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Hendersonville, TN Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Q: Can I wash my car in the driveway in Hendersonville?

Yes, individual residential car washing is one of the exceptions listed in Section 18-208(2)(a), so washing your own vehicle at home doesn't violate the illicit discharge ban, unlike commercial car wash wastewater, which the same section specifically prohibits from entering the storm drain system.

Q: What counts as an illicit discharge into Hendersonville's storm drains?

Anything other than stormwater, including sanitary wastewater, grease, radiator flushing fluid, septic tank effluent, laundry gray water, and improper disposal of household or auto toxics, is banned from the municipal separate storm sewer system under Section 18-208(2), with only a short list of uncontaminated flows exempted.

Q: What must a construction site do about sediment tracked onto the street?

Section 18-208(6) requires construction site operators to control wastes like building materials and concrete washout and to clean any sediment or debris tracked onto the roadway as soon as possible, and at minimum before the end of each workday, to avoid a stormwater violation.

Q: What's the penalty for an illicit discharge?

Section 18-210 lets the City Engineer assess a civil penalty of not less than $50 and not more than $5,000 per day for each day the violation continues, and the City can also recover its investigation, enforcement, and cleanup costs directly from the violator.

Heavy Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Core rule: Only stormwater may enter the MS4
Banned examples: Wash water, grease, septic effluent, chemicals
Allowed exceptions: Potable water flushing, AC condensate, pool <1ppm
Construction cleanup: Tracked sediment cleared by end of workday
Spill notice: Immediate for hazardous, next business day otherwise
Civil penalty: $50-$5,000 per day of violation

Summary

Hendersonville bans dumping anything but stormwater into its storm drain system: Section 18-208 prohibits illicit discharges and illegal connections to the municipal separate storm sewer system, covering everything from wash water to pool discharge, with only a narrow list of exceptions.

2.Prohibition of illicit discharges. No person shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the municipal separate storm sewer system any discharge that is not composed entirely of stormwater. No person shall allow discharges that are not composed entirely of stormwater. No person shall allow discharges that flow from a stormwater management facility that is not inspected in accordance with Section 18-206. Non-stormwater discharges shall include, but shall not be limited to sanitary wastewater, car wash wastewater, lawn mowing debris, lawn care chemicals, grease, soap, cleaning chemicals, radiator flushing disposal, spills from vehicle accidents, carpet cleaning wastewater, effluent from septic tanks, improper oil disposal, laundry wastewater/gray water, improper disposal of auto and household toxics.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).

Full Breakdown

Section 18-208 of the Hendersonville Municipal Code prohibits illicit discharges to the city's municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4), the pipe and ditch network that carries rainwater toward Old Hickory Lake and its tributaries without treatment. The section states that no person shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the MS4 any discharge that is not composed entirely of stormwater, naming sanitary wastewater, car wash wastewater, lawn care chemicals, grease, radiator flushing, carpet cleaning wastewater, septic effluent, and improper oil disposal as examples of banned non-stormwater discharges.

A narrow list of uncontaminated flows stays legal, including potable water line flushing, individual residential car washing, air conditioning condensate, dechlorinated pool discharge under one PPM chlorine, and firefighting flows. Section 18-208(3) separately bans any illicit connection tying a sewage line into the MS4, applying even to connections made before the rule existed. Construction site operators face specific duties: they must control wastes such as concrete washout, litter, and building materials, and must clean any sediment or debris tracked onto a roadway as soon as possible, and at minimum, before the end of each workday.

Anyone who discovers a spill that could reach the storm system must notify emergency responders immediately for hazardous materials, or notify the City Engineer by the next business day for non-hazardous releases, confirmed in writing within seven days. Section 18-206 requires stormwater control measures on private sites to be inspected at least annually, with a comprehensive engineer-certified inspection every five years.

Violations & Fines

The City Engineer enforces this chapter through verbal warnings, written notices, stop-work orders, and citations under Section 18-209, and Section 18-210 authorizes a civil penalty of $50 to $5,000 per day of violation, plus recovery of the City's investigation and cleanup costs; the City can also suspend a property's MS4 discharge access without notice if a discharge threatens imminent harm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I wash my car in the driveway in Hendersonville?

Yes, individual residential car washing is one of the exceptions listed in Section 18-208(2)(a), so washing your own vehicle at home doesn't violate the illicit discharge ban, unlike commercial car wash wastewater, which the same section specifically prohibits from entering the storm drain system.

What counts as an illicit discharge into Hendersonville's storm drains?

Anything other than stormwater, including sanitary wastewater, grease, radiator flushing fluid, septic tank effluent, laundry gray water, and improper disposal of household or auto toxics, is banned from the municipal separate storm sewer system under Section 18-208(2), with only a short list of uncontaminated flows exempted.

What must a construction site do about sediment tracked onto the street?

Section 18-208(6) requires construction site operators to control wastes like building materials and concrete washout and to clean any sediment or debris tracked onto the roadway as soon as possible, and at minimum before the end of each workday, to avoid a stormwater violation.

What's the penalty for an illicit discharge?

Section 18-210 lets the City Engineer assess a civil penalty of not less than $50 and not more than $5,000 per day for each day the violation continues, and the City can also recover its investigation, enforcement, and cleanup costs directly from the violator.

Sources & Official References

[1]Hendersonville, TN Code of Ordinances (Municode)

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