California Water Code sections 13260 and 13383 implement the federal Clean Water Act through statewide MS4 NPDES permits issued by the State and Regional Water Boards, binding all municipal stormwater dischargers uniformly.
Water Code 13260 requires anyone discharging waste into state waters to file a Report of Waste Discharge. Section 13383 authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board to issue NPDES permits enforcing federal Clean Water Act requirements. Statewide MS4 Phase I and Phase II General Permits regulate municipal separate storm sewer systems, requiring construction site BMPs, post-construction stormwater retention, and illicit discharge controls. Local agencies must adopt ordinances at least as stringent as their NPDES permits; they cannot weaken the standards. The Construction General Permit (Order 2022-0057-DWQ) covers projects disturbing one acre or more.
Water Code 13385 authorizes administrative civil liability up to $10,000 per day per violation plus $10 per gallon of unauthorized discharge. Willful violations are misdemeanors. EPA and Regional Water Board enforcement actions are common.
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Habitual barking is regulated through Madera County Code Chapter 9.58 (Noise Regulations) and Chapter 6.04 (Animal Control). A barking dog that disturbs neig...
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Madera County Code Chapter 9.58 (Noise Regulations) governs unincorporated areas. A March 2025 update set quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. with decibel-lim...
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Madera County requires apiary registration with the Agricultural Commissioner, either directly or via the statewide BeeWhere portal. Cal. Food & Ag Code §290...
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Madera County allows poultry and livestock in agricultural and large-lot residential zones under Title 18 (Zoning). Section 18.04.190 (Farm, poultry) defines...
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Madera County Code § 6.04.580 (Running at large) prohibits dogs from being on public streets, roads, parks or another's private property without restraint. D...
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Most of unincorporated Madera County is mapped by CAL FIRE as State Responsibility Area, with the eastern foothills (Oakhurst, Coarsegold, North Fork, Bass L...
See how Madera's stormwater management rules stack up against other locations.
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