Simi Valley, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- SVMC Chapter 6-12, adopted Ord. 1195 (2012)
- Default rule
- Non-stormwater discharges to storm drains banned
- Pool discharge limit
- Chlorine residual under 0.1 mg/L
- Pool discharge pH
- Must be between 6.5 and 8.5
- Criminal penalty
- Up to 6 months jail and/or $1,000 fine
- Enforcement
- Director of Public Works / City Attorney
Summary
Simi Valley bans discharging anything but stormwater into the City's storm drain system, with a narrow list of exempt flows like firefighting water and dechlorinated pool discharge, and backs it with misdemeanor penalties up to $1,000 and six months in jail.
No Person will Discharge any substance to the City Storm Drain System except as stated in Part 1-Discharge Prohibitions of the City's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit No. CAS004002 and as listed below: (a)Discharges that are in compliance with a Discharge Permit;(b)Discharges that originate from a Federal, State, or other source from which the City is pre-empted from regulating by State or Federal law;(c)Discharges that are covered by a separate individual or general NPDES Permit, or conditional waiver for irrigated lands;(d)Discharges that arise from fire fighting activities ... Any Responsible Party who violates, permits or causes to violate any provision of this chapter, or who fails to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six (6) months in the County Jail, and/or maximum one thousand dollars ($1,000) fine or both.
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
Chapter 6-12 of the Simi Valley Municipal Code, adopted by Ordinance No. 1195 in 2012 to implement the Clean Water Act and the City's NPDES Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit (No. 201 to discharge any substance to the City Storm Drain System except the flows the ordinance specifically allows. 5, no detergents or algaecides). 204. Article 4 requires new development and redevelopment projects to control post-construction runoff, and Article 5 requires a Stormwater Pollution Control Plan for qualifying activities, covering animal waste, yard waste, and fertilizer use.
601. Violators face civil remedies including recovery of investigation and attorney costs, civil fines set by City Council resolution under Title 1, Chapter 8, and criminal misdemeanor penalties. 802.
Violations & Fines
Discharging a prohibited substance to the storm drain system violates Section 6-12.201. Under Section 6-12.801, violators face civil fines set by City Council resolution under Title 1, Chapter 8, plus recovery of investigation and attorney costs, and criminal misdemeanor penalties of up to six months in County Jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Each responsible party is jointly and severally liable, and paying a fine does not excuse correcting the violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I let my pool water drain into the street in Simi Valley?
What is the penalty for an illegal storm drain discharge in Simi Valley?
Does washing my car in the driveway violate Simi Valley's stormwater rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Simi Valley
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Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle stormwater management.