Josephine County, OR Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- JCC § 19.83.050
- Reviewing authority
- County Engineer and Review Body
- Applies to
- Subdivisions, partitions, replats, PUDs
- Design standard
- Must match master storm drainage plan
- Max fine
- $500 (noncontinuing) / $1,000 (continuing)
Summary
In rural Josephine County outside the Grants Pass and Cave Junction urban growth boundaries, every subdivision, partition, replat and planned unit development must install stormwater drainage facilities under Josephine County Code § 19.83.050. The County Engineer reviews the design against the County's master storm drainage plan, drainage must avoid excessive flow across property lines and public rights-of-way, and the Review Body can condition final approval on dedicating a drainage easement to the County.
Drainage facilities shall be provided for subdivisions, partitions, replats, or planned unit developments, and shall be connected directly to existing drainageways or storm sewers outside of the proposed land division that have an adequate capacity to accept drainage water from the subdivision, partition, replat, or planned unit development as provided below: A. Design of drainage within the subdivision, partition, replat, or planned unit development shall be approved by the County Engineer, consistent with the County's master storm drainage plan ... ... B. Drainage for the individual lots of the proposed subdivision, partition, replat, or planned unit development, and the proposed subdivision, partition, replat or planned unit development as a whole, shall be accomplished in such a manner so as to prevent the excessive flow of water across property lines, sidewalks, and other public rights-of-way; ... ... E. Public improvements shall be approved by the Review Body as adequate for the drainage needs of the area. Where necessary, for protection of any needs, the Review Body may condition the tentative plan approval on the conveying of ownership of a drainage easement for drainage purposes to the County.
Full Breakdown
83. 050 requires that any subdivision, partition, replat or planned unit development in the unincorporated county connect its drainage system directly to existing drainageways or storm sewers that have adequate capacity to accept the runoff, rather than discharging onto neighboring land. The County Engineer must approve the internal design for consistency with the County's master storm drainage plan, taking into account the capacity and grade needed to maintain unrestricted flow through the project and to allow the system to be extended beyond the project boundary in the future.
Drainage for each individual lot, and for the development as a whole, has to be handled so it does not cause excessive flow of water across property lines, sidewalks or other public rights-of-way. Where the County Engineer determines that land in the project is periodically subject to surface water accumulation, or is crossed by a watercourse, channel, stream or creek, the developer must provide for adequate unrestricted drainage as a condition of approval. A drainage plan covering the property and adjacent land must show every easement and improvement to be built.
Before the Review Body signs off on the tentative plan, it must find the public drainage improvements adequate for the area's needs; if it is not satisfied, it can condition approval on the developer conveying a drainage easement to the County outright.
Violations & Fines
Stormwater violations fall under Title 19's uniform enforcement chapter. JCC § 19.19.010 sets a fine on conviction of up to $500 for a noncontinuing offense and up to $1,000 for each continuing offense. Before any citation, the Planning Director must send written notice describing the alleged drainage violation and give the property owner up to 30 days to correct it; if the problem is not abated, the case goes to the District Attorney for prosecution or to the Board of County Commissioners for civil remedy under §§ 19.19.020 through 19.19.040.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Josephine County require a stormwater drainage plan for new land divisions?
Who signs off on drainage design in unincorporated Josephine County?
What if my parcel floods periodically or has a creek running through it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Josephine County
Compare Josephine County to another location·View the Oregon environmental rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.