Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Palm Beach County, FL Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Governs
Unincorporated Palm Beach County stormwater systems
Enforcing agency
Environmental Resources Management (ERM)
Construction plans required
Sites disturbing 1+ acre
Core rule
Any nonstormwater discharge prohibited
Adopted
Ord. No. 93-15, amended 2004

Summary

Unincorporated Palm Beach County bans dumping anything but rainwater into county storm drains, covering illicit discharges, illegal connections, and construction-site runoff, enforced by Environmental Resources Management.

City-specific rules exist: Boca Raton, Jupiter, Boynton Beach, and West Palm Beach have their own stormwater management rules that differ from Palm Beach County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

General prohibitions. Except as set forth under section 27-154(8) of this article or in accordance with a valid NPDES permit, any nonstormwater discharge to the stormwater system is prohibited.(2)Specific prohibitions. Except as set forth under section 27-154(8) of this article, any discharge to the stormwater system containing any sewage, industrial waste or other waste materials, including those listed in section 27-155(a) of this article, or containing any materials in violation of federal, state, county or other laws, rules, regulations is prohibited.(b)Illicit connections. No person may maintain, use or establish any direct or indirect physical connection to the stormwater system that results in any discharge in violation of this article. This prohibition is retroactive and applies to connections made in the past, regardless of whether made under a permit, or other authorization, or whether permissible under laws or practices applicable or prevailing at the time the connection was made. (Ord. No. 93-15, § 6, 7-20-93; Ord. No. 04-050, § 6, 11-16-04)

Full Breakdown

Palm Beach County's Stormwater Pollution Prevention Ordinance (Code of Ordinances Ch. 27, Art. VII) covers stormwater systems in unincorporated Palm Beach County, FDOT systems operated under joint agreements, and excludes municipalities with their own enforcement authority. It bans any nonstormwater discharge into the county's storm drains, paint, pesticides, chlorinated pool water, petroleum products, and construction debris are listed examples, and prohibits illegal physical connections to the system. Nonresidential facilities built after the ordinance's 2004 amendment must use covered storage or containment to keep pollutants out of runoff, and construction sites disturbing an acre or more must keep a stormwater pollution prevention plan on site.

Violations & Fines

Environmental Resources Management refers violations to the Groundwater and Natural Resources Protection Board for corrective action and civil penalties, or prosecutes under F.S. § 125.69 or § 162.09.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this apply inside West Palm Beach or Boca Raton?
No. It governs only unincorporated Palm Beach County and FDOT systems under joint agreements; municipalities with their own stormwater enforcement authority are excluded.
What counts as an illegal discharge?
Anything other than rainwater entering a county storm drain: paint, pesticides, chlorinated pool water, petroleum products, and construction debris are all listed examples.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Palm Beach County

All Palm Beach County rules

Florida rules heatmap·Compare Palm Beach County to another location·View the Florida environmental rules overview

Get notified when Stormwater Management in Palm Beach County, FL changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Stormwater Management in Cities Across Palm Beach County