Step 1: Do you need a permit?

Primary SIC code and narrative activities

Businesses are designated by their SIC code(s) or by narrative activities, often for Dept. of Commerce or Dept. of Revenue purposes. The codes are typically found on your federal tax forms, located on the upper left of the Schedule C or C-EZ for Sole Proprietors, Form 1065 for Partners, Form 1120 for C Corporations, or Form 1120-S for S Corporations.

SIC and NAICS codes

• Find your SIC code
• Convert NAICS code to a corresponding SIC code

Narrative activities

If your facility has narrative activity, you must apply for permit coverage. Identify all applicable narrative activities conducted at the facility.

• A4: Discharges from Wet Decking Storage Areas (Timber Products)
• C1: Runoff from phosphate fertilizer manufacturing facilities that comes into contact with raw materials/finished products/by-products/waste products
• D2: Discharges from Production of Asphalt Emulsions Areas
• E3: Cement Manufacturing Facility, Material Storage Runoff
• K1: Hazardous Waste Treatment/Storage/Disposal Facility for Discharges Not Subject To Effluent Limitations In 40 CFR Part 445 Subpart A (NOT a hazardous waste generator)
• K2: Hazardous Waste Treatment/Storage/Disposal Facility for Discharges Subject To Effluent Limitations In 40 CFR Part 445 Subpart A (NOT a hazardous waste generator)
• L1: Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Areas Closed in Accordance with 40 CFR 258.60
• L2: Open Or Closed Non-Hazardous Waste Landfill And Land Application Site Not Discharging to Surface Water
• L3: Landfill That Discharges To Surface Waters Stormwater That Has Directly Contacted Solid Waste
• O1: Coal Fired and Oil Fired Steam Electric Generating Facility
• O2: Nuclear, Natural Gas Fired, and Any Other Fuel Source Used For Steam Electric Generation
• O3: Runoff from coal storage piles at steam electric generating facility
• S3: Existing and new primary airports with 1,000 or more annual jet departures that discharge wastewater associated with airfield pavement deicing that contains urea commingled with stormwater.
• T1: Treatment Works with design flow of 1 million gallons per day or more or are required to have an approved pretreatment program under 40 CFR pt 403

Regulated industrial activities

Not authorized

Co-mingled wastewater and stormwater discharges are considered wastewater and a wastewater permit may be required.

Not required

• NPDES/SDS permit with stormwater requirements: If your individual wastewater discharge permit has stormwater requirements, you do not need to apply for the multi-sector general permit.
• No narrative activities or primary SIC code: If you do not conduct a regulated narrative activity or regulated Primary SIC code, no permit is required.

Construction sand and gravel, aggregate, hot mix asphalt, and/or concrete activities

Facilities with industrial activities covered under the nonmetallic mining and associated activities general permit (MNG49) do not need to apply for the multi-sector general permit, including construction, sand, and gravel mines; stone mines and quarries; or hot mix asphalt facilities. The MNG49 permit can cover multiple locations. See the nonmetallic mining page for more information. If a facility has activities beyond not covered by the nonmetallic mining permit, obtain the multi-sector general permit for the location  or portions of facilities that have additional activities (such as local trucking or landfills).

Grain elevators

Establishments primarily engaged in buying and/or marketing grain, or country grain elevators primarily engaged in buying or receiving grain from farmers (as well as terminal elevators and other merchants marketing grain) fall within SIC code 5153, and therefore do not need permit coverage. 

The 29 sectors of industrial activity