Riverside, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- General rule
- No pollutant may enter the storm drain
- Banned discharges
- Pet waste, green waste, chemicals, wash water
- Admin surcharge
- 90% of City's cleanup/repair cost
- Incident report deadline
- 5 business days after a violation
- New development duty
- WQMP + post-construction BMPs required
- Enforcing office
- Public Works Director
Summary
Riverside bans dumping anything but rain into its storm drain system, expressly covering pet waste, green waste, chemicals, construction runoff, and wash water from vehicle detailing or pressure-washing, under RMC § 14.12.315. New and redevelopment projects must also file a Water Quality Management Plan with post-construction BMPs under § 14.12.316.
A.No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the storm drainage system, whether currently carrying water or not, any pollutant or non-storm water. ... F.No chemicals, green waste, or pet waste may be discharged to the storm drain system or waterway.G.No person or business shall allow wash water to enter the storm drain from the following activities:1.Hosing or cleaning gas stations, vehicle maintenance facilities, or other related services;2.Hosing, cleaning, repairing, or maintaining motorized equipment or machinery;3.Mobile operations such as automotive detailing, window washing, carpet and drape cleaning, pet services, power washing, etc.; or4.Runoff from hosing or cleaning parking lots, streets, alleys, gutters, sidewalks, driveways, patios, plazas, work yards, and outdoor eating or drinking areas and their associated trash enclosures, etc.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 33).
Full Breakdown
" Subsection (F) specifically bars chemicals, green waste, and pet waste from entering the storm drain, and subsection (G) prohibits wash water from gas stations, vehicle maintenance, mobile detailing, power washing, and hosing down parking lots, driveways, sidewalks and patios from reaching the storm drain. Subsection (E) bans pumping sump contents into the storm system, and subsection (H) prohibits runoff from construction sites, materials or waste. 315(D)). or upon any public or private plot of land in the City," with an exception only for pollutant temporarily held in a contained, leak-proof receptacle. 316(B). 316(F).
Violations & Fines
Discharging a pollutant into Riverside's storm drain system exposes the responsible person to the City's full cleanup cost plus a 90-percent administrative surcharge and fines under § 14.12.315(C), on top of a mandatory five-day written incident report. Illicit connections and unpermitted non-stormwater discharges under § 14.12.316(F) are violations "irrespective of the negligence or intent of the violator."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wash my car in my Riverside driveway?
What happens if pet waste or yard debris washes into the storm drain from my yard?
Do new home or business developments have extra stormwater obligations?
Is it legal to hose off my sidewalk or patio?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Riverside
California rules heatmap·Compare Riverside to another location·View the California environmental rules overview
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Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle stormwater management.