SWPPP Inspection Report
A construction stormwater inspection record: the erosion and sediment controls, pollution prevention controls and discharge points checked, the rain that triggered the visit, any discharge seen, and every problem with the maintenance or corrective action it needs.
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Sample notes, 140 words
Project: Cedar Ridge Phase 2 Location: 4400 Old Mill Rd Permit: NHR10A123 Operator: Granite Builders LLC Date: 10/14/2026, after 0.6 in of rain overnight (site rain gauge) ...
We sorted 14 items into 3 sections and flagged 6 to fix soon.
- Fix soonErosion and sediment controls
Silt fence on the north line undermined about 40 ft by lot 12
- Fix soonErosion and sediment controls
Inlet protection on the Cedar Ct catch basin full of sediment
- Fix soonErosion and sediment controls
Rock entrance ok, some mud tracked onto Old Mill Rd, swept it
Still to add
- NeededReason for the inspection
- RecommendedNotes for maintenance and corrective actions
- RecommendedNotes for discharge observations
Filled in for you
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What goes in it
Every SWPPP inspection report from ReportDraft follows the same professional structure, so clients and reviewers find things where they expect them.
- Erosion and sediment controlsPerimeter controls (silt fence, fiber rolls, berms), Storm drain inlet protection, Construction entrance and exit, and sediment track-out onto paved roads, Sediment basins and traps, Slopes, channels, check dams and outlet protection, Soil stockpiles, Stabilization where work has stopped (seed, mulch, blankets), Natural buffers and protected areas, Dewatering controls
- Pollution prevention controlsConcrete, stucco and paint washout areas, Fuel, oil and equipment maintenance areas, spill kits and leaks, Waste, dumpsters and debris (covered, not overflowing), Portable toilets (secured, away from drains), Building materials, chemicals and landscape materials stored or covered, Vehicle and equipment wash water
- Discharge points and nearby watersDischarge points: erosion or sediment leaving the site, Sediment on nearby streets, sidewalks, drains or waters, What any discharge looks like (color, odor, solids, foam, sheen)
- Maintenance and corrective actionsCondition found, Location, Found, Action taken or needed, Completed
- Discharge observationsOnly when the notes say water was leaving the site during the inspection: which discharge points, and what the water looked like (color, odor, floating, settled or suspended solids, foam, oil sheen), from the notes. Leave empty otherwise.
How it works
1. Add your notes. Type or paste what you saw. Rate items with one tap if you like.
2. Get a draft. Findings, recommendations and a summary are written for you, in your report's structure.
3. Check, sign, send. A completeness list shows anything missing. Sign to lock the PDF and download Word too.
Why it pays for itself
What United States federal rules require
- Stormwater from construction activity (clearing, grading, excavating) that disturbs one acre or more, or less than one acre as part of a larger common plan of development or sale that will disturb one acre or more, is regulated under the Clean Water Act's NPDES program, so the site needs permit coverage from EPA or the state that issues NPDES permits40 CFR 122.26 (b) (14) (x), (b) (15) · EPA: Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities
- Every construction stormwater permit must require erosion and sediment controls that are designed, installed and maintained to minimize pollutant discharges: control runoff volume and velocity, minimize exposed soil and disturbance of steep slopes, minimize sediment leaving the site, keep natural buffers around waters of the United States unless infeasible, minimize soil compaction and preserve topsoil40 CFR 450.21 (a) · EPA: Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities (the C&D rule)
- Stabilization of disturbed areas starts immediately once earth disturbance has permanently stopped on any part of the site, or has temporarily stopped and will not resume for more than 14 calendar days; the permit sets when stabilization must be complete40 CFR 450.21 (b)
- Pollution prevention measures are designed, installed, implemented and maintained: wash waters treated in a sediment basin or equivalent before discharge; building materials, wastes, trash, fertilizers, pesticides, detergents and sanitary waste kept from rain and runoff where they could pollute it; spill and leak prevention and response procedures; dewatering discharges only through appropriate controls40 CFR 450.21 (c), (d)
- Prohibited discharges: concrete washout water unless managed by an appropriate control; washout and cleanout water from stucco, paint, form release oils, curing compounds and other construction materials; fuels, oils and other pollutants from vehicle and equipment operation and maintenance; soaps or solvents from vehicle and equipment washing40 CFR 450.21 (e)
- Reports a permit requires are signed by a responsible officer (or the general partner, proprietor or public official) or by a duly authorized representative named in writing to the permitting authority, with the federal certification statement; state programs must apply the same rule40 CFR 122.22 (b), (d); 122.41 (k) (1) · 40 CFR 123.25 (a) (5), (12)
- Copies of all reports a permit requires are kept for at least three years from the date of the report, longer if the permitting authority asks; falsifying a monitoring device or method is a federal crime40 CFR 122.41 (j) (2), (5)
- EPA's own 2022 Construction General Permit (as modified April 2025, expiring February 16, 2027) covers sites where EPA is the permitting authority: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico and the District of Columbia (outside Indian country), Puerto Rico and the Pacific territories, most Indian country, federal facilities in some states and lands of exclusive federal jurisdiction; elsewhere the state's own permit appliesEPA 2022 CGP, Appendix B (as modified) · EPA: 2022 Construction General Permit (CGP)
- Under EPA's CGP a qualified person inspects at least once every 7 calendar days, or once every 14 calendar days and within 24 hours of 0.25 inches of rain in 24 hours (or a snowmelt discharge from 3.25 inches of snow), using an on-site rain gauge or a representative weather station; sites discharging to impaired or high quality waters inspect every 7 days and after such storms; stabilized, arid and frozen areas may inspect less oftenEPA 2022 CGP Parts 4.1 to 4.4 (as modified)
- Under EPA's CGP the inspection covers all disturbed areas not yet stabilized, all stormwater and pollution prevention controls, storage areas, drainage paths, dewatering areas, discharge points and stabilized areas; the report is completed within 24 hours with the date, the names and titles of the inspectors, a summary of findings, the rain gauge or weather station readings that triggered a storm inspection, and any unsafe areas not inspected with the reason; it is signed by the operator's signatory, kept at the site or easily accessible, and retained at least 3 years after coverage endsEPA 2022 CGP Parts 4.5 to 4.7 (as modified)
- Under EPA's CGP a control needing significant repair or replacement, a control never installed or installed wrong, a water quality standard not met or a prohibited discharge triggers corrective action: take all reasonable steps at once, finish by the close of the next business day, or within 7 calendar days when a new or replacement control or significant repair is needed; each condition goes in a signed corrective action log within 24 hours of finding it and again within 24 hours of finishing the workEPA 2022 CGP Parts 5.1, 5.2, 5.4 (as modified)
In the United States, stormwater from a construction site that disturbs one acre or more needs a Clean Water Act permit, from EPA or from the state. Every one of those permits must carry EPA's minimum rules for erosion and sediment controls, stabilization and banned discharges, and the reports they require are signed and kept for at least three years. Here is each federal rule with a link to the official text, and what EPA's own permit adds where EPA issues it.
