Chapter 58, Article VI of the Pinellas County Code prohibits illicit discharges to the county's separate storm sewer system and authorizes civil penalties up to $10,000 per offense for violations.
Pinellas County's stormwater ordinance protects waterways from pollutants entering the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). The article prohibits discharging anything other than uncontaminated stormwater into county drains, swales, and conveyances, with limited exceptions for items like uncontaminated water line flushing, residential car washing, and certain firefighting activities. The ordinance applies across unincorporated Pinellas County and supports the county's federal NPDES MS4 permit obligations. Public Works enforces requirements through inspections, complaint response, and discharge testing, while construction-site and post-construction stormwater controls are coordinated with the county's stormwater manual.
Illicit discharges, illegal connections, or failure to control pollution at a site can result in civil penalties up to $10,000 per offense, plus required cleanup, system repairs, and possible criminal exposure.
Pinellas County, FL
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Pinellas County, FL
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Pinellas County, FL
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See how Pinellas County's stormwater management rules stack up against other locations.
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