Pinal County, AZ Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Urbanized unincorporated county only
- Civil penalty
- Up to $2,500/day per violation
- First step
- Notice of Outstanding Violation (NOV)
- Enforcing agency
- Community Development director
- Exempt flows
- Landscape irrigation, A/C condensation, pool drainage
- Ordinance source
- Ord. No. 050615-SMO (5-6-2015)
Summary
In the urbanized unincorporated county, it is illegal to introduce anything but stormwater into the county's MS4 or storm drains. Pinal County's stormwater management title bans illicit non-stormwater discharges and illicit connections, with civil penalties up to $2,500 per day per violation.
No person shall throw, drain, or otherwise introduce, cause, or allow others under its or their control to throw, drain, or otherwise introduce into the county MS4 or into the storm drainage system within the county MS4 any pollutants, waters containing any pollutants, or water other than stormwater.
Full Breakdown
S. Census urbanized area (UA) map for the county under Sec. 20-9. Sec. " A list of exemptions in Sec. 20-37(b)(1) covers ordinary flows such as water line flushing, landscape irrigation, uncontaminated groundwater, air conditioning condensation, individual residential car washing, and de-chlorinated swimming pool drainage, plus firefighting flows and dye-testing (with verbal notice to Community Development required first). 34(b)(3)(iii). A companion section, Sec. 20-38, separately prohibits illicit connections to the MS4. Enforcement runs through Community Development: Sec. 01, unlawful. Before escalating, the director may issue a Notice of Outstanding Violation (NOV) under Sec.
20-156, an informal notice used for minor noncompliance that sets a deadline to correct the problem; the director can still pursue emergency or other enforcement without ever issuing an NOV. Beyond the NOV stage, Sec. 20-161 civil penalties and Sec. 20-162 criminal violations apply for unresolved or serious cases such as unpermitted MS4 discharges or failure to monitor and report.
Violations & Fines
The department may seek a civil penalty of up to $2,500.00 per day for each violation under Sec. 20-161, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense; the director, through the county attorney, can sue in superior court to collect. Sec. 20-162 separately makes it a criminal violation to discharge stormwater to the MS4 without an approval or permit, or to fail to monitor, sample, or report discharges as required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can't I drain into the storm drain in unincorporated Pinal County?
Is watering my lawn or washing my car a violation?
What happens if Community Development finds a minor violation?
How much can the county fine a stormwater violator?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pinal County
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