LID Certification

The Low Impact Development (LID) Certification System at Lake George features a series of credits detailing LID practices a property owner, architect, designer, or developer can apply to their project, whether for new construction, improvement for an existing structure, or redevelopment of a site. Each credit is assigned a prescribed number of points, and after third-party technical review, a project receiving enough points becomes LID Certified. Based on the score awarded, there are three possible levels of LID Certification—Platinum, Gold, and Silver.

LID Certification combines 32 individual credits across four categories: Protect, Build, Restore, and Maintain (as detailed below). With up to six additional points possible for innovations contributing to LID goals, scores can total up to 100 points and are divided by certification level. Arrangement of credits and points is designed to accommodate and ideally award the widest variety of development projects possible. 

LID Certification awards include:

Platinum LID Certification 85-100 points
Gold  LID Certification 70-84 points
Silver LID Certification 55-69 points
LID Certified Landscape* 30-37 points

*A LID Certified Landscape is designed for projects that do not involve building, clearing or land disturbance. This certification is ideal for homeowners and businesses that would like to join the LID community by implementing best management practices on their property. 

LID Certification credits are organized by four performance categories:

Protect (11 credits • 33 possible points)

For new development projects, natural systems and resources deemed critical to preserving water quality are protected. This includes avoiding very steep slopes, maintaining shoreline buffers, and protecting native trees of certain size and value.

  1. Protect Wetlands and Seasonal Wetlands (Vernal Pools)

    P1

    3 points

  2. Protect Stream and Wetland Vegetated Buffers

    P2

    5 points

  3. Protect Shoreline Buffers

    P3

    5 points

  4. Protect Natural Drainage Paths and Drainage Areas

    P4

    Required

  5. Preserve Threatened or Endangered Species & Habitats

    P5

    Required

  6. Protect Native Trees over 4-inch Caliper Diameter

    P6

    4 points

  7. Protect Contiguous Forest Areas

    P7

    2 points

  8. Avoid Natural Steep Slope Disturbance

    P8

    3 points

  9. Protect Soils

    P9

    4 points

  10. Limit Site Disturbance and Earthwork

    P10

    4 points

  11. Limit Site Access Disturbance (Location/Length of Driveways)

    P11

    3 points

Build (9 credits • 32 possible points)

When building on or developing a site, impervious surfaces and lawn areas are limited, natural stormwater treatment is provided, and locally sourced landscape materials are used. 

  1. Reduce Impervious Areas

    B1

    6 points

  2. Reduce Lawn and Turf Areas

    B2

    3 points

  3. Natural Treatment of Stormwater

    B3

    8 points

  4. Building Setbacks

    B4

    4 points

  5. Use Innovative Wastewater Technologies

    B5

    4 points

  6. Use Locally Sourced Landscape Materials

    B6

    2 points

  7. Reduce Light Pollution and Design for Dark Skies

    B7

    2 points

  8. Use Renewable Energy Sources

    B8

    2 points

  9. Employ Building Materials and Practices to Reduce Heat Islands

    B9

    1 point

Restore (7 credits • 21 possible points)

Where natural filters and buffers have been removed, features such as stream buffers, forested areas, and native shorelines are restored.

  1. Restore Stream and Wetland Buffers

    R1

    5 points

  2. Restore Shoreline Buffers

    R2

    5 points

  3. Use Only Native Vegetation

    R3

    2 points

  4. Remove Non-native Invasive Vegetation

    R4

    1 point

  5. Restore Natural Shoreline

    R5

    2 points

  6. Restore Forested and Naturally Vegetated Conditions

    R6

    3 points

  7. Restore Pre-development Soil Conditions

    R7

    3 points

Maintain (5 credits • 8 possible points)

Landscape maintenance practices that limit impacts to water quality are employed, such as avoiding the use of seal coat, reducing salt use, eliminating lawn fertilizers and chemicals, and implementing a “lake friendly” landscape maintenance plan.

  1. Implement a Maintenance Plan for Water Quality

    M1

    Required

  2. Limit/Eliminate Salt Use

    M2

    1 point

  3. Implement Practices to Limit Outdoor Chemical Use and Storage

    M3

    3 points

  4. Control Invasive Species

    M4

    2 points

  5. Eliminate Coal Tar-Based Sealcoating

    M5

    2 points

Innovation (1 credit • 6 possible points)

  1. Innovation

    I

    6 points