Lake Havasu City, AZ Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Chapter 8.28 implements Lake Havasu City's stormwater and Clean Water Act obligations for its municipal separate storm sewer system, called the MS4. Section 8.28.080 bans illicit discharges to the public storm drain system, listing thirteen specific prohibited sources: pollutant-bearing connections, soil, rock, trash and garbage, commercial or mobile car washing, impervious-surface pressure washing, concrete washing and truck washout, oils, fuels, paints and greases, grinding grit and sand, carpet cleaning wastewater, chlorinated pool and spa water, and any discharge misrepresented or undisclosed on a permit application.

Section 8.28.090 exempts specific non-stormwater flows, such as water line flushing, landscape irrigation, individual residential car washing, and de-chlorinated pool discharges, unless the city finds a specific discharge violates the state's general permit. Under section 8.28.100, anyone submitting a grading, building, or improvement plan must disclose potential illicit discharges and build in Best Management Practices subject to city approval, maintained through final site stabilization. The City Engineer administers and enforces the chapter under section 8.28.060, with authority to require plan review, inspections, and reports, and to suspend a property's MS4 access.

Violations are enforced under Chapter 1.12's civil-citation and abatement process per section 8.28.160, and the city may also petition Mohave County Superior Court for an injunction under section 8.28.170, or declare a violation a public nuisance subject to abatement at the violator's expense under section 8.28.180.