Although the requirements for many environmental approvals are not applicable to homeowners, a few activities undertaken by homeowners require approvals including:

• Lead Paint Removal (see 2.19)
• Installation of a pier (see 3.18, 3.19, & 3.20)
• Installation of a boathouse (see 3.18, 3.19, & 3.20)
• Any construction in a wetland (see 3.18, 3.19, & 3.20)
• Use of chemicals in water bodies to eliminate nuisance plants and animals (see 3.06)
• Removal of asbestos from a residence (see 1.07)

If you are a homeowner and plan to perform any of the above projects, you should read the applicable item in the list of Approval Fact Sheets and call the contact listed on the fact sheet.

Many other activities performed by homeowners may have environmental impacts. These include:

• Washing cars
• Watering lawns
• Fertilizing lawns
• Septic tank use
• Digging wells
• Construction
• Changing automobile oil
• Filling heating oil tanks
• Pumping gas
• Disposing of household hazardous waste
• Recycling yard waste
• Refuse disposal
• Grilling
• Dry cleaning

For more information and advice on performing these in a environmentally constructive way, see MDE's “Go Green” site. ​