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.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Modesto, CA
Modesto's noise ordinance expressly exempts aircraft and railroad operations; aircraft noise around Modesto City-County Airport is governed by federal FAA ru...
Modesto, CA
Modesto's noise ordinance (MMC Title 4, Ch. 9) bans 'loud and raucous noise' citywide, including from industrial operations. Certain continuous industrial ac...
Modesto, CA
Modesto has no blanket overnight parking ban. The default rule is the 72-hour storage limit (sec. 3-2.1002). Residential Parking Permit Zones under Article 1...
Modesto, CA
Modesto zoning permits standard residential fence materials (wood, vinyl, masonry, ornamental metal, chain link). Barbed wire, razor wire and electrified fen...
Modesto, CA
Modesto's zoning ordinance limits a residential dwelling unit to two dogs (5+ months old) and three cats (3+ months old). Larger numbers, exotic animals, or ...
Modesto, CA
Modesto Municipal Code § 10-3.202 allows up to 12 domestic fowl (hens only - no roosters), plus 2 pygmy goats and 2 miniature potbellied pigs (no boars), per...
See how Modesto's stormwater management rules stack up against other locations.
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