Monterey County, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Unincorporated urbanized areas only
- Exempt
- Agriculture and non-county-system discharges
- Administered by
- County Administrative Officer (CAO)
- Construction duty
- BMPs required with any grading/building permit
- First-offense fine
- Up to $100 (§ 1.22.100)
- Records
- Kept on-site 3+ years
Summary
Chapter 16.14 of the Monterey County Code bans non-stormwater discharges into the county storm drain system across the unincorporated urbanized areas, exempting agriculture, and requires best management practices for construction, commercial and industrial sites. The County Administrative Officer administers and enforces the chapter, including inspections, reporting and administrative fines for violations.
A.It shall be unlawful for any person to:1.Make or cause to be made, directly or indirectly, any non-stormwater discharge into the County storm drain system; or2.Discharge or cause to be discharged, directly or indirectly, any material into stormwater that flows into the County storm drain system and which would result in a violation of the State stormwater general permit.B.Notwithstanding subsection A., the following shall not constitute prohibited discharges:1.Any discharge regulated under a NPDES permit issued to the discharger, and administered by the State pursuant to Chapter 5.5 of Division 7 of the Water Code, provided that any such Discharge is in compliance with all requirements of the NPDES permit and all other applicable laws and regulations, or any discharge otherwise permitted by the Regional Board.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56).
Full Breakdown
make or cause to be made, directly or indirectly, any non-stormwater discharge into the County storm drain system' or to discharge material into stormwater that would violate the State stormwater general permit. 050 limits the chapter to persons and sites 'located within the unincorporated urbanized areas' that discharge into the county storm drain system, expressly excepting agriculture and discharges that never pass through the county system; the incorporated cities of the county administer their own stormwater programs. 100(B), including NPDES-permitted discharges, water line flushing, landscape irrigation, diverted stream flows, uncontaminated ground water infiltration and pumped ground water, and discharges from potable water sources.
' Owners and operators of commercial or industrial sites must provide, at their own expense, structural and non-structural best management practices to prevent accidental prohibited discharges, and the County Administrative Officer (CAO) can require an ongoing BMP maintenance program for any site. 190. Records generated to demonstrate compliance must be kept on-site and available to the CAO for at least three years.
Violations & Fines
Section 16.14.240 makes it unlawful to negligently or willfully violate the stormwater chapter, and violations are enforced under Chapter 1.22's administrative citation process rather than as straight misdemeanors. Section 1.22.100 sets fines of up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second offense of the same ordinance within a year, and $500 for each further offense, with a 30-day payment deadline, a 10 percent late penalty and interest accruing at 1 percent per month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Monterey County's stormwater ordinance prohibit?
Does Monterey County's stormwater chapter apply outside the unincorporated area?
What stormwater controls apply to construction sites in unincorporated Monterey County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monterey County
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