Pasadena, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing agency
- Public Works and Transportation Dept.
- Governing permit
- NPDES Permit No. CA0061654
- Misdemeanor penalty
- up to $1,000 fine, 6 months jail
- First-offense infraction fine
- up to $100
- Spill notice deadline
- within 24 hours
- Watercourse buffer
- 30 ft centerline / 20 ft bank top
- Construction site threshold
- 5+ acres needs CRWQCB permit
Summary
Pasadena's Stormwater Management and Discharge Control Ordinance bars any discharge into the municipal storm drain system other than rainwater. The Department of Public Works and Transportation enforces the ban on illicit discharges and connections under NPDES Permit No. CA0061654, and violators face misdemeanor charges carrying up to a $1,000 fine and six months in county jail.
The purpose of this chapter is to ensure the future health, safety, and general welfare of the residents of the city of Pasadena who recreate in and consume from the waters of the United States, and to protect marine habitats and ecosystems existing therein by: A.Regulating non-stormwater discharges to the municipal stormwater system;B.Providing for the control of spillage, dumping or disposal of materials into the municipal storm-water system;C.Reducing pollutants in stormwater and urban runoff to the maximum extent practicable... 8.70.050 - Illicit discharge prohibited. Illicit discharge to the municipal stormwater system is prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 79 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 8.70 of the Pasadena Municipal Code, adopted by Ordinance 6601 in 1994, prohibits sending anything but pure stormwater runoff into the city's storm drain system, which the code defines to include flood control channels, catch basins, curbs, ditches and natural watercourses. Section 8.70.050 makes illicit discharge unlawful outright, and Section 8.70.080 bars any illicit connection to the system, voiding any noncontractual permit for one that predates the 1994 ordinance. The enforcement agency is the Department of Public Works and Transportation, whose director or a designee acts as the enforcement official under Section 8.70.030.
Section 8.70.060 exempts specific low-risk flows, including water line flushing, landscape irrigation, rising groundwater, footing drains, air conditioning condensation, non-commercial vehicle washing, and dechlorinated pool discharges, so long as they do not violate the city's NPDES permit. Construction sites of five acres or more must hold a CRWQCB general construction permit before grading or building permits issue, per Section 8.70.095, and between October 15 and April 15 any tracked-out sediment must be removed the same day. Property owners along a natural watercourse must keep it clear of debris and may not develop within 30 feet of the centerline or 20 feet of the top of bank without a permit, under Section 8.70.100. Anyone who discovers a pollutant release must contain it and notify the enforcement agency within 24 hours under Section 8.70.110. Inspectors may enter fenced or occupied property only after presenting credentials and may seek a court inspection warrant if entry is refused.
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of Chapter 8.70 is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both, under Section 8.70.130. The city may instead charge a first offense as an infraction capped at $100, a second within a year at $200, and each additional violation within a year at $500; a third conviction for the same provision within twelve months can be charged as a misdemeanor. Violations are also declared a public nuisance subject to civil abatement, with the property owner liable for the city's investigation costs, administrative overhead and attorney fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an illegal discharge in Pasadena?
Can I wash my car in my driveway?
How does the city require private storm drains to be cleaned?
What happens if I don't report a spill?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pasadena
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