Rancho Cordova, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- RCMC § 15.12.100
- Enforcing agency
- Public works administrator
- Civil penalty
- Up to $5,000 per violation
- Criminal penalty
- Misdemeanor, $1,000 fine, 6 months jail
- Shared permit
- Co-permittee under NPDES Order R5-2016-0040
- Illicit connections
- 30 days to disconnect once notified
Summary
Rancho Cordova makes it unlawful to discharge anything other than storm water into the city's storm drains under RCMC Section 15.12.100, unless the flow fits a listed exception such as landscape irrigation, water line flushing, or individual residential car washing. The public works administrator enforces the city's shared NPDES permit and can impose administrative civil penalties up to five thousand dollars per violation.
Except as provided in RCMC § 15.12.110, it shall be unlawful for any person to make or cause to be made any non-storm water discharge indirectly or directly to the city receiving waters. ... Any person who negligently or knowingly violates any provision of this chapter, undertakes to conceal any violation of this chapter, continues any violation of this chapter after notice thereof, fails to implement BMPs in accordance with RCMC § 15.12.200(B) or fails to comply with a specified requirement or a provision of a city storm water permit shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than six months in the county jail, or both.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4660102; v2 updated 2026-03-02; through 03-02-2026).
Full Breakdown
The prohibition in RCMC Section 15.12.100 covers any non-storm water discharge, direct or indirect, into the city's municipal separate storm sewer system, which the code defines to include streets, catch basins, gutters, ditches and storm drains but not the American River itself. Rancho Cordova is a co-permittee with Sacramento County and the cities of Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt and Sacramento under NPDES Permit No. CAS0085324, Order R5-2016-0040, and Section 15.12.100 exists to satisfy that permit's requirement that the city effectively prohibit non-storm water discharges.
Section 15.12.110 exempts nineteen specific flows from the ban, including water line flushing, landscape irrigation, diverted stream flows, footing and foundation drains, air conditioning condensate, dechlorinated swimming pool and spa discharges, and individual residential car washing, provided none of them causes or contributes to a violation of receiving water limitations. Illicit physical connections to the storm system are separately banned under Section 15.12.150, with a 30-day window to disconnect once notified. The public works administrator investigates violations, can issue notices of noncompliance, administrative compliance orders and cease and desist orders under Sections 15.12.400 through 15.12.420, and any recipient may request an administrative appeal hearing under Section 15.12.450 by filing a written petition within the deadline stated in the notice.
Violations & Fines
Section 15.12.470 authorizes an administrative civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation, reviewed by a hearing officer before enforcement, with the violator given a reasonable correction period for a continuing violation that poses no immediate danger. Section 15.12.480 makes a negligent or knowing violation, including concealing a violation or ignoring a notice, a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in county jail, and each day of a continuing violation is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wash my car in my driveway in Rancho Cordova?
Who enforces Rancho Cordova's storm water rules?
What happens if I ignore a cease and desist order for a storm water violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rancho Cordova
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How other cities in Sacramento County handle stormwater management.