Oakland, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- OMC Ch. 13.16, Creek Protection & Stormwater
- First-offense fine
- Up to $100
- Third-offense fine
- Up to $500 within one year
- Repeat-offense charge
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000 or 6 months jail
- Design standards chapter
- OMC Ch. 13.14, Storm Drainage Standards
- Governing permit
- NPDES Permit No. CA0029831
Summary
Oakland bans non-storm-water discharges into its storm sewer system and prohibits illicit drainage connections to storm drains or watercourses under Municipal Code Chapter 13.16. Violations are infractions carrying escalating fines and, after repeated offenses, misdemeanor charges.
Non-storm-water discharges or increase in flow to the city storm sewer system is prohibited. All discharges of material other than storm water must be in compliance with a NPDES permit issued for the discharge (other than NPDES Permit No. CA0029831). ... It is prohibited to establish, use, maintain, or continue illicit drainage connections to the city storm sewer system or to a watercourse, and to commence or continue any illicit discharges to the city storm sewer system or to a watercourse. This prohibition is expressly retroactive and applies to connections made in the past, regardless of whether made under a permit or other authorization or whether permissible under the law or practices applicable or prevailing at the time of the connection.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102 | Planning Code: Supplement 59).
Full Breakdown
16, the city's Creek Protection, Storm Water Management and Discharge Control Ordinance (Ord. 090: a prohibition the code states is expressly retroactive, applying even to connections made legally in the past. 100 lists minimum requirements to cut pollutants at the source: no throwing or depositing refuse, garbage or litter on streets, sidewalks, storm drains, catch basins or other drainage structures; occupants fronting a paved sidewalk must keep it free of dirt to the maximum extent practicable and may not sweep debris into the gutter; parking lot and gas station operators must clean pavement as frequently as practicable to prevent pollutant discharge; and construction contractors must place filter materials at catch basins and follow city erosion-and-sedimentation-control requirements (Ord.
No. ) plus any best management practices the Chief of Building Services conditions onto grading, building or subdivision permits. 14, the companion Storm Drainage Standards chapter (Ord. No. 12916, 2009), assigns the Engineer designated by the City Administrator responsibility for the design standards governing both public and private storm drainage facilities, and the Director of Public Works for operating and maintaining the public system, with all standards required to comply with the federal Clean Water Act and NPDES Permit No. CA0029831. Where city rules conflict with other regulations, the more stringent provision controls.
Violations & Fines
Under § 13.16.230, violating any provision of Chapter 13.16 is an infraction. Section 13.16.240 sets fines of up to $100 for a first conviction, up to $200 for a second within one year, and up to $500 for a third within one year; a fourth or later violation within that year may instead be charged by the City Attorney or District Attorney as a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both. Section 13.16.250 makes each day a violation continues a separate offense, so fines compound daily until corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wash pollutants down a storm drain in Oakland?
Is an old illicit storm drain connection grandfathered in Oakland?
What happens if I violate Oakland's stormwater ordinance repeatedly?
Who sets Oakland's storm drainage design standards?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oakland
California rules heatmap·Compare Oakland to another location·View the California environmental rules overview
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How other cities in Alameda County handle stormwater management.