Compton, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Core rule
- No illicit discharge into MS4 (§ 31-1.3)
- Parking lot rule
- 25+ space lots must be cleaned regularly
- Enforcing agency
- Public Works Director
- Criminal penalty
- Misdemeanor per § 31-1.12
- Cost recovery
- City can bill cleanup/reinspection costs
- Governing ordinance
- Ord. No. 2047
Summary
Compton bans any illicit discharge into its municipal storm drain system and requires large parking lots and commercial facilities to control runoff pollutants. The Public Works Director enforces the rules, and violations are misdemeanors that also trigger cost-recovery for cleanup.
a. No person shall allow an illicit discharge to enter the municipal stormwater system. b. Any person causing an illicit discharge to the MS4 may be required by the Public Works Director to pay for the cost of clean-up and remediation. c. Any owner of any private property from which a non-stormwater discharge is observed may be required by the Public Works Director to pay for the cost of collecting and analyzing the discharge to determine if it is an illicit discharge.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4952997; v15 updated 2026-07-14; through 07-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 31 of the Compton Municipal Code, adopted by Ordinance No. 2047, governs stormwater and non-stormwater discharges into the city's municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). 3(a) states plainly that "no person shall allow an illicit discharge to enter the municipal stormwater system," with illicit discharge defined broadly to cover any non-stormwater flow not exempted under the municipal NPDES permit issued by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. 3(c) allows the Director to bill a property owner for testing costs where a non-stormwater discharge is observed on private property.
5 makes it unlawful to maintain an illicit connection, with the Director authorized to remove or disable one and recover the cost from the owner if the person fails to act. 7 requires commercial facilities named in the municipal NPDES permit to implement best management practices set by the Regional Board or the Director of Public Works.
Violations & Fines
A violation of any provision of Chapter 31, including an illicit discharge or illegal connection, is a misdemeanor under § 31-1.12. The City Manager or Public Works Director may issue Notices of Violation and Administrative Orders under § 31-1.13, and failure to comply with a notice is itself a separate violation. The violating condition is also declared a nuisance abatable by the City under § 31-1.14, and the City may recover its actual costs for reinspection, monitoring, and cleanup under § 31-1.18.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an illicit discharge under Compton's stormwater rules?
Who enforces Compton's runoff pollution ordinance?
Do large parking lots have special stormwater duties in Compton?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Compton
California rules heatmap·Compare Compton to another location·View the California environmental rules overview
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Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle stormwater management.