Who needs a stormwater permit
Clearing, grading and excavating that disturbs one acre or more, or less as part of a larger plan that will, is a regulated stormwater discharge. Most states issue their own construction general permit; EPA issues it in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Pacific territories, most Indian country and some federal lands.
The federal minimums every permit carries
Erosion and sediment controls are designed, installed and maintained to keep soil on site. Disturbed areas start stabilization at once when work stops for good, or for more than 14 days. Wash water, materials, wastes and spills are kept out of runoff.
Concrete washout water (unless managed), stucco and paint washout, fuels, oils, soaps and solvents may not be discharged.
Signing and keeping the report
Reports a permit requires are signed by a responsible officer or a duly authorized representative named in writing, with the federal certification statement, which ReportDraft prints on the signature page. Copies are kept for at least three years.
Where EPA's own permit applies
EPA's 2022 Construction General Permit has a qualified person inspect every 7 days, or every 14 days and within 24 hours of a quarter inch of rain. The report is finished within 24 hours with the inspectors' names and titles, the findings and the rain reading, and kept 3 years after coverage ends.
Problems are fixed by the next business day, or within 7 days when a new control or major repair is needed, and logged within 24 hours. State permits often use different schedules and thresholds, so check yours.
Common mistakes
- Leaving graded lots bare for weeks after work stops.
- Skipping the storm inspection because the routine one was a few days ago.
- Not recording the rain amount and where it came from.
- Washing out concrete trucks where the water can reach a drain.
- Unsigned reports, or a signature from someone never authorized in writing.
Sources
- 40 CFR 122.26 (b) (14) (x), (b) (15), checked October 20, 2026
- EPA: Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities, checked October 20, 2026
- 40 CFR 450.21 (a), checked October 20, 2026
- EPA: Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities (the C&D rule), checked October 20, 2026
- 40 CFR 450.21 (b), checked October 20, 2026
- 40 CFR 450.21 (c), (d), checked October 20, 2026
- 40 CFR 450.21 (e), checked October 20, 2026
- 40 CFR 122.22 (b), (d); 122.41 (k) (1), checked October 20, 2026
- 40 CFR 123.25 (a) (5), (12), checked October 20, 2026
- 40 CFR 122.41 (j) (2), (5), checked October 20, 2026
- EPA 2022 CGP, Appendix B (as modified), checked October 20, 2026
- EPA: 2022 Construction General Permit (CGP), checked October 20, 2026
- EPA 2022 CGP Parts 4.1 to 4.4 (as modified), checked October 20, 2026
- EPA 2022 CGP Parts 4.5 to 4.7 (as modified), checked October 20, 2026
- EPA 2022 CGP Parts 5.1, 5.2, 5.4 (as modified), checked October 20, 2026
Last reviewed October 20, 2026. Next review due January 20, 2027. This page explains published rules to help you write your report. It is not legal advice; the official text linked above governs. State rules can add to these.
Template preview
Questions
What goes in an SWPPP inspection report?
A construction stormwater inspection record: the erosion and sediment controls, pollution prevention controls and discharge points checked, the rain that triggered the visit, any discharge seen, and every problem with the maintenance or corrective action it needs. ReportDraft lays it out in 5 sections: erosion and sediment controls, pollution prevention controls, discharge points and nearby waters, maintenance and corrective actions, discharge observations.
Do my state's rules change the report?
Pick your state when you start. Where we have checked a local requirement against official sources, it is added to your completeness list with a link to the source.
Can I edit the draft?
Yes. Every finding, rating and sentence is editable before you sign. Your own entries always win over anything drafted from your notes.
What do I get at the end?
A signed, locked PDF for your client and an editable Word file, both with your company details. Signed reports keep a fingerprint so later changes are visible.
Which plan covers it?
ReportDraft Construction covers an SWPPP inspection report along with daily construction reports, site safety inspections, incident reports. SWPPP Inspections is also sold on its own.
Which construction sites need a stormwater permit?
Sites that disturb one acre or more, or less than one acre as part of a larger plan that will disturb one acre or more.
How often are SWPPP inspections done under EPA's permit?
At least every 7 days, or every 14 days and within 24 hours of 0.25 inches of rain. State permits can differ.
How long do you keep SWPPP inspection reports?
At least three years under the federal rules; EPA's own permit counts the three years from when coverage ends.
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