Ventura County, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- First fine
- $500
- Repeat fines
- Up to $5,000/day
- Legal basis
- Clean Water Act, § 6910
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county storm drains
Summary
Ventura County bans non-stormwater discharges into the county storm drain system and receiving waters unless permitted or on an approved exempt list, under the county's Clean Water Act-driven stormwater ordinance.
No person shall cause, commit, allow, or contribute to a non-stormwater discharge to the County Storm Drain System or to Receiving Waters, unless: (i) in compliance with a discharge permit or (ii) the discharge is listed below and has not been determined to cause or contribute to a Municipal Stormwater Permit violation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
Ventura County Ordinance Code § 6920 prohibits anyone from causing or allowing a non-stormwater discharge into the County Storm Drain System or Receiving Waters unless it is either authorized by a county discharge permit or falls on the ordinance's exempt list, such as landscape irrigation or dechlorinated pool water. Certain discharges, like gas-station washdown or runoff from leaking equipment, are barred outright unless separately permitted, under a different subsection of the same section.
Violations & Fines
The Director may order violators to immediately stop an illicit discharge; administrative fines run $500 for a first violation up to $5,000 per additional violation under § 6973, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wash my car in my unincorporated Ventura County driveway?
Can I drain pool water into the street?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura County
California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura County to another location·View the California environmental rules overview
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