Chino Hills, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- CHMC § 13.16.090
- Authority
- Clean Water Act, NPDES Permit CA8000200
- Creek buffer permit
- Needed within 30 ft of centerline
- Exceptions
- Pool discharge, car washing, firefighting water
- Accident report deadline
- 5 working days to City Engineer
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to 6 months jail (§ 13.16.290)
Summary
Chino Hills bans any discharge into its municipal storm drain system that isn't stormwater itself, under CHMC § 13.16.090. Dumping trash, chemicals or wash water into a street, gutter, catch basin or drainage channel where it could become a pollutant is a separate, explicit violation, tied to the City's federal Clean Water Act permit.
A. Any discharge that would result in or contribute to a violation of NPDES Permit No. CA8000200, attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter, as Attachment A, and any amendment, revision or reissuance thereof, either separately considered or when combined with other discharges, is prohibited... C. It is prohibited to:1.Discharge nonstormwater directly or indirectly to the city stormwater system unless such discharge is permitted by an NPDES permit. If such discharge is permitted by an NPDES permit, but causes the city to violate any portion of its NPDES permit for stormwater discharges, such discharge is also prohibited;2.Throw, deposit, leave, maintain, keep, or permit to be thrown, deposited, placed, left or maintained, any refuse, rubbish, garbage, or other discarded or abandoned objects, articles, and accumulations, in or upon any street, alley, sidewalk, storm drain, inlet, catchbasin, conduit or other drainage structures, business place or upon any public or private lot of land in the city, so that such items might be or become a pollutant;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 61).
Full Breakdown
Chino Hills regulates its storm drain system under CHMC Chapter 13.16, adopted to comply with the federal Clean Water Act and the City's NPDES Permit No. CA8000200 issued by the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana Region. Section 13.16.090(A) bars any discharge that would violate that NPDES permit, whether the discharge is considered alone or combined with others, and makes the discharger liable for defending and indemnifying the City in any resulting enforcement action. Section 13.16.090(C) separately bans discharging non-stormwater into the storm system without NPDES coverage, and bans throwing, depositing, or leaving refuse, rubbish, garbage or other discarded materials in streets, alleys, sidewalks, storm drains, inlets, catch basins, conduits, or on public or private lots where the material could become a pollutant.
A narrow list of exceptions in § 13.16.100 allows things like waterline flushing, residential car washing, dechlorinated pool discharges, and firefighting water. Property owners along a watercourse have an independent duty under § 13.16.080(B) to keep their portion 'reasonably free of trash, debris, excessive vegetation, and other obstacles.' Anyone wanting to build within thirty feet of a creek's center line, or twenty feet of the top of its bank, needs written approval from the City's authorized representative under § 13.16.080(C)(3). Accidental discharges must be reported immediately to City Hall and the Fire Department, followed by a written report to the City Engineer within five working days under § 13.16.160(A).
Violations & Fines
A prohibited discharge under § 13.16.090 is enforceable as a public nuisance under § 13.16.230, subject to civil penalties under § 13.16.280, which can include injunctions, cost recovery, and compensatory damages for harm to water quality or wildlife. Willful or knowing violations are misdemeanors under § 13.16.290, punishable by a court-set fine, up to six months in county jail, or both, with each day of a continuing violation charged as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hose oil or paint off my driveway into the street?
Do I need a permit to build near a creek in Chino Hills?
What must I do if I accidentally spill something into a storm drain?
Is washing my own car in the driveway allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chino Hills
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