Pomona's Environmental Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles environmental rules a little differently. In Pomona, California, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Stormwater Management

Pomona's Low Impact Development Ordinance, City Code Article VII of Chapter 74, requires larger development and redevelopment projects to retain the full stormwater quality design volume on site through infiltration, bioretention or rainwater harvest and use. Projects one acre or larger that add over 10,000 square feet of impervious surface, plus smaller commercial and industrial categories, must get city engineer approval and record a maintenance covenant before occupancy.

Key details: Adopting ordinance: Ord. No. 4185, 6-2-2014. Trigger threshold: 1 acre + 10,000 sq ft impervious. Design storm: 0.75-inch or 85th-percentile 24-hr event. Review authority: City engineer. Maintenance record retention: 2 years, produced on request.

Sec. 74-341 makes any violation of the LID Ordinance a municipal civil infraction subject to the city's progressive enforcement policy. The city engineer can also issue a stop-work order under Sec. 74-342 to halt work causing or contributing to a violation, and under Sec. 74-343 can complete needed corrective work itself and bill the property owner. A discharger who damages the storm drain system or causes a water-quality violation is liable under Sec. 74-345 for all city cleanup costs, regulatory penalties and attorney fees.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Pomona actively enforces its stormwater management requirements.

Erosion Control

Pomona controls erosion and sediment at grading and excavation sites by adopting Appendix J of the 2025 California Building Code as its grading ordinance, enforced by the building official on every grading or excavation permit issued in the city. Subdividers face a second layer: the Planning Commission can also condition a tentative tract or parcel map on a dedicated grading and erosion/sediment control plan before acting on the map.

Key details: Governing provision: City Code § 74-31(a) adopts CBC Appendix J. Subdivision erosion plans: Planning Commission discretion under Zoning Code Sec. 1010.E. First infraction fine: Up to $100.00 (Sec. 1-7(d)(1)). Misdemeanor maximum: Fine plus up to 6 months county jail (Sec. 1-7(c)). Subdivision improvement: Erosion control structures required at final map (Sec. 1020.D.1.a).

Pomona has no grading-specific penalty schedule, so Chapter 74 violations, including breaches of the Appendix J grading standards, fall under the citywide general penalty in Sec. 1-7. A first infraction draws a fine up to $100.00, a second within one year up to $200.00, and each additional violation within that year up to $500.00 (Sec. 1-7(d)). The City Attorney, City Prosecutor, or Los Angeles County District Attorney can instead charge a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine under Penal Code Section 19 and up to six months in county jail (Sec. 1-7(c)).

Coastal Development

Pomona is an inland city approximately 30 miles from the coast. Coastal development regulations and the California Coastal Commission do not apply.

Key details: Applicability: Not applicable - inland city. Distance to Coast: Approximately 30 miles. Coastal Commission: Does not apply to Pomona. Topic: Coastal Development.

The Bottom Line

Pomona's environmental rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Pomona is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Pomona's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.