The NJDEP NJPDES Basic Industrial Stormwater General Permit, known as the 5G2 permit (NJPDES Permit No. NJ0088315), is the authorization that most New Jersey industrial facilities must obtain before stormwater that touches their operations runs off their property. You apply for it by filing a Request for Authorization (RFA) through NJDEP Online, the state’s electronic permitting portal run by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
If your facility falls under a regulated industrial activity and rain or snowmelt touches your materials, equipment, or waste, then you either get a stormwater permit or you certify that you have no exposure. Getting this wrong is costly. Discharging industrial stormwater without authorization is a violation of the New Jersey Water Pollution Control Act, and the state’s N.J.A.C. 7:14A rules allow civil penalties of up to $50,000 per day, per violation. New Jersey regulates ten broad categories of industrial activity for stormwater, and a single missed Annual Report or unsigned certification can stall your authorization for months.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 🗂️ How to register for NJDEP Online and start your 5G2 Request for Authorization the right way
- 📍 How to fill out each field, from your SIC and NAICS codes to your outfall latitude and longitude
- 🧾 Which documents you must gather first, including your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan and site map
- ⚖️ The exact fees, deadlines, and penalties that apply to your permit and your yearly reports
- 🛟 The field-level mistakes that most often get applications rejected, and how to avoid every one
What the 5G2 Permit Is and Who Must File It
The 5G2 permit is a general permit. That means the NJDEP wrote one master permit, Permit No. NJ0088315, with one set of rules, and many similar facilities request coverage under it instead of each getting a custom permit. A general permit is faster and cheaper than an individual permit because the state already set the terms. You are not negotiating a permit; you are asking to be added to one that already exists.
You must file if your facility is engaged in an industrial activity that the federal Clean Water Act and N.J.A.C. 7:14A-24 regulate for stormwater. New Jersey ties this to your industry, not your size. Covered facilities include manufacturers, concrete and asphalt plants, scrap metal and vehicle recyclers, quarries, transportation yards, and landfills, among others. The trigger is your Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code and your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code, not the number of workers you employ.
The 5G2 permit fits facilities that can keep pollutant exposure low or eliminate it. If you can move materials indoors or cover them within six months of authorization, the 5G2 path often works for you. If your operations expose heavy pollutant sources to rain and you cannot control them, the NJDEP may require an Individual NJPDES permit instead, which is site-specific and stricter.
The agency that receives your filing is the NJDEP Division of Water Quality. The statute that requires it is the New Jersey Water Pollution Control Act, carried out through the NJPDES rules at N.J.A.C. 7:14A. The deadline is event-driven: you must apply before you start discharging, and existing facilities must renew when the general permit renews. The penalty for ignoring all of this is enforcement, fines, and an order to stop operating.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Filling out the RFA goes faster when you gather your facts first. The portal times out, and missing data is the top reason applications stall. Build this file before you log in.
- Your facility’s NJPDES permit number (if you have one). You need it to attach your facility in the portal; without it, the system cannot link your submission to your site.
- Your SIC code. This four-digit code defines your industrial activity and decides whether you even qualify for 5G2; the wrong code can route you to the wrong permit.
- Your NAICS code. New Jersey now cross-checks industrial coverage against NAICS; a missing NAICS code can hold your authorization.
- Your facility’s street address and block and lot. The state maps your site from this, and a wrong lot sends inspectors to the wrong parcel.
- Latitude and longitude of each stormwater outfall. The permit tracks where your water leaves the site; missing coordinates make your discharge points untraceable and can void coverage.
- The name of the receiving water. You must name the stream, river, or storm sewer that gets your runoff, because the state checks it against water-quality classifications.
- Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SPPP). Almost every NJPDES permit requires this written plan; without it on file, you are out of compliance the day you are authorized.
- A site map showing drainage and outfalls. This shows where stormwater flows; an inaccurate map undercuts your whole application.
- Your owner and operator contact details. The certifying official must be a responsible corporate officer, and a non-authorized signer invalidates the certification.
- A myNewJersey account and NJDEP Online certification PIN. You cannot certify the RFA electronically without them, and setup can take a day.
If any item is missing, stop and find it before you file. A complete file lets you move through the portal in one sitting instead of losing a half-finished submission to a timeout.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
There is no paper form you mail in for the modern 5G2 RFA. You file it electronically through NJDEP Online, the state’s permitting portal. The master permit document itself, Permit No. NJ0088315, is published as a PDF so you can read every term before you agree to it. Always confirm you are reading the current renewal by checking the effective and expiration dates printed on the permit’s first pages.
