Aliso Viejo, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Core ban
- Nonstormwater discharges into the MS4 are unlawful
- Enforcer
- Director of public works and authorized inspectors
- Correction deadline
- 30 days, or before the next predicted rain event
- Administrative fines
- $100, $250, $500, $750 or $1,000 per violation
- Misdemeanor
- Fine up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both
- Hearing request
- Within seven calendar days after delivery of the action
- Construction inspections
- High priority sites at least weekly in rainy season
Summary
In the City of Aliso Viejo, California, AVMC 7.35.040 makes it unlawful to discharge anything but stormwater into the city's storm drain system (the MS4), to build or use an illicit connection, or to cause a prohibited discharge. The director of public works enforces the chapter with notices, cease and desist orders, fines up to $1,000 per violation and misdemeanor charges.
A. It is unlawful for any person to: 1. Discharge nonstormwater to the city’s MS4 except in compliance with the requirements of this chapter. 2. Construct, maintain, operate or use any illicit connection to any storm drain system, including the city’s MS4. 3. Cause, allow or facilitate any prohibited discharge. 4. Act, cause, permit or suffer any agent, employee or independent contractor to construct, maintain, operate or utilize any illicit connection, or cause, allow or facilitate any prohibited discharge. 5. Discharge any material into the MS4 or into any water of the United States within the city’s jurisdiction that may cause or threaten to cause a condition of pollution, contamination or nuisance within the meaning of California Water Code Section 13050.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 7.35, the city's water quality ordinance, carries out the city's NPDES permit in the City of Aliso Viejo, Orange County. Section 7.35.040 is the core prohibition: no one can discharge nonstormwater to the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) except as the chapter allows, construct or use an illicit connection, cause or allow a prohibited discharge, or discharge any material into the MS4 or a water of the United States that threatens pollution, contamination or nuisance under California Water Code Section 13050.
Section 7.35.050 sets conditional exceptions. Discharges covered by an NPDES permit are allowed if the discharger complies with it. Pumped groundwater, foundation and footing drains, crawl space pumps, line flushing and recycled water line discharges are allowed only with an NPDES permit or a written Regional Water Board determination that none is needed. Air conditioning condensation, individual residential vehicle washing and swimming pool water are allowed only if addressed with the best management practices (BMPs) in the water quality manual.
Site rules. Every owner or operator of a site that can discharge to the MS4 must implement the manual's BMPs, and placing household rubbish or other waste where it can reach the MS4 is unlawful (7.35.060). A water quality discharge permit is required for construction, significant redevelopment and new construction that do not otherwise need a city permit, and the director decides within 60 business days of an accepted application. Before any permit allowing ground or soil disturbance issues, the applicant submits a pollution control, construction BMP or erosion and sediment control plan, and the inspector can inspect each high priority construction site at least once weekly during the rainy season (7.35.070). New development and significant redevelopment need a water quality management plan, and priority development projects must design low impact development BMPs around the runoff from a 24-hour, eighty-fifth percentile storm event and sign a recorded maintenance agreement (7.35.080).
Appeals. A person subject to an administrative action has seven calendar days after delivery to request a hearing, which is held within 30 days of filing (7.35.120).
Violations & Fines
Correction is due within 30 days of discovery or before the next predicted rain event, whichever is sooner (7.35.110). The authorized inspector can issue notices of noncompliance, compliance orders, cease and desist orders, stop work orders and invoices for costs, and can assess fines of $100, $250, $500, $750 or $1,000 per violation where no other amount is set. A negligent or knowing violation, concealment, or continuing after notice is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both (7.35.130). Each day is a separate violation (7.35.160).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wash my car at home in Aliso Viejo?
Can I drain my pool into the storm drain system?
What must a construction site in Aliso Viejo do about runoff?
What are the penalties for violating the stormwater ordinance?
How do I appeal a stormwater enforcement action in Aliso Viejo?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Aliso Viejo
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How other cities in Orange County handle stormwater management.