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SWPPP site map requirements

EPA's 2022 Construction General Permit requires a legible site map, or series of maps, showing the property boundary, where soil will be disturbed (with phasing), slopes before and after grading, stockpiles, vehicle exits, final structures, receiving waters within the site and one mile downstream, drainage patterns, discharge points, pollutant-generating activities such as concrete washout, and every stormwater control. EPA 2022 CGP Part 7.2.4 The map is updated within 7 days when the site or its controls change. EPA 2022 CGP Part 7.4.1 State permits have their own lists: Mississippi asks for a scaled map with a north arrow and contours. MSR10 ACT5 T-13

National guide. The rules cited are from EPA's 2022 Construction General Permit (as modified in 2025), checked October 20, 2026, which applies where EPA is the permitting authority. Most states issue their own permit with different details; check your state before relying on a number.

Sources last checked October 19, 2026. Prepared by our team led by Mohamed Elansary, PhD, with AI research tools. We are not a licensed engineering firm and do not seal plans.

General information; your permit text controls. Not legal advice and not engineering judgment. We make no promise of permit coverage, agency acceptance or compliance.

Illustrative SWPPP site map of a small rectangular lot showing the property boundary, north arrow and scale bar, contour lines, drainage arrows pointing toward a discharge point at a creek, Phase 1 and Phase 2 disturbed areas, the building footprint, a stockpile with a sediment barrier, silt fence on the downslope property lines, a stabilized exit to the street, a concrete washout, a waste area, a portable toilet, inlet protection on the street drain, and a legend.
Example layout only. Not to scale and not a real site; your permit's list controls what your map shows.

What the map must show

ItemEPA 2022 CGP 7.2.4Texas TXR150000Mississippi MSR10
Property boundaryYesYesYes, with proposed construction activities
Disturbed areas and phasingYes, including demolitionYes, including demolitionYes, noting phasing
Slopes or contoursApproximate slopes before and after grading; steep slopes notedApproximate slopes before and after major gradingOriginal and proposed contours if feasible; steep slopes identified
Drainage patternsBefore and after grading, for stormwater and allowed non-stormwaterBefore and after major gradingDrainage pattern arrows
Receiving watersWithin the site and within one mile downstream of discharge points, flagged if impaired or Tier 2, 2.5 or 3At, adjacent to or near the site, flagged if impaired; one mile downstreamSensitive areas such as wetlands, perennial streams and adjacent water bodies; if off the map, name and direction in text
Discharge pointsInlets (noting whether they drain to a basin or trap), direct discharges, turbidity monitoring pointsDirect discharges to surface water or an MS4Storm drain inlets and any receiving MS4
ControlsAll stormwater controls, natural buffers and shared controlsAll controls and buffers; stabilization areasAll erosion and sediment controls; post-construction controls; buffer zone location and size
Stockpiles and exitsStockpiles; vehicle exits onto paved roads; receiving water crossingsVehicle exits; vehicle wash areasConstruction entrance; laydown area
ActivitiesPollutant-generating activities (paving, washout, waste, dewatering); support activity areas; treatment chemical storage; non-pollutant waste storageConstruction support activities, including off-site; concrete washout areasEquipment maintenance, concrete washout, waste, material and chemical storage; housekeeping practices
OtherFinal structures and impervious surfaces; pre-construction cover; federally listed critical habitatA separate general location map (for example part of a city or county map)North arrow; scaled map; flocculant points and settling BMPs if flocculants are used

Sources: EPA 2022 CGP Part 7.2.4, footnotes 87-88 TXR150000 Part III.F.1(f)-(g) TXR150000 Part VI.E MSR10 ACT5 T-13

Where one map would be hard to read, both EPA and Texas allow a series of maps that together show everything. EPA 2022 CGP Part 7.2.4 TXR150000 Part III.F.1(g) EPA only requires storm drain inlets near the site to be shown if they are easy to identify from the site or a public area next to it. EPA 2022 CGP Part 7.2.4, footnote 88 Mississippi's coverage application also asks for a USGS quadrangle map extending at least half a mile beyond the site boundaries, separate from the SWPPP site map. MSR10 ACT4 S-2

When to update the map

Moving a washout, stockpile or vehicle exit is a change the map has to show within those 7 days under EPA's permit. EPA 2022 CGP Part 7.4.1 After each inspection, EPA requires the site map to be modified to show any changed stormwater controls. EPA 2022 CGP Part 4.6.4

Related: what goes in a SWPPP, silt fence installation, concrete washout rules, SWPPP inspection requirements. State rules: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia.

Our plans include the site map list written to the permit that covers your site. The permit list above, not the example drawing, decides what your map must show.

What this page does not cover

Survey, civil drawings, grading design and local plan-sheet standards. The example map is illustrative and does not represent any real site.

Have it written for you

SWPPP Desk prepares site-specific SWPPPs from your drawings for construction sites in the states we cover (coverage by state), for a fixed price, delivered the next business day after your inputs are complete. Small site (1 to under 5 acres): $449. Large site (5 acres or more): $749. Background: all guides.

Small site: $449Large site: $749

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