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Kansas City, MO Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Fee
$0.50/month per 500 sq ft runoff
Enforced by
Director of Water Services
Applies to
every property in the city
Fine range
$50–$500 per day
Max ratio credit
50% for high pervious ratio

Summary

Kansas City bills every property a monthly stormwater utility fee based on impervious runoff surface and bans dumping pollutants into the storm drain system, both enforced by the Water Services Department under Code of Ordinances Chapter 61.

The stormwater fee shall be $0.50 per month for each 500 square feet ("runoff unit"), or portion of 500 square feet, of runoff surface on a property... No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the municipal storm drainage system or watercourses any prohibited discharges.

Source: KC Code Chapter 61 — StormwaterView 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 139 | Zoning and Development Code: Supplement 38).

Full Breakdown

The city assesses a stormwater fee on every property that keeps rain from soaking into the ground, based on square footage of "runoff surface" like roofs, driveways and parking lots. Separately, Article III bars discharging anything but clean water, no wastewater, chemicals, or wash water, into storm drains or watercourses, and makes illicit sewer-to-storm-drain connections illegal citywide, with violations treated as a public nuisance.

Violations & Fines

Discharge violations are a public nuisance carrying a fine of $50 to $500 per offense, up to 180 days imprisonment, or both; each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every Kansas City property pay a stormwater fee?
Any property with impervious runoff surface pays $0.50 per month per 500 square feet of that surface, billed with the water bill under Sec. 61-4(3).
Can I get a credit on the stormwater fee?
Yes: a ratio credit (up to 50%) for mostly-pervious lots and a detention credit (10%–50%) for private detention structures, capped at 75% combined, per Sec. 61-4(4).
What happens if I dump chemicals into a Kansas City storm drain?
It's a prohibited discharge under Sec. 61-56, punishable by a $50–$500 fine per day, up to 180 days in jail, or both, under Sec. 61-69.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Kansas City

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All Kansas City rules

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