New users must register first. Go to the portal, find the “New User?” box, and click “Request Access to NJDEP Online.” Enter your contact name, organization, and email, then click “Request.” The registration screen times out in about five minutes, so have your details ready. If it times out after you enter your email, email PortalComments@dep.nj.gov with the email you used and your myNewJersey logon ID.
Next, link your account to myNewJersey. If you already have a myNewJersey logon, enter it and click “Link NJDEP Online to My Account.” If you do not, create one on the same screen. Then add your contact number, answer five challenge questions, and create a Certification PIN. Write down your answers and PIN, because you need them to certify your submission later.
Finally, add the right service and your facility. On the “My Services” screen, select the service under the Division of Water Quality, then under “My Facilities/Program Interests” click “Add Facilities.” Choose “Retrieve NJPDES Permit Numbers,” select “Water Quality,” and enter your NJPDES permit number in caps. Click “Search,” check your facility, and click “Add Selected Facilities.”
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the 5G2 Request for Authorization Line by Line
Work through the RFA in the order the portal presents it. Each section below mirrors a field or group of fields on the electronic form. Enter data exactly as it appears on your official records, because the state cross-checks your entries against its databases.
1. Facility Name and Owner Information
This field asks for the legal name of your facility and the person or company that owns it. Enter the full legal business name exactly as it appears on your formation papers, not a nickname or “doing business as” name unless that is the legal entity. For example, Garden State Metal Works, LLC writes its name in full, not GSMW.
A common edge case is when the owner and operator are different companies. If you lease the site, the owner is the property holder and the operator is your business; the form has separate spots for each, so fill both. The most common mistake here is entering a trade name instead of the registered legal name, which creates a mismatch with state corporate records and can delay your authorization. Many filers wrongly believe the facility name and the owner name must match; they often do not, and the form expects both.
2. Facility Location and Site Address
This field asks where your industrial activity physically happens. Enter the street address, municipality, county, and the block and lot of the parcel. For example, Maria Lopez enters 412 Industrial Way, Edison, Middlesex County, Block 55, Lot 12 for her plating shop.
A frequent edge case is a mailing address that differs from the physical site, such as a corporate P.O. Box. Always enter the physical location of operations here, not the billing address. The most common mistake is using the mailing address, which maps your permit to the wrong place and can misroute inspections. People often think the site address and mailing address are interchangeable; for stormwater, only the physical site matters because runoff comes from the ground, not the mailbox.
3. SIC Code
This field asks for your four-digit Standard Industrial Classification code, the number that defines your industry. Enter the primary SIC code that best describes the activity generating your stormwater exposure. For example, Marcus runs a ready-mix concrete plant and enters SIC 3273.
The edge case is a facility with several activities. List your primary SIC first, then any secondary codes the form allows, because the state uses the primary code to confirm 5G2 eligibility. The most common mistake is guessing a code or copying one from a similar business, which can place you under the wrong permit and force you to refile. A widespread misconception is that the SIC code no longer matters because NAICS exists; New Jersey still uses SIC to define regulated industrial activity, so it is required.
4. NAICS Code
This field asks for your North American Industry Classification System code, the modern federal industry code. Enter the NAICS code that matches your operations, which you can look up on the U.S. Census NAICS tool. For example, Aisha’s auto recycling yard enters NAICS 423140.
The edge case is a mixed-use site with both industrial and retail areas; choose the NAICS code for the activity that exposes materials to stormwater. The most common mistake is leaving NAICS blank because the filer thinks SIC alone is enough, which can place a hold on the authorization. Many filers believe SIC and NAICS are the same numbering system; they are not, and the state asks for both so it can match older and newer records.
5. Stormwater Outfall Identification
This field asks you to identify each point where stormwater leaves your site, called an outfall. Assign each outfall a label such as DSN 001A and enter its latitude and longitude in decimal degrees. For example, Garden State Metal Works enters DSN 001A at 40.5187, -74.4121.
The edge case is a site with multiple discharge points; each gets its own number and coordinates, never one shared entry. The most common mistake is entering the building’s center coordinates instead of the actual outfall pipe or ditch, which makes the discharge impossible to monitor and can void coverage at that point. A common misconception is that one outfall covers the whole property; the state tracks each separate discharge point, so list them all.
