Newark, OH Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing official
- Director of Public Service (Service Director)
- Sidewalk rule
- No downspouts, drains or sewers emptying onto City sidewalks
- Billing unit
- One ERU equals 2,600 square feet of impervious area
- Lien
- Unpaid charges certified to Licking County Auditor after 90 days
- Notice of violation appeal
- Within ten working days of the notice
- Spill line
- Stormwater Utility, 740-670-7762
Summary
Under Section 1054.16 of the Newark Code of Ordinances, no one in the City of Newark, Ohio can discharge anything other than storm water into the storm drain system or watercourses, and downspouts cannot empty onto sidewalks. The Service Director enforces the rules, and a stormwater utility charge based on impervious area funds the program.
(2) Prohibition of downspouts or drains emptying on sidewalks. No person owning property which abuts or bounds upon a sidewalk shall cause, allow, or permit downspouts, drains or sewers to empty or discharge water or drainage upon any of the sidewalks of the City. ... (4) Prohibition of illegal discharges to stormwater system. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the municipal storm drain system or watercourses any materials, including but not limited to pollutants or waters containing any pollutants that cause or contribute to a violation of applicable water quality standards, other than storm water. The commencement, conduct or continuance of any illegal discharge to the storm drain system is prohibited except as described as follows: ... (5) Prohibition of illicit connections. The construction, use, maintenance or continued existence of illicit connections to the storm drain system is prohibited.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 1054 of the Newark Code of Ordinances creates the City's Stormwater Utility Program inside the Division of Water and Wastewater. Section 1054.16, the Stormwater Management Code, carries the conduct rules, enforced by the Director of Public Service (the Service Director). Subsection (l)(2) bars any owner of property abutting a sidewalk from letting downspouts, drains or sewers discharge onto City sidewalks. Subsection (l)(4) prohibits discharging into the municipal storm drain system or watercourses any materials other than storm water, including pollutants that contribute to a violation of water quality standards. Subsection (l)(5) prohibits illicit connections, even ones made in the past when the connection was lawful. Subsection (l)(1) sends clean water such as roof rainwater and foundation drainage to gutters or storm sewers and never to a sanitary sewer, and subsection (l)(3) directs sump discharge lines to the nearest approved outlet. Exempt discharges include landscape irrigation, lawn watering, foundation drains, air conditioning condensation, non-commercial vehicle washing and dechlorinated swimming pools. Subsection (m) bars discharges onto the public right-of-way that create ice or traffic hazards. Subsection (u) requires owners of land crossed by a watercourse to keep it free of trash, debris and excessive vegetation.
The money side runs through Sections 1054.03 and 1054.07. Every parcel with impervious area is billed, with one equivalent residential unit (ERU) equal to 2,600 square feet of impervious area. Residential properties pay a flat one-ERU charge, nonresidential properties are measured, and City Council sets the base rate by resolution. Charges are billed monthly with water and sewer, are payable within ten days of the statement, and an unpaid charge becomes a lien certified to the Licking County Auditor after 90 days under Section 1054.12. A nonresidential owner can appeal the assigned ERU multiple to the Director under Section 1054.11.
Spill reports go by telephone to the Stormwater Utility at 740-670-7762, or 9-1-1 if hazardous materials are involved, followed by a written report to the Stormwater Utility at 40 West Main Street, Newark, Ohio 43055.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 1054 enforces through Section 1054.16(x): the Service Director issues a written notice of violation that can order monitoring, cessation, abatement, remediation, a fine covering administrative and remediation costs, or best management practices. If the violator does not fix the problem by the deadline, the Stormwater Utility or a contractor does the work and charges the violator, and unpaid costs are certified to the County Auditor. Section 1054.15 bars knowingly filing false statements with the Division of Water and Wastewater.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run my downspout onto the sidewalk in Newark, Ohio?
How does Newark calculate the stormwater charge?
What happens if a stormwater bill goes unpaid?
How do I appeal a stormwater notice of violation in Newark?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Newark
Compare Newark to another location·View the Ohio environmental rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.