Ascension Parish, LA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Ascension Parish Code § 18-116.11
- Adopted
- Ord. of 11-4-21(4)
- Construction SWPPP threshold
- 1 acre or more disturbed
- Land clearing permit fee
- $150 (1 acre) + $50/additional acre
- Max penalty
- $500/day fine and/or 30 days jail
Summary
Ascension Parish's stormwater management ordinance bans illegal discharges into the MS4 and requires construction sites disturbing an acre or more to follow an approved stormwater pollution prevention plan. Violations carry fines up to $500.00 per day plus possible jail time under the parish's MS4 permit program.
(a)Purpose/intent. The purposes and objectives of this section are to provide for the health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of Ascension Parish by establishing policies and procedures for the permitting, monitoring, and/or enforcement regarding illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction site runoff control, and post-construction runoff control. ... (s)Criminal prosecution. It shall be unlawful for any person to violate or fail to comply with any provisions of this code and any such person in violation of any provisions of this section shall be punishable by a fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00) per violation per day or imprisonment for a period of time not to exceed thirty (30) days or both such fine and imprisonment within the discretion of the court.
Full Breakdown
" The Ascension Parish Stormwater Manager administers the program and can inspect any facility discharging to the storm drain system. Subsection (g) prohibits discharging anything other than storm water into the MS4, drainage infrastructure or waterways, and lists specific banned substances: used motor oil, antifreeze and fuel; industrial or hazardous waste; untreated sewage or septic waste; grease-trap waste; construction debris; and pesticide, herbicide or fertilizer discharges, among others. Construction projects disturbing one acre or more must certify a site-specific Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and meet state LPDES permit requirements; projects of five acres or more need a full Notice of Intent and SWPPP.
00 per additional acre. The Stormwater Manager can suspend a violator's MS4 access without notice in an emergency, and every dollar collected under the section goes into a dedicated stormwater management account that cannot be commingled with other parish funds.
Violations & Fines
Anyone who violates the stormwater ordinance is subject to a fine of $500.00 per violation per day or up to 30 days in jail, or both, at the court's discretion, under Section 18-116.11(s). The parish can also issue a written notice of violation requiring cleanup, seek injunctive relief, treat a violation as a public nuisance subject to abatement at the violator's expense, or recover attorney's fees and enforcement costs; an appeal of a notice of violation must be filed within 15 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an illegal discharge under Ascension Parish's stormwater rule?
Do I need a permit to clear land in unincorporated Ascension Parish?
What's the penalty for violating the parish's stormwater ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ascension Parish
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