Stormwater & BMPs

Quick Links

• BMP Compliance Status (Seach by parcel number or address.)
• Common BMPs Photo Gallery
• TRPA Permitting Guidelines for Residential
• Standard BMP Plan Sheet (Coming soon.)
• BMP Applications & Forms
• Real Estate Disclaimer
• TahoeBMP.org (in-depth website dedicated to BMPs)
• BMP Hotline: 775-589-5202 or BMP@TRPA.gov

Stormwater and Water Quality

Lake Tahoe’s famous clarity and the health of its watersheds are closely connected to how stormwater is managed. Decades of stormwater runoff from roads and dense urban areas, vehicle exhaust, altered wetlands and streams, and inadequate stormwater pollution control has significantly impacted Lake Tahoe’s water quality.

The TRPA Code of Ordinances Chapter 60: Water Quality and the BMP Action Plan guides the Stormwater Management Program. This program is a collaborative of local partners working together to reduce stormwater pollution.

Visit eip.laketahoeinfo.org to learn more about Lake Tahoe’s stormwater projects.

Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are systems that capture, dissipate, and infiltrate stormwater onto properties. Once installed and maintained, these BMPs reduce the amount of sediment and other pollutants that flow into Lake Tahoe and prevent soil erosion. Some examples include roof gutters, gravel driplines trenches, and rain gardens. Research proves that implementing BMPs on existing development is a critical step toward improving Lake Tahoe’s water quality and clarity.

TRPA requires all developed properties, such as homes and businesses, to install and maintain BMPs. BMPs must be designed to infiltrate stormwater from a large precipitation event – a 20-year, one-hour storm which is equivalent to one inch of rainfall. Once a property meets TRPA’s BMP requirements, TRPA issues a BMP Certificate. To find out if a property has a BMP Certificate, visit the Lake Tahoe Parcel Tracker.

Some properties have site characteristics (such as high ground water or shallow bedrock) that make it unfeasible to infiltrate the stormwater and are considered “site constrained”. TRPA requires these properties to install source control BMPs that stabilize soil and prevent erosion to receive a Source Control Certificate.

When a Tahoe property undergoes a real-estate transaction, TRPA requires disclosure of the property’s BMP status from the seller to the buyer and submittal of TRPA’s real estate disclosure form within 30 days of sale: Real Estate Disclaimer Form

Need assistance? We’re here to help. TRPA staff are available to help answer questions about BMPs or determine the appropriate BMPs for a property. Call the BMP Hotline at 775-589-5202 or email BMP@trpa.gov.