6. Receiving Water Name
This field asks for the name of the water body that ultimately receives your stormwater. Enter the named stream, river, lake, or municipal storm sewer system your runoff drains to. For example, Maria Lopez enters Mill Brook, a tributary of the Raritan River.
The edge case is when you discharge to a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) rather than directly to a stream; name the MS4 and the ultimate receiving water if known. The most common mistake is writing “storm drain” with no name, which leaves the state unable to apply the correct water-quality classification and slows review. People often assume any nearby creek will do; you must name the actual receiving water, because surface-water classifications drive your permit conditions.
7. Description of Industrial Activity and Materials Exposed
This field asks what you do on site and which materials rain can touch. Write a plain, specific description of your operations and the exposed materials, such as raw stock, fuels, or waste. For example, Marcus writes “ready-mix concrete batching; cement, aggregate, and wash water stored outdoors.”
The edge case is a facility that plans to eliminate exposure within six months by moving materials indoors; note that plan here, because 5G2 is built for facilities that can reduce exposure. The most common mistake is a vague entry like “manufacturing,” which gives reviewers no way to judge your pollutant sources and invites follow-up questions. A misconception is that less detail protects you; in fact, an honest, specific description speeds approval and reduces inspection surprises.
8. Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SPPP) Certification
This field asks you to confirm you have prepared, or will prepare, your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SPPP). Check the box or answer the prompt confirming the plan is in place and kept on site. For example, Aisha confirms her SPPP is complete and stored in the yard office.
The edge case is a brand-new facility still drafting its SPPP; the permit gives you a window to complete it, but you must commit to having it ready. The most common mistake is certifying the SPPP exists when it does not, which is a false certification and a serious enforcement risk. Many filers think the SPPP gets mailed in with the RFA; it usually does not, but it must exist and be available for inspection, so do not treat the certification as a formality.
9. Certification and Signature
This field is the legal sign-off where a responsible official swears the information is true. The signer must be a responsible corporate officer, owner, or authorized agent, and they certify under penalty of law. For example, Garden State Metal Works’ president, David Chen, certifies using his NJDEP Online Certification PIN.
The edge case is delegating signature to a consultant or plant manager; New Jersey requires proper written authorization for anyone who is not the principal officer. The most common mistake is having an unauthorized employee certify, which invalidates the entire submission and forces a refile. A common misconception is that the electronic PIN is just a password; it carries the same legal weight as a signature on a sworn document, so guard it and use it only for filings you have reviewed.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three walkthroughs follow named filers through the most common 5G2 situations. Use them as a model for your own entries.
Scenario 1: David Chen, a metal fabrication shop seeking 5G2 coverage
| Form Section | What David Enters |
|---|---|
| Facility Name | Garden State Metal Works, LLC |
| Owner / Operator | Owner: Chen Holdings LLC; Operator: Garden State Metal Works, LLC |
| Site Address | 412 Industrial Way, Edison, Middlesex County, Block 55, Lot 12 |
| SIC Code | 3441 (fabricated structural metal) |
| NAICS Code | 332312 |
| Outfall ID | DSN 001A, 40.5187, -74.4121 |
| Receiving Water | Mill Brook (tributary of the Raritan River) |
| Materials Exposed | Steel stock and scrap stored outdoors; plan to cover within six months |
| SPPP | Confirmed, kept in plant office |
| Certification | David Chen, President, via Certification PIN |
Scenario 2: Aisha Rahman, an auto recycling yard filing for 5G2
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Facility Name | Liberty Auto Recyclers, Inc. |
| Owner / Operator | Owner and Operator: Liberty Auto Recyclers, Inc. |
| Site Address | 88 Salvage Road, Trenton, Mercer County, Block 102, Lot 7 |
| SIC Code | 5015 (motor vehicle parts, used) |
| NAICS Code | 423140 |
| Outfall ID | DSN 001A, 40.2206, -74.7597; DSN 002A, 40.2210, -74.7601 |
| Receiving Water | Assunpink Creek |
| Materials Exposed | End-of-life vehicles, fluids, batteries stored in yard |
| SPPP | Confirmed, stored in yard office |
| Certification | Aisha Rahman, Owner, via Certification PIN |
Scenario 3: Marcus Bell, a ready-mix concrete plant requesting 5G2
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Facility Name | Bell Ready-Mix Concrete Co. |
| Owner / Operator | Owner: Bell Family Trust; Operator: Bell Ready-Mix Concrete Co. |
| Site Address | 7 Quarry Lane, Vineland, Cumberland County, Block 9, Lot 3 |
| SIC Code | 3273 (ready-mixed concrete) |
| NAICS Code | 327320 |
| Outfall ID | DSN 001A, 39.4861, -75.0257 |
| Receiving Water | Maurice River |
| Materials Exposed | Cement, aggregate, and wash water stored outdoors |
| SPPP | Confirmed, includes wash-water containment |
| Certification | Marcus Bell, General Manager (authorized agent), via Certification PIN |
How to File the Completed Form
The 5G2 Request for Authorization is filed electronically. For ongoing documents such as Annual Reports and monitoring data, you use the related submittal service inside the portal. Below is how each channel works.
