Lake Charles, LA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing ordinance
- City Code § 21-210, Ord. No. 14348 (2007)
- Administered by
- Director of Planning
- Applies to
- All developed and undeveloped city land
- Second-offense fine
- $500.00 per day
- Third-offense / continuing fine
- At least $1,000.00 per day
Summary
Lake Charles bans dumping anything but stormwater into its storm drains and watercourses under the Stormwater Quality Management and Discharge Control Ordinance, City Code § 21-210. The rule targets everyday sources like vehicle-wash water, dumpster leakage, and pressure-washing runoff, and it is enforced with escalating fines that reach $1,000.00 a day.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the city storm drain system or watercourses any materials, including, but not limited to, pollutants or waters containing any pollutants that cause or contribute to a violation of applicable water quality standards, other than stormwater. Illegal discharges include, but are not limited to... (a)Water from the cleaning of gas stations, vehicle service garages, or other types of vehicle service facilities;(b)Water, cleansers, or solvents from the cleaning of vehicles, machinery or equipment...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
' The section then lists specific illegal discharges: wash water from gas stations, vehicle service garages, auto body shops, and machinery cleaning; soap or solvent runoff from vehicle washing; mat wash and kitchen cleaning water from food service facilities; dumpster leakage and dumpster-area rinse water; pressure-washing and steam-cleaning runoff from sidewalks, driveways, and building exteriors; concrete truck washout; and runoff from areas storing hazardous substances such as diesel fuel, gasoline, or motor oil. Exempted, so long as they carry no pollutants, are activities like water line flushing, landscape irrigation, air conditioning condensation, individual residential car washing, and firefighting flows.
The ordinance, adopted by Ord. No. 14348 in 2007 and covering all developed and undeveloped land in the city (§ 21-204), is administered by the director of planning (§ 21-205), who can order a violator to stop and remediate an illegal discharge (§ 21-215). Section 21-211 separately bans discharging used oil into the storm system, sewer, or any watercourse, or mixing used oil with solid waste headed to a landfill. 00-per-day civil penalty on top of any fines the city itself incurs under its state MS4 discharge permit.
Violations & Fines
Illegal discharges are punished on an escalating schedule under § 21-267: a first offense gets a warning and notice of violation, a second offense costs $500.00 per day, and a third offense can add a stop-work order plus civil or criminal penalties of at least $1,000.00 per day. Continued violations, and knowingly false statements made to obtain a permit under the article, are misdemeanors carrying a minimum $1,000.00-per-day fine under § 21-268.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can't I put down a storm drain in Lake Charles?
Is washing my car at home illegal under this rule?
What is the fine for an illegal stormwater discharge?
Who enforces the stormwater ordinance in Lake Charles?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake Charles
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