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Norman, OK Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing statute
27A O.S. Section 2-6-205
Permit requirement
Required before discharging any pollutant
State fine cap
$10,000/day, up to $125,000 per violation
Enforcing state agency
Dept. of Environmental Quality
Local penalty
NCC 1-114: up to $1,000 or 90 days

Summary

Any Norman facility or activity the Department of Environmental Quality regulates under the Oklahoma Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Act needs a permit before discharging pollutants, including stormwater, into state waters. Violators face a state administrative fine up to $10,000.00 per day, capped at $125,000.00 per violation, and Norman's own code adds a separate local $1,000.00 fine for pretreatment and stormwater discharge violations.

A. Except as otherwise provided in subsection B of this section, it shall be unlawful for any facility, activity or entity regulated by the Department of Environmental Quality pursuant to the Oklahoma Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Act to discharge any pollutant into waters of the state or elsewhere without first obtaining a permit from the Executive Director. B. The Environmental Quality Board shall promulgate rules which prescribe permit requirements applicable to discharges composed entirely of stormwater... the Executive Director may... assess an administrative fine of not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) per day of violation, for each day during which the violation continues. The total amount of such fine shall not exceed One Hundred Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($125,000.00) per violation.

Source: Norman Code of OrdinancesView official code

Full Breakdown

S. Section 2-6-205, is the statute behind Norman's stormwater permitting, and the City's own wastewater code writes the same permit into its definitions: an "OPDES permit means a permit issued pursuant to section 402 of the Act," which Norman's treatment plant must hold to discharge into waters of the state. to discharge any pollutant into waters of the state or elsewhere without first obtaining a permit," and subsection (B) directs the Environmental Quality Board to write rules "applicable to discharges composed entirely of stormwater," which may exempt categories of discharges or set a permit schedule case by case.

00) per violation," or pursue a civil penalty of the same daily amount in district court, plus injunctive relief. 00, 60-day cap that applies to other violations.

Violations & Fines

An unpermitted stormwater or pollutant discharge under the OPDES Act can draw a state administrative fine of up to $10,000.00 per day, capped at $125,000.00 per violation, or a civil penalty of the same daily amount if the Executive Director sues in district court for an injunction. Within Norman, the same discharge also violates NCC 1-114's stormwater and wastewater pretreatment clause, punishable by up to $1,000.00 or 90 days imprisonment, with each day of a continuing discharge a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Norman require a permit for stormwater discharges?
Yes. 27A O.S. Section 2-6-205 makes it unlawful for any facility, activity or entity the Department of Environmental Quality regulates to discharge any pollutant into waters of the state without a permit, and directs the Environmental Quality Board to write rules specifically for discharges made up entirely of stormwater, which can require a permit, exempt a category outright, or set a compliance schedule.
What is the fine for an unpermitted discharge under the OPDES Act?
Up to $10,000.00 per day of violation, capped at $125,000.00 per violation, assessed by the Executive Director after notice and an enforcement hearing under 27A O.S. Section 2-6-206. The state can instead, or additionally, sue in district court for a civil penalty of up to $10,000.00 per day and an injunction ordering the discharge stopped.
Does Norman have its own local penalty for stormwater violations?
Yes, separately from the state fine. Norman's Code sets its own general penalty in NCC 1-114, and it singles out stormwater and wastewater pretreatment violations for a fine of up to $1,000.00 or 90 days imprisonment, a higher cap than the Code's default $750.00 and 60-day penalty for other municipal code violations.

Sources & Official References

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