Fairfield, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Chapter 22B, the Stormwater Management and Discharge Control Ordinance, implements the federal Clean Water Act and the city's NPDES Permit No. CAS612008 issued under Order R2-2009-0074. Section 22B.070 sets the baseline rule: any non-stormwater discharge to the City storm drain system is prohibited except as specifically provided in the chapter, with narrow exceptions in Section 22B.080 for discharges already regulated under a separate NPDES permit or exempted under the permit's Section C.15. Section 22B.100 separately bans illicit drainage connections, and that ban is written to be retroactive, reaching connections made in the past regardless of whether they were permitted or lawful when installed.

Five named city officials share enforcement authority under Section 22B.040(F): the City Manager, Public Works Director, Community Development Director, Police Chief, Fire Chief, and their designees. Businesses with a reasonable probability of discharging to the storm system must implement best management practices under Section 22B.120, and every construction site must implement at minimum erosion control, run-on and run-off controls, sediment and fines control, and non-stormwater management under Section 22B.130. A violation is also a public nuisance under Section 22B.200, letting the City abate it and place a lien on the property for the cost of abatement and restoration if unpaid, and the same illegal-discharge violation exposes the responsible party to reimbursing the Public Works and Police Departments for their abatement costs under Section 22B.170(E).