Jackson, MS Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Under City Code § 122-303, releasing significant materials, pollutants, or stormwater without authorization from the director of public works, in amounts that could damage a public right-of-way or storm drain system or violate a water quality standard or the city's NPDES permit, is declared a public nuisance. Section 122-304 goes further, making it unlawful to release anything other than stormwater into a public right-of-way or storm drain, subject to listed exceptions such as firefighting activity, dechlorinated pool discharges, and air conditioning condensate. Nonresidential users seeking any city permit to disturb ground must, under § 122-305, submit a written stormwater management plan addressing significant materials on the property, pollution-prevention practices, litter control, and maintenance of retention basins; drainage calculations must show post-construction runoff does not exceed pre-construction rates by more than one cubic foot per second, with detention required if it does, and measures must be designed to control a 100-year, 24-hour storm.

Projects disturbing more than 2,000 square feet but under five acres need an erosion and sediment control plan; projects over five acres must obtain a Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality construction general permit before work begins, filed with the department of public works. Residential building permit applicants must submit a simpler plan under § 122-306 addressing erosion control and post-construction drainage patterns. The director of public works or a designee may enter and inspect property under § 122-307 to check compliance.