Medford, MA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

The Stormwater System article, chapter 82, §§ 82-123 through 82-130, implements Medford's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Small Municipal Separate Storm Drain Systems permit, known as the NPDES MS4 permit. Section 82-123 states the article's purpose: improve and protect water quality, reduce erosion and sedimentation, promote environmentally sensitive site design, stormwater reuse and groundwater recharge, and ensure long-term maintenance of stormwater controls. To do that, § 82-125 creates a stormwater board made up of the director of public works, the city engineer and the building commissioner, empowered to promulgate regulations and to bar anyone from uncovering, excavating over, blocking access to, connecting with, opening into, discharging into, or otherwise disturbing the city's storm drain system without prior city authorization.

The operative prohibition sits in § 82-127(a): no person may dump, discharge, or cause or allow to be discharged, any pollutant or non-stormwater discharge into the storm drain system, a watercourse, or the waters of the Commonwealth. Subsection (b) separately bans illicit connections to the storm drain system regardless of whether the connection was once lawful. Section 82-124 defines 'pollutant' broadly to include paint and solvent, automotive fluids, yard waste, pesticides and fertilizers, sewage, and construction wastes, among other listed substances. Enforcement under § 82-130 rests with the director of public works or a designee, who may pursue civil or criminal remedies for violations of the article or its regulations.