The #1 cause of water pollution in the Town of Dedham is polluted stormwater runoff. 

Rainwater and snowmelt run off our roadways, lawns, and construction sites into catch basins on the streets carrying fertilizers, oil, and trash that pollute our waterways. Education is imperative to preventing pollution of our streams, rivers, and ponds. Often times residents are unaware of the direct connection between what they use on their lawns or what they dump down storm drains and the health of the environment.

Like most towns in Massachusetts, Dedham faces a problem with stormwater pollution. Runoff from our parking lots, roads, sidewalks, and other hard surfaces carries pollution into our water bodies. This pollution can make water bodies unsightly, and unsafe for swimming, boating, fishing, and other recreational activities. 

The Town of Dedham is part of the Neponset Stormwater Partnership, a regional group managed by the Neponset River Watershed Association that is committed to reducing water pollution and complying with federal pollution reduction requirements. Through this partnership, Dedham is working towards a cleaner future by providing educational resources for its residents on how to prevent stormwater pollution. 

For more information on what Dedham is doing and how you can be part of the solution view the Dedham Stormwater Best Management Practices Flyer.

The Stormwater Utility Fee was created in 2023 to help Dedham meet new federal requirements to reduce pollution from stormwater runoff. These funds are dedicated only to stormwater work, such as improving water quality, upgrading drainage systems, and protecting our local rivers and streams.

Because all properties with impervious surfaces (like driveways, roofs, and parking lots) contribute to runoff, the fee applies to both residential and commercial property owners. For more details on billing, tier classes, or filing an abatement, please visit the Town of Dedham's Engineering Department page for more information. 

We are on OpenGov!

All Stormwater Permit applications must now be submitted online through OpenGov. To get started, please create a new user account or log in with your existing OpenGov account.

Detailed requirements for stormwater permitting are outlined in the Town of Dedham's Drainage and Stormwater Management Design Standards and in the Town of Dedham Stormwater Rules and Regulations.

1. Minor Stormwater Management Permit: $100

2. Major Stormwater Management Permit and Abbreviated Major Stormwater Management Permit: 

a) New Single-Family Homes and Residential Projects: $350

b) New Multi-Family Residential Development (up to residential units): $350/residential unit

c) Non-Residential Projects with <5,000 sf of Work Area: $600

d) Non-Residential Projects with >5,000 sf of Work Area but <1 acre: $1,250

e) Non-Residential Projects with >1 acre of Work Area: $1,500/acre plus an additional $1,000 for any additional portion.

Permit Extension Request: 

a) New Single-Family Homes and Residential Projects: $50

b) Multi-family Residential Developments: $100

c) Non-Residential Projects with <1 acre of Work Area: $100

d) Non-Residential Projects with >1 acre of Work Area: $300

**When you apply for a Stormwater Permit and pay the filing fee, the Stormwater Manager will review your materials. If needed, the Town may require a third-party engineer to review the application. In that case, the applicant is responsible for the cost of the review.

• Dedham Stormwater Rules and Regulations
• Drainage and Stormwater Design Standards
• Stormwater Pollution Prevention Guide 2025
• SMP Site Inspection Authorization Form