Memphis, TN Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Memphis Code Ch. 13-40, Stormwater Management
- Enforcing office
- Division of Public Works stormwater manager
- Civil penalty
- $50–$5,000 per day of violation
- Criminal penalty
- Misdemeanor; each day a separate offense
- Appeal deadline
- 30 days to Memphis Stormwater Board
- SF stormwater fee tiers
- 58%, 100% or 152% of unit rate
Summary
Memphis Code Chapter 13-40 bans dumping trash, petroleum products, paints, pesticides and 29 other listed contaminants into the city's storm sewer system, and declares any stormwater violation a public nuisance under Section 13-40-4. The Division of Public Works' stormwater manager, based at 125 N. Main, enforces the chapter, and violators face a misdemeanor charge plus a civil penalty of $50 to $5,000 per day.
Discharge of stormwater in any manner in violation of this chapter; or any violation of any condition of a permit issued pursuant to this chapter; or any violation of any condition of a stormwater discharge permit issued by the State of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is declared a public nuisance and shall be corrected or abated.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 32 | Charter: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 13-40 of the Memphis Code of Ordinances regulates every discharge into the city's municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). ' Section 13-40-5 makes it unlawful to dispose of 33 enumerated categories of contaminants into the MS4, including trash and debris, construction materials, petroleum products such as oil, gasoline, grease and hydraulic fluids, antifreeze, batteries, pesticides and herbicides, paints and solvents, pool backwash, animal waste, silt and sediment, and junk motor vehicles. Section 13-40-6 exempts specific low-risk flows, potable water line flushing, lawn watering, residential car washing, dechlorinated pool water and natural groundwater, unless the director of public works determines a particular discharge is causing significant contamination.
The stormwater manager, housed with City of Memphis Environmental Engineering at 125 N. Main, Room 620, administers the program and requires 24 hours' notice before any dye testing. Property owners also pay a stormwater enterprise fee tied to impervious surface area: under Section 13-41-6, a single-family home with 1,841 square feet of impervious area or less pays 58 percent of the standard unit rate, one with 1,842 to 4,794 square feet pays 100 percent, and one with 4,795 square feet or more pays 152 percent.
Nonresidential properties are billed under Section 13-41-9 at the base rate multiplied by their impervious area divided by one stormwater flow unit, with a minimum one-unit charge. Fee disputes can be appealed to the director within 90 days of billing under Section 13-41-11.
Violations & Fines
Violating Chapter 13-40 is a misdemeanor under Section 13-40-28, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense punishable under the city's general penalty, Section 1-24-1. The director of public works can also assess a civil penalty of $50 to $5,000 per day under Section 13-40-29, after 30 days' written notice, plus recovery of the city's investigation and enforcement costs. A violator has 30 days to appeal a civil penalty or damage assessment to the Memphis Stormwater Board before it becomes final and enforceable as a chancery court judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
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