Weber County, UT Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Core prohibition
- No illicit discharge to storm sewer system
- Design discharge cap
- 0.1 cfs per acre
- Permit required for
- New construction and redevelopment
- Penalty
- Class C misdemeanor, per-day offense
- Enforcing office
- County stormwater manager/engineer
Summary
Weber County bans any illicit discharge into its storm sewer system in the unincorporated county, with narrow exemptions for things like NPDES-permitted discharges, lawn irrigation and firefighting. New construction and redevelopment also need a separate storm sewer discharge permit before work starts.
It is unlawful for any person to cause or allow an illicit discharge to the storm sewer system. The following discharges to the storm sewer system are exempt from the prohibitions of this section: Discharges regulated under a valid national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) storm discharge permit, provided that the discharge complies with the terms of the permit. Discharges from water line flushing performed by a city or the county or service provider. Discharges from sprinkled landscape irrigation or sprinkled lawn watering. Discharges from individual residential car washing, provided that a biodegradable detergent is used.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: ?).
Full Breakdown
Weber County Code § 40-2-2 makes it unlawful for any person to cause or allow an illicit discharge to the storm sewer system, then lists the discharges exempt from that ban: flows under a valid NPDES storm discharge permit that comply with its terms, water line flushing by a city, the county, or a service provider, sprinkled landscape irrigation or lawn watering, residential car washing using biodegradable detergent, natural riparian or wetland flows, natural groundwater flows, air conditioning condensation approved by the county engineer, firefighting or emergency management discharges, and foundation, footing, or crawl space/basement pump discharges approved in writing by the county engineer.
Section 40-2-1 separately bars obstructing the storm sewer system's flow or covering a drain inlet, and § 40-2-3 bars storing, keeping or depositing any pollutant or hazardous material in a manner likely to let it reach the storm sewer system. Beyond the discharge ban, § 40-2-4 requires anyone beginning new construction or redevelopment in the unincorporated county to obtain a storm sewer discharge permit before construction starts, submitting a completed application, a best-management-practices plan meeting § 40-2-5, and a maintenance plan, all reviewed by the county's stormwater manager, whose decision can be appealed to the director of stormwater management.
1 cubic feet per second per acre. The findings in § 40-1-1 explain the rationale: uncontrolled runoff causes erosion, hinders emergency access, carries oil, grease, chemicals and heavy metals into receiving waters, and the county funds its system through a storm sewer service fee under Chapter 40-1.
Violations & Fines
Section 40-2-13 makes violation of any Chapter 40-2 provision, including an illicit discharge under § 40-2-2, a class C misdemeanor, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense. A violator who causes damage requiring county repair or material replacement must also bear those repair costs on top of any criminal or civil fine, and § 40-2-13 notes violators may face additional prosecution, fines and penalties from the State of Utah and the U.S. EPA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an illegal stormwater discharge in Weber County?
Do new construction projects need a stormwater permit?
What is the penalty for violating Weber County's stormwater rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Weber County
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