In 2008, a research study was sponsored by the State of Washington to survey the progress being made by 19 local governments in adopting LID controls into their building codes. A representative from each of the 19 municipalities was asked the same set of questions regarding the barriers seen to LID implementation. Some of the trends they found in the responses include the following:

• Perception that LID is not a proven technology
• General public and government officials lack understanding of LID
• Perception that LID is more expensive when compared to traditional BMPs
• Planning departments lack training to review and inspect LID controls
• Developers lack knowledge of LID
• LID difficult to use in urban settings, difficult to retrofit

One of the more interesting solutions to the obstacles focused on funding of “high traffic” demonstration projects to help provide a local proof of benefit.

The report can be read in its entirety here.