Learn the required elements for a California industrial SWPPP, including site map details, BMPs, and monitoring schedules. Find links to the official State Water Board checklist and submission guides.
California's Industrial General Permit (IGP) requires a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for any facility with an applicable SIC code that discharges stormwater associated with industrial activity. The State Water Board's Appendix 1 checklist is the authoritative template that maps each required element to its specific permit section.
Which facilities need an industrial SWPPP?
Facilities with an applicable SIC code that discharge stormwater associated with industrial activity must obtain coverage under the IGP and prepare a full SWPPP. If nothing industrial on your site is exposed to rain, you can certify No Exposure instead. If you are on the regulated list but do not discharge stormwater, you file a Notice of Non-Applicability. All three filings go through the SMARTS database. The IGP itself is Order 2014-0057-DWQ, as amended in 2015 and 2018, per the State Water Board's IGP program page.
What elements must the SWPPP contain?
The permit's Appendix 1 checklist requires a signed certification, pollution prevention team description, existing facility plans, site map, facility description with pollutant sources, minimum and advanced BMPs, monitoring schedule, and a compliance activity schedule. The State Water Board's Appendix 1 SWPPP Checklist lists each element with its corresponding permit section reference. For example, the signed certification maps to Section II.A.1.a, while the facility site map maps to Section X.E. The permit recognizes that there is no single best way of organizing an SWPPP, but the requirements contain the essential elements all facility operators must consider, as noted in the permit's table of contents.
| SWPPP Element | Permit Section Reference |
|---|---|
| Signed Certification | II.A.1.a |
| Pollution Prevention Team | X.D.1 |
| Existing Facility Plans | X.D.2 |
| Facility Site Map(s) | X.E |
| Facility Boundaries | X.E.3.a |
| Drainage Areas | X.E.3.a |
| Direction of Flow | X.E.3.a |
| On-facility Water Bodies | X.E.3.a |
| Areas of Soil Erosion | X.E.3.a |
| Nearby Water Bodies | X.E.3.a |
| Municipal Storm Drain Inlets | X.E.3.a |
| Points of Discharge | X.E.3.b |
| Structural Control Measures | X.E.3.b |
| Impervious Areas | X.E.3.c |
| Location of Directly Exposed Materials | X.E.3.d |
| Locations of Significant Spills and Leaks | X.E.3.d |
The table above pulls directly from the Appendix 2 SWPPP outline and the Los Angeles Regional Board's SWPPP review guide.
What goes in the site map?
The site map must show facility boundaries, drainage areas within the boundary, flow direction, on-site and nearby water bodies, soil erosion areas, municipal storm drain inlets, points of discharge, structural control measures, impervious areas, and locations of directly exposed materials and significant spills. The SMARTS discharger's guide specifies that the map must include notes, legends, a north arrow, and other data as appropriate to ensure it is clear, legible, and understandable. You may provide the required information on multiple site maps if a single sheet becomes cluttered. The map must show the flow direction of each drainage area and portions of any drainage area impacted by discharges from surrounding areas.
How do you describe the facility and its pollution sources?
The facility description section requires a list of industrial materials, identification of potential pollutant sources, an inventory of chemicals, a list of significant spills and leaks, identification of non-stormwater discharges, and an assessment of pollutant risk. The 2012 IGP Fact Sheet outlines this assessment as a core part of the SWPPP. You must review monitoring information, evaluate existing BMPs, and document how pollutants move across your site during storm events. The Orange County Regional Board's annotated SWPPP outline provides suggested content for each section, which helps when you are drafting the narrative portions of your plan.
Which BMPs does the permit require?
The IGP requires minimum BMPs for all covered facilities, including good housekeeping, spill prevention, and structural controls. Advanced BMPs are optional but may be required if monitoring shows pollutant loads exceeding action levels. The San Francisco Bay Regional Board's stormwater provisions list minimum Best Management Practices as a required SWPPP element. Your BMP section must describe what you currently do and how it addresses the specific pollutant sources you identified in your facility description.
What are the monitoring requirements?
The California IGP requires four stormwater effluent sampling events per year, with samples taken from each drainage area on the site. This is more frequent than the federal MSGP's quarterly benchmark monitoring in years one and four, as described in our guide to industrial stormwater filtration under the MSGP. The IGP's four-event requirement applies to facilities under full coverage, not those with No Exposure certifications. Your SWPPP must include a monitoring schedule that specifies which parameters you will sample, from which drainage areas, and on what timeline.
What happens when you exceed a Numeric Action Level?
Exceeding a NAL triggers Exceedance Response Action (ERA) Level 1 status, requiring the facility to implement corrective actions and submit a response plan. Repeated exceedances can escalate to Level 2 with more stringent requirements. Our detailed walkthrough of California Industrial Stormwater Permit Level 1 and 2 steps covers the specific deadlines and documentation you need at each stage. When sample results exceed a Numeric Action Level, the IGP requires a response action, and the facility can be placed in ERA Level 1 status.
Where do you find the official template?
The State Water Board's Appendix 1 SWPPP Checklist is the authoritative template, available as a PDF from the IGP program page. The Orange County Regional Board also publishes an annotated SWPPP outline with suggested content for each section. EPA's Developing Your SWPPP guide includes an MSGP SWPPP template and example site map that can serve as a structural reference, though the California IGP has its own specific requirements.
How do you upload the SWPPP to SMARTS?
The site map and SWPPP are uploaded through the SMARTS database, which requires specific map elements including notes, legends, a north arrow, and clear labeling of drainage areas and discharge points. The SMARTS discharger's guide details the technical requirements for digital submission. If you cannot find a historical document, the State Water Board suggests contacting the Stormwater Helpdesk at stormwater@waterboards.ca.gov for assistance.
How does filtration fit into the BMP plan?
Filtration media that targets dissolved pollutants—metals, hydrocarbons, phosphorus, or bacteria—complements the sediment and TSS controls already in place. The choice of media depends on which pollutants your monitoring shows, and the format depends on where in the drainage path you can install it. For example, if your samples show elevated zinc or copper, a metal-targeting media addresses the dissolved fraction that sediment controls leave behind. If hydrocarbons are the issue, a hydrophobic media captures oil and grease before they reach the outfall. Our guide to industrial stormwater oil and grease action levels explains what triggers those levels and how to respond. We can help you match the right media and format to your site's specific water quality data. Schedule a site assessment to determine which treatment approach fits your drainage path and discharge objectives.