Provo, UT Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Provo City Code Title 18, Ch. 18.02-18.03
- SWPPP trigger
- 1 acre or more of land disturbance
- Enforcement
- Public Works Director or designee
- Penalty
- Class C misdemeanor per violation
- Private facility inspection
- At least every other year
- Accidental discharge report deadline
- 10 days, written
Summary
Provo bans dumping anything but clean storm water into the storm drainage system or Utah Lake tributaries under City Code 18.02.020. Violators face Class C misdemeanor charges, and projects disturbing an acre or more must file a storm water pollution prevention plan.
It is unlawful for any person to cause or allow the discharge into a water body or storm drainage system, either directly or indirectly, of any substance not comprised entirely of storm water or an exempted discharge listed in Subsection (2) of this Section.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-17, passed June 9, 2026).
Full Breakdown
020(1)). A short list of non-storm-water discharges is allowed if they do not violate state or federal water quality standards: UPDES-permitted discharges, water line flushing, landscape/lawn watering, uncontaminated ground or irrigation water, air conditioning condensate, firefighting flows, and City-approved foundation/footing drains. 020(3)). 030 separately bars placing garbage, yard waste, pet waste, rocks, soil or mud into any street, gutter or storm drain component, and bans stockpiling pollutants where they could reach the system. 030). 040). 050).
Violations & Fines
A first or second violation of Title 18 is a Class C misdemeanor; a third violation is also a Class C misdemeanor and can trigger a stop work order (18.02.050(4)). Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense. The Public Works Director can skip the standard notice-and-cure process and move straight to civil or criminal action if the same violation recurred within 30 days, poses a serious risk, or is deemed an emergency. Violators also cover the City's repair and remediation costs, which can become a lien on the property, and the City can withhold new permits until unpaid costs are repaid in full. A notice recipient has 10 days to submit a correction plan or request an administrative hearing under Chapter 17.02; missing that window waives the right to appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I let my sump pump drain into the street in Provo?
Do I need a stormwater permit to build in Provo?
Who inspects private storm water facilities in Provo?
What happens if I dump yard waste in a Provo storm drain?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Provo
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Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Utah County handle stormwater management.