stone/slate layer was observed, and is therefore assumed to not be contributing to current sediment loading, except for the slope nearest the NE inlet of Pond 1. It is recommended that these areas be backfilled with soil, reseeded and strawed, or that the pine straw zones near some of the mature trees be extended to cover these bare areas.
Pond 1 inlets & sediment loading. South Inlet: The perimeter of the pond was observed as being shallow, particularly near the inlets and outlet control structure. The south inlet at Pond 1 showed signs of erosion where the concrete meets the earth. Some of the tall grasses in this zone have mitigated this erosion, but these areas should be backfilled with soil and a riprap apron encompassing the area to prevent future issues with the soil cutting away, compromising the pipe. Sediment from this inlet has covered most of the riprap pad and migrated further into the pond, where the sediment sits above the water level and should be removed. The upstream manhole did not show signs of further sediment loads. Repair the inlet and reset the riprap pad with new fabric and new riprap stone to allow for proper function.
Northeast Inlet: The inlet at the NE corner of Pond 1 was completely submerged and not initially identified, due to the amount of sediment covering the pipe. An earthen shelf with grass has emerged from the accumulated material at this inlet. This sediment should be removed, and the inlet cleaned and reset with new fabric and riprap stones to allow for proper function. The adjacent embankment should be addressed prior to or at the same time to mitigate further sediment loading into the corner of the pond. The shallow perimeter could also be addressed at the same time.
Pond 2 inlets. Pond 2 has a zone of semi-mature woody vegetation covering the inlet, limiting full inspection. Observations showed that the riprap may need to be turned over and/or have additional stone and fabric added to allow for proper function. To access this area, the woody vegetation will need to be fully or partially removed. Historic satellite imagery shows that this zone was never fully cleared of sedimentation during construction, which may have contributed to the woody growth. Best practice would be to remove all the woody growth from this zone when resetting the riprap.
Pond 2 littoral shelf. There is a littoral shelf on Pond 2 which does not appear to be hindering the function of the pond, but was not part of the initial installation, at least as identified from historic satellite imagery. If this vegetation is to be removed, it should be done at the same time as the maintenance of the inlet and woody vegetation growth zone. The shallow perimeter could also be addressed at the same time, if necessary.
Common findings, and what fixing them involves
| Finding | What fixing it involves |
|---|---|
| Trash rack or low-flow orifice clogged | Clear debris and restore flow through the outlet structure |
| Sediment built up in a forebay, inlet or silt sack | Remove sediment; replace or empty the silt sack |
| Trees or woody growth on the embankment | Remove woody growth and restore approved vegetation |
| Bare or eroded areas (often from mowing too low) | Seed and straw, then adjust mowing height |
| Rain garden holding water too long | Check the underdrain and media; refresh mulch and plants |
| Floating trash in an underground system | Vacuum or net it out and check the inlet screens |
Exact handles the annual stormwater inspection and the maintenance that follows.
How often, and who can sign? It depends on your state
Here is the state layer for states where Exact works. Your local program can be stricter, so check your recorded maintenance agreement and the local guide for your area.
| State | Rule | What it means for owners |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 9VAC25-875-130, -140 | The recorded maintenance agreement sets owner inspections. The local program must inspect each facility at least once every five years, and may accept an owner’s report done by a licensed PE, architect, landscape architect or land surveyor, or a DEQ certificate holder. |
| Maryland | COMAR 26.17.02.11 | Owners must perform preventive maintenance. The county or municipality inspects every system in its first year, then at least once every 3 years, and sets repair deadlines for deficiencies. |
| Florida | Rule 62-330.311, F.A.C. | The operation and maintenance entity inspects as set out in Applicant’s Handbook Volume I §12.5 (or the permit), and submits Form 62-330.311(1), Operation and Maintenance Inspection Certification, within 30 days of each inspection, failure or deviation from the permit. Rule 62-330.311(1)–(2), eff. 6/28/2024 · flrules.org · 62-330.311 |
| North Carolina | 15A NCAC 02H .1050(11)–(12) | Every SCM needs a recorded O&M agreement and a signed O&M plan; owners keep maintenance records. Annual inspection reports, where required, come from the local program. In Charlotte-Mecklenburg, for example, most SCMs built after 2007 need a certified annual report (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services, charlottenc.gov). ncrules.state.nc.us · 15A NCAC 02H .1050 |
| Georgia | GA EPD Phase II MS4 permit GAG610000, Part 4.2.5 | Local MS4s must inspect 100% of inventoried post-construction structures within the 5-year permit term and, for private structures completed after Dec. 6, 2012, either maintain them or require maintenance agreements. |
| South Carolina | S.C. Code Regs. 72-307 C(10) | “A clear statement of defined maintenance responsibility shall be established during the plan review and approval process.” |
| Tennessee | TDEC Small MS4 General Permit TNS000000, Part 4.2.5.7 (eff. April 1, 2024) | Local MS4s must require a legally binding agreement assigning SCM maintenance responsibility, and must require every permanent SCM to be inspected at least once every five years by the permittee, a licensed PE, a licensed landscape architect or other qualified professional. |
| Indiana | IDEM MS4 General Permit INR040000 | Local MS4s must run an inspection and maintenance program for post-construction stormwater measures, including privately owned ones. |
| Alabama | ADEM Phase II MS4 General Permit ALR040000 | Local MS4s must ensure long-term operation and maintenance of post-construction BMPs through enforceable agreements. |
| Texas | TCEQ TPDES Small MS4 General Permit TXR040000 | Local MS4s must ensure long-term operation and maintenance of structural post-construction controls; owners keep a maintenance plan and records. |
Summaries were checked against the linked sources in October 2026. Not legal advice.
Local inspection requirements
Many violations come from the local program, not the state. Check your city or county stormwater program for local deadlines, or ask Exact to confirm what applies to your site.
Got a notice already? What to do after a stormwater Notice of Violation →
Before the inspector arrives
Access
Clear access to every BMP, including gates and easements
Keys
Keys or codes for gates, vaults and access ports
As-builts
As-built drawings and the maintenance agreement
Last report
The previous inspection report and any notices
Frequently asked questions
How often are stormwater inspections required?
It depends on where the property is. Federal rules require local programs to ensure BMPs are maintained long-term (40 CFR 122.34(b)(5)); the state and local program set the interval. For example, Fort Wayne, Indiana requires an owner inspection by October 1 each year (City of Fort Wayne BMP Maintenance Manual); Maryland requires the local agency to inspect at least every three years; Virginia’s local programs must inspect at least once every five years. Your maintenance agreement may require more.
Who can perform a BMP inspection?
The state and local program decide. Virginia accepts owner reports from a licensed PE, architect, landscape architect or land surveyor, or a DEQ certificate holder (9VAC25-875-140 D). Fort Wayne’s BMP manual requires that, once every five years, the inspection be done by a professional engineer, landscape architect or other qualified professional (City of Fort Wayne BMP Maintenance Manual). Exact can help you arrange it.
What happens if my BMP fails inspection?
The report lists deficiencies and corrective actions. If the local program finds the problem first, it may issue a Notice of Violation with a deadline to fix it.
Does the inspection include maintenance?
The inspection documents condition. Maintenance is the work that fixes what it finds; Exact provides both.
How much does an inspection cost?
Call for a quote: (804) 302-5151.
Schedule your BMP inspection
Stormwater BMP inspections and maintenance for property owners in the states where Exact works.
Call (804) 302-5151Contact Exact