Livermore, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- LMC Chapter 13.45, Stormwater Management and Control Program
- Enforcing officials
- Public Works Director, water resources manager, source control inspectors
- Criminal penalty
- Misdemeanor, chargeable as an infraction at City's discretion
- Spill notice deadline
- Phone immediately, written confirmation within 5 days
- Nuisance lien trigger
- Unpaid abatement cost after 3 months becomes a lien
- Separate offense rule
- Each day of continuing violation is a separate offense
Summary
Livermore Municipal Code Sec. 13.45.030 bars anyone from discharging anything but stormwater into the city's storm sewer system. Only NPDES-permitted releases and a defined list of routine flows, like landscape irrigation, foundation drains and residential car washing, are allowed. The Public Works Director's water resources division enforces the chapter, and violators face misdemeanor charges.
No person shall cause a discharge of nonstormwater discharges to the city storm sewer system, except the following: A. Any discharge regulated under a national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permit issued to the discharger and administered by the state of California under authority of the United States Environmental Protection Agency; provided, that the discharger is in full compliance with all requirements of the permit and other applicable laws or regulations; B. Discharges from the following activities when properly managed in a manner satisfactory to the water resources manager: water line flushing, landscape irrigation, diverted stream flows, rising groundwaters, uncontaminated groundwater infiltration to separate storm sewers, uncontaminated pumped groundwater, discharges from potable water sources, foundation drains, air conditioning condensation, irrigation water, springs, water from crawl space pumps, footing drains, lawn watering, individual residential car washings, flows from riparian habitats and wetlands, dechlorinated swimming pool discharges or flows from fire fighting.
Full Breakdown
C. Sec. 1251 et seq. (Sec. 010). 020 assigns enforcement to the city's 'authorized enforcement official': the Public Works Director, the water resources division manager, the source control coordinator and source control inspectors. 030 prohibits any nonstormwater discharge to the city storm sewer system unless it is either covered by an NPDES permit issued by the state under EPA authority, or falls on the code's list of managed flows: water line flushing, landscape irrigation, diverted stream flows, groundwater infiltration, foundation and footing drains, air conditioning condensate, lawn watering, individual residential car washing, and dechlorinated swimming pool discharges, among others.
050 separately bans illicit drainage connections to the storm sewer, applying retroactively even to connections made under a past permit. 060 requires anyone whose activity may send pollutants into the storm sewer to take 'all practicable measures' to cut that pollution. If a spill or release occurs, Sec. 150 requires the responsible party to notify the City by phone immediately and confirm in writing to the water resources manager within five days. Enforcement officials may enter property to inspect for violations under Sec. 130, using a search warrant if entry is refused.
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of Chapter 13.45 is a misdemeanor under Sec. 13.45.170, though the enforcing authority may instead charge it as an infraction. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense. Section 13.45.180 also makes a violation a public nuisance: the City can summarily abate it, and if the property owner does not pay the abatement cost within three months, the cost becomes a lien and the property can be sold to satisfy it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I legally send into Livermore's storm drains?
Who enforces Livermore's stormwater ordinance?
What happens if I report a spill late?
Can the City force me to pay for cleanup?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Livermore
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Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle stormwater management.