Rohnert Park, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing official
- City Manager
- Violation classification
- Misdemeanor, chargeable as infraction
- Continuing violation
- Each day is a separate offense
- Exempt discharges
- Irrigation, line flushing, pool water, firefighting
- Construction trigger
- NPDES notice required over 1 acre disturbed
- Alternative remedy
- Stenciling, workshops, or creek cleanup
Summary
Rohnert Park bans any non-storm water discharge into its municipal storm drain system under Chapter 13.64, enforced by the city manager under the federal Clean Water Act and the city's NPDES Phase II permit. Illicit connections, illegal discharges and pollutant dumping are misdemeanors, and the city can order abatement and bill violators for cleanup.
The purpose and intent of this chapter is to ensure the health, safety, and general welfare of the residents of the city of Rohnert Park, and protect and enhance the water quality of watercourses and water bodies in a manner pursuant to and consistent with the Federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.), and NPDES Phase II storm water regulations for small municipal separate storm sewer systems, by reducing pollutants in storm water discharges to the maximum extent practicable and by prohibiting non-storm water discharges to the storm drain system. ... A.The release of non-storm water discharges to the city's storm water system is prohibited. ... A.It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision or fail to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter. A violation of or failure to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter shall constitute a misdemeanor, except that, notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, any such violation constituting a misdemeanor under this chapter may, in the discretion of the enforcing authority, be charged and prosecuted as an infraction.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
64 of the Rohnert Park Municipal Code implements the city's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II permit for its small municipal separate storm sewer system. 050 makes it unlawful to release any non-storm water discharge into the city's storm drain system, to establish or maintain an unauthorized drainage connection, or to throw, deposit or leave refuse, hazardous waste, garbage or debris where it could reach the storm system. Exempt discharges include potable water line flushing, landscape irrigation, individual residential car washing, dechlorinated pool water and emergency firefighting flows, so long as they are properly managed.
060 requires anyone whose activity could add pollutants to the storm system, including construction contractors and owners of paved parking lots, to implement best management practices, and requires dischargers on construction sites over one acre to file an NPDES notice of intent with the city manager. 100). 180, the city manager can order immediate abatement of any violation that threatens public health or safety and enter private property to remediate it, billing the property owner. 210, subject to summary abatement or a civil action.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Chapter 13.64 is a misdemeanor, though the enforcing authority may instead charge it as an infraction. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense, and concealing, aiding or abetting a violation is itself a violation. Submitting a falsified monitoring report exposes the violator to a fine matching any penalty the State Water Resources Control Board could impose on the city. Violators may also face liability under the federal Clean Water Act and the Porter-Cologne Act.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wash my car in my driveway in Rohnert Park?
Who enforces the storm water ordinance?
What happens if I dump paint or oil into a storm drain?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rohnert Park
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