Online portal (NJDEP Online). This is the main and expected channel. Log in at NJDEP Online, select the Division of Water Quality service, choose your facility, complete each screen, answer your challenge question, enter your Certification PIN, and click “Certify.” There is a permit fee tied to the NJPDES program, billed through the state’s annual NJPDES fee schedule; the portal and your billing notice tell you the amount and accepted payment. Processing of a complete general-permit RFA is typically weeks rather than months. Always save or print the “Facility Submittal Summary” as your proof of filing.
Stormwater Document Submittal service. For supporting documents, the Stormwater Document Submittal guide explains how to upload files such as certification forms and infrastructure maps. Note this service is not for submitting the permit application itself. After uploading, confirm the status reads “Submission Successful”; if it says “Submission Failed,” email PortalComments@dep.nj.gov with the Service ID number.
Mail and in person. The modern stormwater process runs through the portal, so there is no standard mail-in 5G2 RFA. If you cannot access the portal, contact the program at IndustrialStormwaterPermitting@dep.nj.gov for guidance before assuming a paper route exists. Keep every email and confirmation as your record.
Fax. Fax is not an accepted channel for the electronic RFA. Do not rely on it, because a faxed application is not entered into the e-permitting system and will not authorize your discharge.
What Happens After You File
After you certify and submit, the NJDEP confirms receipt, but a successful submission is not the same as approval. The portal records your status, and you can track it under “My Services – Submitted.” A confirmation only means the state received your RFA, not that anyone has reviewed or approved it yet.
A case manager or reviewer then checks your RFA against the 5G2 eligibility rules. They confirm your SIC and NAICS codes, your outfalls, your receiving water, and your SPPP certification. If something is missing or unclear, the reviewer contacts you, which is why a complete, specific application matters.
If you qualify, the NJDEP issues your authorization under Permit No. NJ0088315, and your facility is now covered. From that day forward you must follow the permit’s conditions, keep your SPPP current, conduct any required monitoring, and submit your Annual Report on time. Missing those ongoing duties can trigger enforcement even after you are authorized, so treat approval as the start of compliance, not the end.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Each mistake below has stalled real applications. Read them before you certify.
- Entering a trade name instead of the legal business name, which creates a records mismatch and delays authorization.
- Using your mailing address as the site address, which maps your permit to the wrong parcel.
- Guessing your SIC code, which can place you under the wrong permit and force a refile.
- Leaving the NAICS code blank, which can put a hold on your authorization.
- Listing only one outfall when you have several, which leaves discharge points unpermitted.
- Entering building coordinates instead of the actual outfall location, which makes monitoring impossible.
- Writing “storm drain” with no named receiving water, which slows review while the state seeks the real water body.
- Giving a vague activity description like “manufacturing,” which triggers follow-up questions and delay.
- Certifying an SPPP that does not exist, which is a false certification and an enforcement risk.
- Letting an unauthorized employee certify, which invalidates the whole submission.
- Letting the portal time out mid-application, which loses your unsaved entries.
- Forgetting to save the Facility Submittal Summary, which leaves you with no proof of filing.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do gather every document before you log in, because the portal times out and you will lose progress.
- Do use your exact legal business name, because the state cross-checks corporate records.
- Do verify your SIC and NAICS codes against official lookups, because they decide eligibility.
- Do list every outfall with real coordinates, because each discharge point must be permitted.
- Do keep your SPPP complete and on site, because inspectors can ask for it any time.
- Do save your submittal summary, because it is your only proof you filed.
Don’t:
- Don’t certify information you have not personally reviewed, because the PIN carries legal weight.
- Don’t use a P.O. Box as the site address, because stormwater comes from the physical site.
