Naperville, IL Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Design standard
- City Design Manual for Public Improvements
- Plan changes
- Unlawful without City Engineer approval
- Correction window
- 10 days after notice of violation
- Appeal body
- Building Review Board
Summary
Naperville requires storm water systems to follow the City's Design Manual for Public Improvements and bars grading, earthmoving, or new storm water structures on covered property except as shown on approved final engineering plans.
It shall be unlawful for any person to construct or improve any structure, to grade or do any earthmoving, to construct or improve any bypass channel or storm water storage area, or to install any control structure, on any property subject to this Chapter or on any property for which final engineering plans have been approved pursuant to this Chapter, except as provided for in such final engineering plans as are approved pursuant to this Chapter. It shall be unlawful for the owner of any property which has been improved, graded or developed in accordance with final engineering plans approved pursuant to this Chapter or upon which a control structure has been installed or a bypass channel or storm water storage area has been constructed in accordance with such engineering plans, to alter or change any structure, grade, contour line, bypass channel or storm water storage area in contravention of such approved engineering plans; to alter or remove any control structure required by such approved engineering plans; or to allow the property to remain in a condition which does not conform to such approved engineering plans in any respect.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 101).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 5-7-1 requires storm water systems to be designed under the City of Naperville Design Manual for Public Improvements. Once final engineering plans are approved, § 5-7-2 makes it unlawful to grade, earthmove, build a bypass channel or storm water storage area, or install any control structure on the covered property except as those approved plans allow, and equally unlawful to later alter an approved grade, structure, or storage area. The City Engineer enforces the chapter and may enter property at reasonable times to check compliance; owners get 10 days to fix a nonconforming condition after notice.
Violations & Fines
Noncompliance is enforceable by the City Engineer, who can demand correction within 10 days of notice; owners may appeal to the Building Review Board, though the City can act at once if a condition threatens flooding or flash-runoff damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I regrade my Naperville lot if it affects drainage?
Who enforces Naperville's storm water rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Naperville
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