Lynchburg, VA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Sec. 2-1 states the purpose plainly: to deter discharges of pollutants into the city's municipal separate storm sewer system, or MS4, because illicit discharges could result in a significant source of pollutants to the city's MS4 and receiving waters. The chapter implements the federal Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program as administered in Virginia through the VPDES permit system (Sec. 2-2). Sec. 0, and any fluid carrying more than 15 milligrams per liter of total suspended solids. Subsection (b) exempts a defined list of ordinary flows, such as water line flushing, landscape irrigation, foundation and footing drains, air conditioning condensation, individual residential car washing, and noncommercial fundraising car washes using only biodegradable, phosphate-free cleaners, unless the city later finds one of those flows is a significant pollutant contributor.

The city's director of water resources enforces the chapter and can inspect, monitor and enter property to investigate, though entry still requires consent or an administrative inspection warrant under Sec. 2-5. Sec. 2-6 also imposes good housekeeping duties, barring uncovered outdoor storage of unsealed hazardous containers and requiring leak-prone equipment repairs to happen where spills cannot reach the MS4.