Avondale, AZ Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Max civil penalty
- $2,500.00 per violation
- Criminal penalty
- Class 2 misdemeanor
- Enforcing official
- NPDES coordinator (city manager or designee)
- Each day
- Separate violation for continuing noncompliance
Summary
Avondale bans releasing pollutants into its public storm drain system in amounts that could violate a water quality standard or the city's NPDES permit, and treats such a release as a public nuisance. The NPDES coordinator, the city manager or a designee, can inspect property, require best management practices and pursue civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation.
It is hereby declared to be a public nuisance for any person to directly or indirectly release significant materials, pollutants, or stormwater without proper authorization in quantities, velocities or concentrations that cause or contribute to, or may reasonably be expected to cause or contribute to: (i) damage to a publicly-owned right-of-way or the public storm drain system; (ii) a violation of an applicable water quality standard; or (iii) a violation of any condition of a stormwater NPDES permit issued to the city.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 38 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 8-60 declares the purpose of the stormwater quality article is to limit the discharge of pollutants into the public storm sewer system, which exists solely to convey stormwater. Sec. 8-62 gives the NPDES coordinator power to regulate the use, grading, paving, maintenance and operation of the public storm drain system to reduce, to the maximum extent practicable, pollutants that could violate a water quality standard or a condition of the city's stormwater NPDES permit, through administrative rules, permits or written approvals. Sec. 8-63 declares it a public nuisance for anyone to release significant materials, pollutants or stormwater without proper authorization in amounts that could damage the storm drain system, violate a water quality standard, or violate the city's NPDES permit conditions.
Sec. 8-68 authorizes the NPDES coordinator to inspect property, collect and analyze stormwater samples, and, if entry is refused, obtain an administrative warrant from the city court; interfering with an inspection or lying to an inspector is itself a criminal violation. Certain routine discharges are exempted under sec. 8-69(f), including fire hydrant flushing, uncontaminated foundation drains, irrigation water and residential evaporative cooler or air conditioner condensate.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 8-69 makes it a civil violation to create the nuisance defined in sec. 8-63 or to release anything other than stormwater into the public storm drain system outside limited exceptions, and sec. 8-70 sets a civil penalty up to $2,500.00 per violation, considering seriousness, economic benefit and violation history. Knowingly handling or dumping significant materials in a way that could add pollutants to the storm drain system, or interfering with a city inspection, is a criminal violation under sec. 8-69(d) punishable as a class 2 misdemeanor per sec. 8-71, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense under sec. 8-74.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can't be discharged into Avondale's storm drains?
What is the fine for a stormwater violation in Avondale?
Can the city inspect my property for stormwater compliance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Avondale
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Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle stormwater management.