Tennessee SWPPP inspection requirements
- Rain trigger
- A 0.5″ storm in 24 hours (only on sites disturbing more than 50 acres at once)
- Post-rain deadline
- Within 24 hours
- Routine inspections
- Twice weekly, at least 72 hours apart, on all sites (monthly for temporarily stabilized areas)
- Permit
- TNR100000 Construction General Permit
- Agency
- Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC)
How Tennessee handles construction stormwater
Construction sites in Tennessee disturbing one acre or more need coverage under the TNR100000 Construction General Permit, administered by Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The 2021 CGP requires twice-weekly inspections (at least 72 hours apart) on all sites — one of the strictest cadences in the country; the 0.5″ storm trigger adds inspections only for disturbances over 50 acres and can count toward the twice-weekly total. The permit expires September 30, 2026 with a renewal planned effective October 1, 2026 — re-verify then.
Inspector qualifications
Inspections by a person with TDEC's Level 1 Fundamentals of EPSC certification, a licensed PE or landscape architect, a CPESC, or Level 2 course completion.
Official sources
Common questions
What triggers a SWPPP inspection in Tennessee?
Under the TNR100000 Construction General Permit, a 0.5″ storm in 24 hours (only on sites disturbing more than 50 acres at once) triggers a post-storm inspection, within 24 hours (non-work days typically extend to the next work day; check your permit). Routine inspections: twice weekly, at least 72 hours apart, on all sites (monthly for temporarily stabilized areas).
Who can perform SWPPP inspections in Tennessee?
Inspections by a person with TDEC's Level 1 Fundamentals of EPSC certification, a licensed PE or landscape architect, a CPESC, or Level 2 course completion.
Who administers the construction stormwater program in Tennessee?
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) administers the NPDES construction stormwater program in Tennessee under the TNR100000 Construction General Permit.
What are the penalties for SWPPP violations in Tennessee?
Federal Clean Water Act civil penalties can reach $68,445 per day per violation, and TDEC can issue administrative orders and state penalties on top. Missing rain-triggered inspections is among the most commonly cited violations in stormwater audits.
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