Regulations
Clear Creek County SWPPP Checklist: Concrete Washout & Excavation
Clear Creek County
Jurisdiction: Clear Creek County (Idaho Springs, Georgetown, Empire, Silver Plume, and unincorporated areas)
Permit / authority: Governing Permits: Clear Creek County Grading & Excavation Permit / Site Development
Operating in Clear Creek County means navigating extremely steep canyon topography and rigid protections for the Clear Creek watershed. Because the county has a history of mining-related water quality issues, their Site Development Department is exceptionally strict regarding excavation, grading, or alkaline pollutants such as concrete washout near state waters.
1. The 10 Cubic Yard / 800 Sq. Ft. Permit Trigger
The Rule: Earth-disturbing activities require formal county oversight to prevent erosion and illicit discharges. The Clear Creek Nuance: Clear Creek County enforces an incredibly low threshold for earthwork. A formal Grading & Excavation Permit is strictly required for any project proposing earth disturbance of more than 800 square feet of surface area OR more than 10 cubic yards of cut/fill volume. If a superintendent digs a temporary in-ground concrete washout pit, the excavated dirt counts directly toward this 10-yard maximum. Exceeding it without a permit triggers an immediate Stop-Work Order.
2. The Private Property Washout Mandate
The Rule: Initial site conditions and temporary erosion controls must be inspected and approved before a grading permit is issued. The Clear Creek Nuance: Clear Creek County roads are notoriously narrow, often lacking shoulders or formal curb-and-gutter systems. Because of this, the Site Development Department explicitly mandates during the Initial Inspection phase that "Concrete washout areas shall be provided on private properties where development takes place involving concrete placement". Staging a washout pan or digging a pit in the public Right-of-Way (ROW) is strictly forbidden to keep roadways and ditches entirely clean of track-out and alkaline runoff.
3. The "Concrete Pre-Placement" Rough-In Hurdle
The Rule: Construction access must be stabilized to prevent sediment tracking onto paved roads. The Clear Creek Nuance: You cannot pour concrete until the site access is structurally finalized. Clear Creek County explicitly notes that before a "Concrete Pre-Placement Inspection" can even be called in for a Building Permit, the site must pass a Site Development Rough-In Inspection. This requires the driveway to be fully constructed with the proper width, grade, and approach to support heavy equipment (like fully loaded mixer trucks) without destroying the county road edge or causing massive track-out.
4. The 10% Slope Topographic Survey Requirement
The Rule: Site Development permit applications must include accurate site plans showing grading limits and existing terrain. The Clear Creek Nuance: Because the county is built into steep canyon walls, the risk of a temporary washout pit blowing out down a hillside is severe. The county mandates that a formal topographic and boundary survey must be submitted for all projects that propose the disturbance of slopes with an existing grade of over 10%. Ad-hoc digging for temporary staging pads or washout pits on these slopes without an engineered, surveyed plan is a direct violation of the Site Development Code.
