Volusia County, FL Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Code of Ordinances Ch. 50, Art. VII
- Permit source
- NPDES MS4 permit + FDEP/SJRWMD
- Enforcement
- County manager or designee
- Remedy
- Cease-and-desist order, lien, injunction
- Exempt flows
- 17 listed, incl. car washing, lawn watering
Summary
Volusia County bars anyone from discharging polluted stormwater into its MS4 storm sewer system. Industrial, commercial and construction sites must treat runoff on-site under state or federal permits before it reaches a county drain, ditch or catch basin.
(a)Stormwater discharges from industrial and commercial activities shall be treated or managed on-site, in accordance with appropriate federal, state or local permits and regulations, prior to discharge to the county's MS4.(b)Stormwater discharges from significant construction activities shall be treated or managed on-site in accordance with appropriate federal, state or local permits and regulations, prior to discharge to the county's MS4. Erosion, sediment and pollution control for the construction site shall be properly implemented, maintained and operated according to a pollution prevention plan required by an NPDES permit for the discharge of stormwater from construction activities, or according to a state permit issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection or St. Johns River Water Management District.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 108 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 50, Article VII of the county code regulates every discharge into the county's municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). Under Sec. 50-503, industrial and commercial operators must treat stormwater on-site before it enters the MS4, and construction sites above the state's significant-activity threshold must run an NPDES pollution prevention plan or hold a Florida DEP or St. Johns River Water Management District permit. Sec. 50-502 makes it unlawful for any discharge to impair MS4 operation or violate an NPDES permit, and Sec. 50-505 flatly prohibits illicit discharges and illicit connections, including unreported hookups from industrial or construction sites.
Sec. 50-508 exempts routine flows such as water line flushing, landscape irrigation, lawn watering, air conditioning condensate, individual residential car washing and emergency firefighting runoff, so ordinary households are not swept in. County personnel may enter and inspect any facility suspected of discharging to the MS4 under Sec. 50-506, and structural BMPs must be kept in working order per Sec. 50-507. Sec. 50-509 separately bans dumping petroleum products, pesticides, paints, sanitary sewage, lawn clippings and similar polluting matter into any county stormwater system.
Violations & Fines
The county manager or a designee investigates violations and can issue a written cease-and-desist order by hand delivery or certified mail under Sec. 50-510. Violators must submit a corrective-action plan for approval; if they refuse to remedy the problem, the county can perform the work itself and record a lien against the property to recover its costs, plus seek injunctive relief and attorney's fees in court. Fines collected are deposited into the stormwater utility fund.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Volusia County fine my business for a stormwater violation?
Is washing my car at home an illicit discharge?
Do construction sites need a special stormwater permit in Volusia County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Volusia County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Volusia County to another location·View the Florida environmental rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.