- Don’t skip the NAICS field, because a blank can hold your authorization.
- Don’t describe your activity vaguely, because reviewers cannot judge your pollutant sources.
- Don’t let an unauthorized person sign, because it voids the certification.
- Don’t assume a confirmation means approval, because review comes after receipt.
Filing on Your Own vs. With Professional Help
Some facilities file the RFA themselves; others hire an environmental consultant or engineer. Here is how the choice breaks down.
| Filing on Your Own | Filing With a Professional |
|---|---|
| Saves consultant fees, which helps small budgets | Adds cost, but reduces costly errors and refiles |
| Builds in-house knowledge of your own permit | Brings experience with SIC/NAICS and outfall mapping |
| Works well when exposure is simple and low | Valuable when exposure is complex or borderline 5G2 |
| You control the timeline directly | A pro can speed review by submitting a clean application |
| Full responsibility for accuracy rests on you | Shares the burden of getting technical fields right |
Pros of filing on your own: lower cost; direct control; you learn your obligations; no scheduling around a consultant; faster start for simple sites.
Cons of filing on your own: higher error risk on SIC, NAICS, and outfalls; you may miss whether 5G2 even fits; mistakes can mean refiling; the SPPP can be hard to write alone; you bear full legal exposure for errors.
Pros of professional help: technical accuracy; experience with eligibility calls; faster clean submissions; help with the SPPP and monitoring; ongoing compliance support.
Cons of professional help: added cost; you depend on their schedule; you still must understand your own permit; you must share site details; not every small, low-exposure site needs it.
5G2 vs. Individual NJPDES Permit
| 5G2 General Permit | Individual NJPDES Permit |
|---|---|
| One master permit covers many similar facilities | A custom permit written for your specific site |
| Faster, lower-cost path to authorization | Slower, more detailed, often stricter |
| Built for facilities that can limit exposure | Used when exposure is high or 5G2 does not fit |
| Standard, preset permit conditions | Site-specific conditions the NJDEP writes for you |
| Requested through an RFA in the portal | Applied for with NJPDES application forms |
FAQs
Do I need a 5G2 permit if rain never touches my materials? No. If you have true no-exposure, you may qualify for a Permanent No Exposure Exemption instead of a permit, but you must certify that no industrial materials or activities are exposed to stormwater.
Do I file the 5G2 application on paper? No. The Request for Authorization is filed electronically through NJDEP Online, and there is no standard mail-in form for the modern 5G2 process.
Do I need both a SIC code and a NAICS code on the form? Yes. New Jersey asks for both, because it uses the older SIC code to define regulated activity and the NAICS code to match modern federal records.
Do I enter my building’s coordinates in the outfall field? No. Enter the latitude and longitude of the actual point where stormwater leaves your site, such as the outfall pipe or ditch, not the building center.
Do I list every outfall separately? Yes. Each discharge point gets its own number, like DSN 001A and DSN 002A, with its own coordinates, because the state tracks each one individually.
Do I write the mailing address or the site address in the location field? No mailing address. Enter the physical site where operations happen, because stormwater comes from the ground, not the billing office.
Do I submit my SPPP with the application? No. You usually certify the SPPP exists and keep it on site for inspection rather than uploading it with the RFA, but it must be real and current.
Do I name the receiving water even if I drain to a storm sewer? Yes. Name the municipal storm sewer system and, if known, the ultimate stream or river, because water-quality classifications shape your permit conditions.
Do I have to renew the 5G2 permit? Yes. General permits run for a fixed term and renew on a cycle, so you must seek continued authorization when the master permit is reissued.
Do I owe a fee for the permit? Yes. NJPDES permits carry annual fees set by the state’s NJPDES fee schedule, and the portal and your billing notice tell you the amount.
Do I face penalties for discharging without authorization? Yes. Discharging regulated industrial stormwater without a permit violates the Water Pollution Control Act and can bring civil penalties of up to $50,000 per day, per violation.
Do I have ongoing duties after I am authorized? Yes. You must keep your SPPP current, perform required monitoring, and file your Annual Report on time, because missing these can trigger enforcement even after approval.
Do I need to be a corporate officer to certify the application? Yes. The certifier must be a responsible corporate officer, owner, or properly authorized agent, because an unauthorized signature invalidates the whole submission.
Do I lose my work if the portal times out? No, usually. If you are disconnected, log back in and resume from “My Services – In Progress,” but unsaved entries on the current screen may be lost.
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