Daviess County, KY Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Chapter 51, Stormwater
- Enforcer
- County Engineer / Public Works Director
- Land disturbance
- Requires excavation, cut or fill permit
- Criminal penalty
- Up to $500 fine / 12 months (Class A misd.)
- Civil penalty
- Up to $1,000, due within 20 days
- Lien interest
- 12% per annum on unpaid abatement costs
Summary
Daviess County's Chapter 51 stormwater ordinance bans dumping pollutants, yard waste, and debris into storm drains and ditches, requires an excavation, cut or fill permit for land disturbance, and lets the County Engineer place liens for unabated drainage violations.
It shall be unlawful for any person to do, or permit, authorize, allow, or direct another person to do, or fail to do when required, any of the following: (A) Deposit any concrete, steel, pollutants, building materials, or yard waste of any kind in the guttered curb of any street or alley located within public right-of-way that drain into the MS4 or CSS; (B) Deposit any solid waste, debris, yard waste, pollutants, wastewater (sewage), concrete, building materials, tires, appliances, animal carcasses, or any other substance, material, or obstruction of any kind in an open ditch, sewer, or stormwater inlet and catch basin, or manhole, that is maintained by the county; or (C) Connect to the public storm sewer drainage system with any illicit connection.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-20: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. KOC 520.3 (2025), passed 12-18-2025; and State legislation current through KRS Pamphlet 2025).
Full Breakdown
04 makes it unlawful to deposit concrete, steel, pollutants, building materials, or yard waste into any guttered curb that drains into the county's storm sewer or combined sewer system, or to deposit solid waste, debris, wastewater, tires, appliances, animal carcasses, or similar material into any open ditch, sewer, stormwater inlet, catch basin, or manhole maintained by the county, or to connect an illicit line to the public storm drainage system. 05 requires construction sites to follow a KPDES-compliant erosion prevention and sediment control program, including an NOI/SWPPP filed with the state Division of Water when the County Engineer determines one is required, kept on site and available to inspectors at all times.
07, and property owners bear sole responsibility for removing or abating any obstruction, impediment, or encroachment on a public stormwater drainage system on their land after written notice from the County Engineer; if the owner fails to act within the time specified, the county can abate the nuisance itself and place a lien against the property for the cost, bearing interest at 12% per year until paid, with priority over most other liens except certain tax and prior nuisance liens.
Violations & Fines
Under § 51.99, a stormwater violation is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500 or up to 12 months' imprisonment, or both, with each 24-hour period of continuing violation a separate offense; alternatively or in addition, the county may assess a civil penalty of up to $1,000 payable within 20 days, plus injunctive relief and cost recovery through a property lien under § 51.07.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I dump yard waste or concrete into a street gutter in Daviess County?
Do I need a permit before disturbing land for construction in Daviess County?
What happens if I don't clear an obstruction from a county stormwater drain?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Daviess County
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