National City, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Primary enforcement official
- The City Engineer
- Maximum civil penalty
- Two thousand five hundred dollars per violation per day
- Creek development setback
- Thirty feet from center line or twenty feet from top of bank, whichever is greater
- Irrigation runoff
- Illegal discharge to the MS4 under Section 14.22.070(D)
- Structural BMP servicing
- At least annually, with records kept at least three years
- Chapter adopted
- Ordinance No. 2015-2403, June 16, 2015
Summary
Section 14.22.060 of the National City Municipal Code prohibits discharging pollutants into the MS4 or receiving waters, bans illegal connections even if they were once permitted, and bars leaving materials or wastes where they can cause an illegal discharge. The City Engineer leads enforcement, and a court can assess civil penalties up to two thousand five hundred dollars per violation per day.
A.Illegal Discharges. The discharge of pollutants directly or indirectly into the MS4 or receiving waters is prohibited, except as exempted in Section 14.22.070 of this chapter and unless the applicable requirements of this chapter have been met. It is unlawful for any person to cause either individually or jointly any discharge into or from the MS4 which results in or contributes to a violation of the MS4 Permit.B.Illegal Connection. It is prohibited to establish, use, maintain or continue illegal connections to the MS4, regardless of whether such connections were made under a permit or other authorization or other authorization or whether permissible under the law or practices applicable or prevailing at the time of connection.C.Prevention of Illegal Discharges. Throwing, depositing, leaving, abandoning, maintaining or keeping materials or wastes on public or private lands in a manner and place where they may result in an illegal discharge is prohibited.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 14.22 (Storm Water Management), adopted by Ordinance No. 2015-2403 on June 16, 2015, is National City's stormwater law. Section 14.22.060 is its core. It prohibits the discharge of pollutants directly or indirectly into the MS4 or receiving waters, makes it unlawful to cause any discharge that contributes to a violation of the MS4 Permit, prohibits establishing, using or continuing illegal connections whether or not they were made under a permit or were lawful when built, and prohibits throwing, depositing, leaving or keeping materials or wastes on public or private land where they can result in an illegal discharge.
Section 14.22.070 lists what is allowed. Discharges under a state NPDES permit are allowed while the discharger complies. Irrigation runoff is expressly illegal, because the potable water exemption carves out irrigation runoff discharges. Wash water from individual residential vehicle washing must be directed to landscaped areas or other pervious surfaces where feasible, and non-commercial car washes such as fundraisers are not exempt. Chlorinated pool water must have chlorine, algaecide and filter backwash eliminated before discharge, and saline pool water goes to the sanitary sewer, landscaped areas or other pervious surfaces.
Property owners along a natural watercourse must keep it free of trash and debris, and Section 14.22.050 bars development within thirty feet of the center line of any creek or twenty feet of the top of a bank, whichever is the greater distance from the top of the bank.
Builders face permit conditions. Under Sections 14.22.090 and 14.22.100, no grading, clearing, building or other land development permit issues until the project meets the chapter, the BMP Manual and Chapter 15.70 (Grading), and applications carry a post-construction BMP plan. A priority development project's plan must be approved before permits issue. Under Section 14.22.110, the maintenance plan for structural post-construction BMPs must provide for servicing at least annually and for keeping inspection and maintenance records for at least three years. If entry for a regulatory inspection is refused, an inspection warrant is obtained first. Section 14.22.130 names the City Engineer as the primary enforcement official.
Violations & Fines
Section 14.22.140 authorizes administrative penalties under Chapters 1.44 and 1.48, cease and desist orders, stop orders, and nuisance abatement with a lien for city costs. Section 14.22.160 allows a misdemeanor or infraction charge at the prosecutor's discretion and a civil action with a maximum civil penalty of two thousand five hundred dollars per violation for each day of the violation. Each day past a correction deadline is a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What stormwater steps come with a building or grading permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in National City
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