Carlsbad requires property owners to prevent stormwater pollution under its MS4 permit. Irrigation runoff, car washing wastewater, and construction runoff entering storm drains is prohibited.
Carlsbad operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, which prohibits non-stormwater discharges into the city's storm drain system. Property owners may not allow irrigation runoff, vehicle wash water, paint, oils, or chemicals to flow into storm drains. CMC water use rules specifically prohibit irrigation runoff onto streets. New development and significant redevelopment must implement Low Impact Development (LID) practices to manage stormwater on-site. Carlsbad's lagoons (Agua Hedionda, Batiquitos) are sensitive receiving water bodies.
Illegal discharge into storm drains can result in administrative citations and civil penalties under both city and federal Clean Water Act enforcement.
Carlsbad, CA
Carlsbad prohibits parking any vehicle on a public street for more than 72 consecutive hours. Violations subject vehicles to citation or tow. Residential per...
Carlsbad, CA
Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 21.46 (Yards) regulates fence height and placement in residential zones. Fences over 6 feet require a building permit under C...
Carlsbad, CA
Chain link, barbed wire, razor ribbon specifically prohibited in residential zones. Solid masonry walls along common lot lines with residential property requ...
Carlsbad, CA
Livestock (horses, cattle, sheep, goats) are permitted only in the R-A Residential Agricultural zone under CMC Chapter 21.08. Pens, stables, and barns must b...
Carlsbad, CA
Carlsbad addresses animal hoarding through keeping limits in Carlsbad Municipal Code Title 7 and San Diego Humane Society field investigations; criminal anim...
Carlsbad, CA
Recreational backyard fires in Carlsbad are regulated under the California Fire Code as adopted in Carlsbad Municipal Code Title 17. Open burning is prohibit...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in San Diego County.
See how other cities in San Diego County handle stormwater management.
See how Carlsbad's stormwater management rules stack up against other locations.
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