Dubuque, IA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Chapter 5 of Title 13 is Dubuque's illicit connection and discharge ordinance, adopted to keep the MS4 clean under its federal NPDES permit. Section 13-5-6 prohibits discharging pollutants, contaminated water, or nonstormwater into the MS4 or any watercourse, and separately bans geothermal pump-and-dump systems unless the City Manager gives written consent. The same section outlaws building or maintaining an illicit connection to the storm drain system, including old connections made before the rule existed. A short list of exemptions covers water line flushing, lawn irrigation, footing drains, dechlorinated pool water, and firefighting flows (section 13-5-6B).

The City Manager, per section 13-5-3, administers and enforces the chapter, and section 13-5-9 lets city staff inspect any facility with industrial or construction stormwater discharge. When the city manager finds a violation, section 13-5-13 authorizes a written notice of violation ordering monitoring, cleanup, or a cease and desist, and section 13-5-14 gives the violator 15 days to appeal to the City Council, whose decision is final. If the problem is not fixed within 30 days of a council ruling, section 13-5-15 lets the city enter the property and abate it, then bill the owner for the cost under section 13-5-16, with unpaid charges certified to the Dubuque County Treasurer as a special assessment lien. Section 13-5-17 also lets the City Manager seek an injunction, and section 13-5-18 declares any violation a public nuisance in addition to these remedies.