Hamburg Village, NY Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Article III of Chapter 186 governs stormwater in the Village of Hamburg. Section 186-19 sends stormwater and other unpolluted water to sewers designated as combined or storm sewers, or to a natural outlet approved by the Superintendent of the Department of Public Works. The property owner is responsible for all grading, the receiver installation and the laying and connecting of pipe to the Village storm sewer, and the Village provides any engineering assistance necessary.

Section 186-20A bars anyone from discharging into the MS4 (the municipal separate storm sewer system) any materials other than stormwater. Exempt discharges include water line flushing, landscape irrigation or lawn watering, foundation or footing drains, sump pumps, air-conditioning condensate, water from individual residential car washing, dechlorinated swimming pool discharges, residential street wash water and water from fire-fighting, unless the Department or the Village finds them substantial contributors of pollutants. The Stormwater Management Officer can approve a discharge in writing to protect life or property from imminent harm, and dye testing needs verbal notice to the SMO beforehand. Section 186-20B prohibits illicit connections, expressly including ones made in the past that were lawful when built, and a person who connects a sewage line to the MS4 or lets it continue is in violation.

Other duties follow. Commercial or industrial operators must protect the MS4 from accidental discharge using best management practices at their own expense (§ 186-22). A release of nonhazardous material must be reported to the Village no later than the next business day, with written confirmation mailed within three business days, and commercial records are kept for at least three years (§ 186-26). The SMO can suspend MS4 access, with or without prior notice in an emergency (§ 186-24), and can enter and inspect facilities (§ 186-25). A violator can appeal to the Board of Trustees within 15 days of the notice (§ 186-28).