Glendale, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- GMC Chapter 13.42
- NPDES permit source
- LA Regional Water Quality Control Board
- Permit issue date
- November 8, 2012
- Enforcing agency
- Director of Public Works
- Illicit connections
- must be removed or disabled
- Violation classification
- punishable under Chapter 1.20
Summary
Glendale bans discharging flammable, toxic, medical or hazardous materials, obstructive solids, or anything that creates a public nuisance into its storm drains, under a citywide NPDES stormwater ordinance. The Department of Public Works enforces the ban with notices, administrative orders and cost recovery.
General Discharge Prohibitions. No person shall discharge, cause, permit, or contribute to the discharge of any of the following to the storm drain system or receiving waters: 1. Any liquids, solids or gases which by reason of their nature or quantity are flammable, reactive, explosive, corrosive, toxic or radioactive, or by interaction with other materials could result in fire, explosion or injury; 2. Any solid or viscous materials which could cause obstruction to the flow or operation of the storm drain system; 3. Any pollutant that injures or constitutes a hazard to human, animal, plant or fish life, or creates a public nuisance; 4. Any noxious or malodorous liquid, gas or solid in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other materials, which creates a public nuisance, hazard to life, or inhibits authorized entry of any person into the storm drain system; 5. Any medical, infectious, toxic or hazardous material or waste.
Full Breakdown
42 implements the municipal stormwater NPDES permit issued to Los Angeles County and 85 cities by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board on November 8, 2012, under Section 402(p) of the Clean Water Act and the California Water Code. 030(A) lists the general discharge prohibitions that apply to everyone: no flammable, reactive, explosive, corrosive, toxic or radioactive liquids, solids or gases; no solid or viscous material that could obstruct the storm drain system; no pollutant that injures or hazards human, animal, plant or fish life or creates a public nuisance; no noxious or malodorous material in quantities that create a hazard or block entry to the storm drain system; and no medical, infectious, toxic or hazardous material or waste of any kind.
Subsection (B) layers additional bans on industrial and commercial activities, prohibiting wastewater from mobile steam or carpet cleaning, runoff carrying grease, oil, antifreeze or other machinery fluids, washdown of toxic materials, and wash water from construction or grading equipment or gas stations and auto repair shops, unless covered by an NPDES permit. 040 separately bans illicit connections that convey illicit discharges to the storm drain system, requiring anyone who discovers one to remove it or disable it, or have the director of public works remove or disable it and bill the owner for the cost. 20. 170.
Violations & Fines
Discharging a prohibited material listed in Section 13.42.030, or maintaining an illicit connection under Section 13.42.040, is a violation of Chapter 13.42 punishable under Chapter 1.20 of the Glendale Municipal Code. The director of public works can issue a notice of violation or administrative order under Section 13.42.160, enter the property to inspect and sample, and bill the responsible party an invoice of costs to recover the city's actual enforcement expenses; remedies are cumulative and not exclusive of other legal action the city may pursue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can't be dumped into Glendale storm drains?
Does Glendale's stormwater rule apply to businesses specifically?
What happens if I have an illegal pipe connected to Glendale's storm drain?
Who enforces Glendale's stormwater ordinance and what can they do?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glendale
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Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle stormwater management.