Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's Office

Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Permit or Waiver — Commercial (in the 14 local units listed by the Water Resources Commissioner)

The Washtenaw County Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance states that 'The Office of the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner will be the designated enforcing agency for the County.' Its Commercial Projects page lists 'Where WCWRC has SESC Jurisdiction': Augusta, Lodi, Northfield, Salem, Saline, Scio, Sharon, Superior, Webster and York Townships and the Cities of Dexter, Milan, Saline and Ypsilanti. Under 'Other SESC Agency Jurisdictions' the same page lists the City of Ann Arbor Building Division, Ann Arbor Township Building and Zoning, the Chelsea Area Construction Authority, Pittsfield Township, the Western Washtenaw Construction Authority and Ypsilanti Township Planning and Zoning, so this record applies only in the 14 listed local units. The page states that 'Commercial projects with earth changes within 500 feet of surface water and disturbs more than 225 square feet require a SESC permit.' Under the Water Resources Commissioner's Commercial Permit Fee Schedule (fee schedule adopted October 1, 2025, updated 12-1-2025, linked from the county's SESC Forms page), a minor commercial permit is $500, a major permit $800 (plus $75 per acre over 5 acres) and a waiver $150, for earth changes over 500 feet from all surface water disturbing less than one acre, or within 500 feet disturbing less than 225 square feet. Additional plan reviews and all inspections are billed at $125 an hour, and commercial permits (excluding waivers) need a performance guarantee of $500 per acre disturbed, minimum $2,000.