Newark, NJ Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Revised General Ordinances Ch. 41:17
- Applicability threshold
- 1,000+ sq ft impervious disturbance, 50% alteration
- TSS removal standard
- 80% of annual average load
- Water quality design storm
- 1.25 inches of rain in 2 hours
- Core violation fine
- Up to $1,000 or 90 days, or both
- Dumpster-cover violation fine
- Up to $100,000
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Engineering, Police Division
Summary
Newark regulates stormwater runoff from new construction under Chapter 41:17 of the Revised General Ordinances. Major and minor developments that disturb 1,000 or more square feet of impervious surface must control runoff quantity, recharge groundwater, and remove 80% of suspended solids before discharge, enforced by the Department of Engineering.
Stormwater management measures shall be designed to reduce the post-construction load of total suspended solids (TSS) in stormwater runoff generated from the water quality design storm as follows: Eighty percent removal of the anticipated load, expressed as an annual average shall be achieved for the stormwater runoff from the net increase of motor vehicle surface. ... The water quality design storm is 1.25 inches of rainfall in two hours.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 5019615; v61 updated 2026-06-17; through 06-17-2026).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 41:17, adopted in its current form by Ordinance 6PSF-E on September 5, 2024, sets minimum design standards for groundwater recharge, runoff quantity, and runoff quality on "major development" and "minor development" citywide, applying to all site plans and subdivisions (§ 41:17-1-3). A redevelopment project that adds, replaces, or disturbs 1,000 or more square feet of impervious surface and alters more than 50% of a lot's existing regulated impervious or motor-vehicle surface must bring the entire existing development into compliance, not just the new portion.
For runoff quantity, the design engineer must show that post-construction runoff hydrographs for the two-, ten-, and 100-year storms do not exceed pre-construction rates, or that peak rates do not increase and downstream flooding will not worsen (§ 41:17-4-6). Groundwater recharge design must maintain 100% of the average annual pre-construction recharge volume, or infiltrate the increased runoff volume from a two-year storm, and stormwater from high-pollutant-loading areas such as vehicle maintenance yards and gas stations may not be recharged. 25 inches of rain over two hours.
5 and 10 feet per second. Chapter 41:17 also separately requires outdoor refuse containers and dumpsters to be covered (§ 41:17-11) and requires private storm drain inlets to be retrofitted to a specified design standard (§ 41:17-12).
Violations & Fines
Violating the core stormwater management requirements of §§ 41:17-1 through 41:17-10 carries a fine up to $1,000 or up to 90 days imprisonment, or both, per offense (§ 41:17-13-1). Failing to cover a refuse container or dumpster under § 41:17-11 can draw a fine up to $100,000, and failing to retrofit a private storm drain inlet under § 41:17-12 can draw a fine up to $10,000 per inlet. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense, and the City may also recover attorneys' fees and litigation costs. The Police Division, Department of Engineering, and other municipal officials enforce the chapter (§ 41:17-14).
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Newark require a stormwater management plan?
What water quality standard must new development meet?
What happens if a property owner ignores Newark's stormwater rules?
Does Newark regulate uncovered dumpsters under this chapter?
Sources & Official References
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