Erosion and sediment control bylaws compared
Most Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley cities regulate muddy water leaving a construction site. Here is when each city requires an ESC permit or plan, and the limits it sets.
| Municipality | When ESC is required | Limit or condition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surrey | Developable area of 0.4 ha or more; underground parking excavations deeper than 3 m | 75 mg/L TSS above background | By-law 21181 |
| Township of Langley | Construction sites over 2,000 m²; permit before clearing, grading or grubbing | Security 120% of the ESC estimate | Bylaw 4381 |
| City of Langley | Engineer-sealed ESC plan with servicing drawings; QEP retained (except single-family) | — | Bylaw 3152 |
| Abbotsford | Developable area of 2,000 m² or more: plan, supervisor and permit | 25 NTU (up to 100 NTU for 24 h after heavy rain) | Bylaw 1989-2010 |
| Maple Ridge | Subdivision, large building permits, grading permits, soil work over 1 m deep and 150 m² | Over 20 NTU is excessive | Bylaw 6410-2006 |
| Coquitlam | All development sites that disturb soil; monitoring above single-family/duplex | 25 NTU (100 NTU in heavy rain); pH 6.5–8.0 | Bylaw 4403 |
| Vancouver | Sites of 1,000 m² or more, or excavation deeper than one storey: ESC plan with the building permit | — | Bulletin 2002-003-EV |
| Burnaby | ESC permit tied to engineering agreements, building and soil permits; not single/two-family | No work until issued or deemed not required | City of Burnaby (PDF) |
| Delta | Single-family: signed ESC declaration before the building permit | Cover all soil stockpiles | City of Delta (PDF) |
| Chilliwack | ESC plans on engineering drawings | No silt, dirt or debris into drainage or watercourses | Bylaw 3055 |
NTU (nephelometric turbidity units) and TSS (total suspended solids) are two ways of measuring how much sediment is in water leaving a site. Check which one your city uses before choosing monitoring equipment.
Checked October 2026 against the sources linked on this page. Rules change, so confirm with the authority before work starts. General information only, not engineering or legal advice.
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