Shelby County, TN Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Chapter 36 of the Shelby County Code governs stormwater management for unincorporated areas outside Memphis, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Millington, Arlington and Lakeland. Sec. 36-58(b) makes it unlawful to improperly dispose of any contaminant into the county's municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4), listing 32 specific substances including trash and debris, construction materials, petroleum products, antifreeze, metals, flammable or explosive materials, batteries, acids and bases, paints and solvents, drain cleaners, pesticides and herbicides, soaps and detergents, swimming pool backwash (including chlorinated discharge), heated water, animal waste, industrial and sanitary wastewater, recreational vehicle waste, animal carcasses, medical waste, and collected silt or sediment.

Sec. 36-57 separately declares that any stormwater discharge violating the chapter, or any violation of a county or state stormwater discharge permit condition, is a public nuisance that must be corrected or abated. The stormwater manager may waive penalties for minor discharges with no significant adverse impact on safety, health, the environment or the functioning of the county's collection system, at the manager's discretion (Sec. 36-58(b)). Dye testing into the system is allowed but requires verbal notice to the manager at least 24 hours before the test date; county and City of Memphis government agencies are exempt from that notice requirement (Sec.

36-58(c)). Enforcement runs through the stormwater manager, who can issue notices to abate, county ordinance citations, and civil proceedings with the mayor's consent seeking damages or injunctive relief (Secs. 36-28, 36-29). Appeals of a manager's order go to the director of public works within the time stated in the notice.