Who may carry out the inspections?

Federally a qualified person who has been trained, with the training records kept alongside the plan (Part 6.2–6.3). Several states name a specific credential for the inspector even where the plan itself may be self-written.

What counts as a qualifying storm?

0.25 inches or more of rain in a 24-hour period, on the federal schedules. Record the rainfall you measured, not the forecast.

How often does a construction site have to be inspected?

Federally, either once every seven calendar days, or once every 14 calendar days plus within 24 hours of a storm producing 0.25 inches or more of rain in 24 hours; sites discharging to certain impaired waters must use the seven-day-plus-storm schedule.

Source: EPA 2022 Construction General Permit (as modified), Part 4.2 and Part 4.3.1Verified 2026-08-04

Pick a schedule and keep to it

Part 4.2 gives the two options. Part 4.3.1 removes the choice for the portion of a site discharging to a water that is impaired for sediment or nutrients, that is identified as Tier 2, 2.5 or 3 for antidegradation purposes, or that lies within Lands of Exclusive Federal Jurisdiction.

State permits often set their own frequency and it can be stricter. SwpppDraft has not verified inspection frequency state by state — read it off the state permit linked on your state's page.

Writing it up

Each report is completed within 24 hours of the inspection (Part 4.7.1) and kept at least three years (Part 4.7.4). When an inspection finds a control that is not working, Part 5 requires the fix, the record of it, and a plan modification within seven days if the fix changes the plan (Part 7.4.1).

Questions people ask

Who may carry out the inspections?: Federally a qualified person who has been trained, with the training records kept alongside the plan (Part 6.2–6.3). Several states name a specific credential for the inspector even where the plan itself may be self-written.
What counts as a qualifying storm?: 0.25 inches or more of rain in a 24-hour period, on the federal schedules. Record the rainfall you measured, not the forecast.

The states this question turns on

Washington SWPPP requirements — Washington requires the permittee to prepare the SWPPP; the Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead requirement applies to site inspections.
Ohio SWPPP requirements — Ohio asks for a "professional experienced in the design and implementation" of erosion and sediment controls but names no licence, exam or issuing body, and applies the same clause to 1–5 acre sites. The gate scan's summary table counts Ohio as C; the "experienced professional" wording reads as B2 in its per-state row — self-preparation is allowed either way.
Florida SWPPP requirements — Florida asks only that the SWPPP follow standard industry practices; it names no preparer qualification.

All 50 states, in one table

The documents this affects

Texas inspection log and inspection requirements

What we are, and what stays your responsibility

SwpppDraft is a document generation tool. It does not provide engineering services, legal services, or compliance consulting, and no engineer or attorney reviews what it produces.
Everything in the document is built from the site facts you enter. Checking that those facts are right, and that the resulting plan fits your project, is yours to do.
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State-level requirements carry the date we verified them. County and city rules are not covered — some local jurisdictions require a licensed preparer even where the state does not, and you have to check that yourself.
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