Title
Notice/Advertisement Title: Stormwater Drainage Manual Regulation
Contact Name: Liz Miller
Contact Telephone Number: (614) 645-0919
Contact Email Address: ColumbusSWDM@columbus.gov
Body
OFFICIAL NOTICE
STORMWATER DRAINAGE MANUAL REGULATION
REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS
Pursuant to Columbus City Code 1145.11 and 1145.81, the Department of Public Utilities hereby provides notice that a draft of the Stormwater Drainage Manual regulation is available for public comment. The Manual provides the stormwater design standards for development or redevelopment of public and private property. This regulation replaces the previous Stormwater Drainage Manual, which was previously updated in 2025. The following changes were made from the previous regulation:
1. Throughout - Updated Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to Columbus Water and Power (CWP), Division of Sewerage and Drainage (DOSD) to Division of Water Reclamation (DWR), and Division of Electricity to Division of Power.
2. Table of Contents - Added equation numbering.
3. Preface Legacy Plans - Updated to remove direct reference to years and replaced with “previous” and “current”.
4. Introduction Applicability Table - Reformatted into a single page table with table notes on the following page. Added Sections 3.5 and 8. Added considerations that were previously presented below the table and the reference to the Section 3.2 proximity to Fourth Order Stream exemption update.
5. Introduction Definitions - Updated Redevelopment definition and added Fourth Order Stream definition.
6. Section 1.3.1 - Updated to move the 50-foot buffer for the fourth order streams requirement outside of the width calculation. Requirement is now in addition to the calculated width similar to the 15% slope requirement.
7. Section 1.3.2 - Updated in 2025 and revisited in 2026 to allow for modifications, where approved by DWR, to comply with federal and state requirements.
8. Section 1.3.3 - Updated to permit annual mowing for establishment of native trees and as long as performed outside of ground bird nesting season.
9. Section 1.3.4 - Updated to add Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) regulated utilities to the permitted public utility crossings.
10. Section 1.3.6 - Clarified that placement of signs, markers, and fencing are all at the Stream Corridor Protection Zone conservation easement.
11. Section 1.4 - Clarified the conditions in which culverts may be considered an unrestricted hydraulic connection.
12. Section 2.3.2.1 - Corrected that hydraulic grade line is for the check storm.
13. Section 2.3.2.3 - Clarified that requirements for cover that is 36-inch or less are for City and recommended for private.
14. Section 2.3.2.4 - Clarified the added easement for sewers in the right-of-way may be less than required if approved by DWR.
15. Section 2.3.7 - Updated level spreader use restrictions. Updated design criteria from recommended to required. Added additional criteria from cited reference.
16. Section 3.1 - Clarified unobstructed access.
17. Section 3.2 - Updated to include exemption for water quantity control requirements related to proximity to fourth order stream.
18. Section 3.4.1.1 - Clarified spillway design for water quantity and water quality, outlet facility requirements, and orifice plate and riser placement.
19. Section 3.4.3 - Updated to remove the requirement for green infrastructure ahead of underground within the right-of-way that is to be owned or operated by the City. Updated to allow corrugated steel systems with protective coatings with the exception of galvanized steel systems which cannot be used for City owned or operated facilities.
20. Section 3.4.13 - Clarified design criteria requirements for vegetated filter strips.
21. Sections 4.1.2, 4.2, 4.2.1-4.2.3 and 4.3.2 - Clarified to match the integration of SCP as-builts into the plan revision process. Added note for 100-year Detention Table to highlight requirement on plans. Reiterated requirement for public improvement projects by the City.
22. Section 4.3.1.1 - Clarified accessway for City from right-of-way.
23. Part II - Updated to include more details of the following sections similar to the Part I introduction page.
24. Section 6 - Updated to align better with earlier sections that received more recent updates and to adopt current practices such as digital submittals.
25. Section 7 - Updated to align better with earlier sections that received more recent updates and to adopt current practices such as digital submittals. Includes example tables for title sheet tables specified.
26. Appendix C Exhibit A - Updated note SW1 to match DPS note regarding City of Columbus Construction and Materials Specifications. Updated SW3 to remove DODC number and added DWR number.
27. Appendix C Exhibit C - Updated checklist to align better with recent manual updates and current practices.
The draft of the Stormwater Drainage Manual may be found online at http://www.columbus.gov/stormwater/. Comments will be accepted through August 10, 2026.