Rock Hill, SC Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing official
- Stormwater supervisor (city manager/designee)
- Max civil penalty
- $500.00 per day
- Appeal window
- 3 days from notice of violation
- Board
- 5-member stormwater advisory board
- Authority
- S.C. Code § 48-14-10 et seq.
Summary
Rock Hill, South Carolina bans dumping anything but stormwater into its storm drain system and runs a dedicated Stormwater Management Utility to enforce it. Violations can draw a written notice, a civil penalty of up to $500 per day, and even a stop-work order on construction sites.
No person shall throw, drain, or otherwise discharge, cause, or allow others under its control to throw, drain, or otherwise discharge into the City of Rock Hill stormwater systems any pollutants or waters containing any pollutants, other than stormwater. Prohibited substances include, but are not limited to: Sewage; petroleum; anti-freeze; chemicals; animal waste; yard waste; paints; construction material; garbage; litter; commercial car wash water; detergents.
Full Breakdown
C. , § 5-7-30, and state land resources conservation commission regulations (City Code § 29-301). Its core discharge-control rule prohibits dumping: "No person shall throw, drain, or otherwise discharge, cause, or allow others under its control to throw, drain, or otherwise discharge into the City of Rock Hill stormwater systems any pollutants or waters containing any pollutants, other than stormwater" (§ 29-306(7)a), naming sewage, petroleum, antifreeze, chemicals, animal waste, paint, construction material, and commercial car wash water among prohibited substances. A list of exemptions covers things like potable water line flushing, landscape irrigation runoff, harvested rainwater, and dechlorinated pool water under one PPM chlorine (§ 29-306(7)b).
Illicit connections to the storm system, including floor drains and washing-machine wastewater, are separately prohibited (§ 29-306(7)e). The stormwater supervisor, defined as the city manager or a designee, administers the article and can issue warning notices, notices of violation, and require monitoring, source control, or remediation (§ 29-306(9)-(10)). New development and redevelopment projects must incorporate best management practices into their land use entitlements and building permits under the city's zoning ordinance stormwater provisions (§ 29-306(8)b, cross-referencing zoning § 2-300(J)). A five-member stormwater advisory board, made up of three city residents and two city staff, reviews drainage problems and recommends an annual work program to city council (§ 29-310).
Violations & Fines
The stormwater supervisor may impose civil penalties up to $500.00 per violation under both §§ 29-306(10)f and 29-308(c), with each day a violation continues counting as a separate offense; repeat offenders may face double fines at the supervisor's discretion. The city can also issue a stop-work order halting construction activity except for cleanup and control-measure installation, withhold plan approval, and pursue a civil injunction through the city attorney (§§ 29-306(10)h, k; 29-308(d)). Uncontested fines are due within ten calendar days and go into the stormwater general fund (§ 29-306(10)g). A person receiving a notice of violation may appeal to the stormwater supervisor within three days.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rock Hill
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