Spartanburg County, SC Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Core ban
- No non-stormwater discharge into SMS4 (§30-191)
- Enforcing agency
- County engineering division
- NPDES permit
- Permit SCR030000 (§30-112)
- Spill notice deadline
- Written notice within 5 business days
- Civil penalty
- Up to $1,000/day (§30-232)
- Criminal penalty
- Misdemeanor, magistrate's court (§30-234)
Summary
Spartanburg County bans any pipe, ditch or other conveyance that discharges anything besides stormwater or engineering-division-approved unpolluted water into its small municipal separate storm sewer system, per Code § 30-191. The rule, enforced by the county engineering division under NPDES permit SCR030000, reaches every illicit connection and every dump, spill or drain into the county's storm drains and ditches.
(a)It is unlawful for any person to connect any pipe, open channel, or any other conveyance system that discharges anything, except stormwater or unpolluted water which is approved by the engineering division, into the SMS4.(b)It is unlawful for any person to continue the operation of any such illicit connection regardless of whether the connection was permissible when constructed. Improper connections in violation of this article must be disconnected and redirected, if necessary, to the satisfaction of the county engineer or his designee and any other federal, state or local agencies or departments regulating the discharge.(c)It is unlawful for any person to throw, drain, or otherwise discharge to the county's SMS4 or to cause, permit, or allow a discharge that is composed of anything except stormwater or unpolluted water which is approved by the engineering division.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 29).
Full Breakdown
C. Code §§ 4-9-30, 4-9-40 and Title 48, Chapter 14 (Section 30-112). The article covers the unincorporated county and any municipality that contracts with the county to administer it within municipal limits (Section 30-113). Section 30-191 makes it unlawful to connect any pipe or conveyance that discharges anything besides stormwater or engineering-division-approved unpolluted water into the SMS4, to keep operating an illicit connection even if it was lawful when built, or to throw, drain or otherwise discharge non-stormwater material into the system; the same section carves out potable-water flushing, foundation and air-conditioning drains, irrigation water, individual car washing and firefighting flows as non-illicit.
Anyone who discovers a spill that could reach the SMS4 must under Section 30-169 immediately notify the Spartanburg County Public Safety Department and the engineering division, confirm the notice in writing within five business days, and keep a written record of the cleanup for at least five years; failure to notify is itself a violation. 00 for each day a violation continues, layered with misdemeanor criminal liability under Section 30-234 for willful or negligent violations, prosecuted in magistrate's court.
Violations & Fines
An illicit connection or discharge into the county's storm sewer system draws a written notice of violation under Section 30-231, a possible stop work order under Section 30-235, and a civil penalty of up to $1,000.00 per day of continued violation under Section 30-232. Willful or negligent violations are also a misdemeanor prosecuted in magistrate's court under Section 30-234, and failing to report a spill within five business days is a separate violation of Section 30-169.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can't I discharge into Spartanburg County's storm drains?
Do I have to report a chemical spill near a storm drain?
What's the penalty for an illicit discharge?
Are car washing and irrigation water illegal discharges?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spartanburg County
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