Hemet, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- General rule
- No pollutant in streets, drains, or lots
- BMP duty
- Required for businesses/developers
- Illicit discharges
- Banned, retroactively, § 14-492
- Enforced by
- City engineer
Summary
Hemet bans depositing pollutants into streets, gutters, storm drains, or any public or private property in the city, and requires businesses and developers to implement best management practices.
It is a violation of this article to throw, deposit, leave, maintain, keep, or permit to be thrown, deposited, placed, left or maintained, any pollutant in or upon any street, alley, sidewalk, storm drain, inlet, catch basin, conduit or other drainage structures, business place, or upon any public or private plot of land in the city.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 69 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Hemet City Code § 14-491(a) makes it a violation to throw, deposit, leave, or maintain any pollutant in a street, alley, sidewalk, storm drain, catch basin, or other drainage structure, or on any public or private lot in the city, unless the material is temporarily held in a contained, leak-proof container for removal. Section 14-491(b) further requires anyone whose activities could send pollutants into the storm drain system to implement best management practices to the maximum extent practicable, and § 14-492 separately bans illicit connections and discharges to the storm drain system, applied retroactively.
Violations & Fines
Violations are prosecuted under Chapter 1, § 1-8 of the municipal code (§ 14-496); the city engineer may also order emergency abatement of any discharge posing an immediate threat, with costs billed to the property owner and lienable after 60 days unpaid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hose pollutants into the street gutter in Hemet if I clean it up later?
Who enforces Hemet's stormwater rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hemet
California rules heatmap·Compare Hemet to another location·View the California environmental rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle stormwater management.