San Luis Obispo County, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

68, the county's Stormwater Pollution Prevention and Discharge Control ordinance adopted by Ordinance No. 080's blanket rule: non-stormwater discharges to the county storm drain system are prohibited. Five categories are carved out as exceptions: discharges under a state-administered NPDES permit; discharges under the county's own storm drain discharge permit issued under Article III; firefighting flows; certain agricultural discharges regulated by the State or Regional Water Quality Control Board; and incidental, noncommercial flows such as water-line flushing, landscape irrigation, rising groundwater, air-conditioning condensation, and car washing.

090 separately bans any discharge that would violate the county's own NPDES Permit No. 100 bans illicit connections to the storm drain system outright, retroactively reaching connections made before the ordinance existed. 110 layers on affirmative duties: no littering into any street, storm drain, catch basin or drainage structure, and property owners along a paved sidewalk must keep it swept clear of dirt and litter rather than sweeping debris into the gutter. 150 makes any violation of the chapter a misdemeanor by default, though the county can charge it as an infraction instead.

160 sets the misdemeanor fine at up to $1,000 and up to six months in county jail, or both, while an infraction runs $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 for each further offense. 200 declares any violating condition a public nuisance the county can abate at the property owner's cost, with the cleanup bill becoming a lien against the property.