Pinellas County, FL Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Pinellas County Code § 58-244(a) states the general rule plainly: 'Except as set forth under subsection (c) of this section or in accordance with a valid NPDES permit, any discharge to the separate storm sewer system or to any receiving waters of the county that is not composed entirely of storm water is prohibited.' Subsection (b) spells out specific banned discharges: 'chemicals, petroleum products, automotive fluids of any kind, sewage, industrial waste, sediment, construction or building materials, yard waste or other waste materials,' or anything violating state water-quality standards under Chapter 62, Florida Administrative Code.

Subsection (c) lists narrow exemptions, including firefighting flows, potable water line flushing, landscape irrigation, rising groundwater, air-conditioning condensation, individual residential car washing, and non-particulate filter backwash from residential swimming pools, as long as those flows still meet state water-quality standards. This article applies only in unincorporated Pinellas County and to the county's receiving waters (§ 58-240); the incorporated cities operate their own separate MS4 stormwater permits and ordinances. Construction sites must use best management practices to stop sediment, mud and building material from tracking or washing off site (§ 58-246), and anyone responsible for a spill or illegal dumping into the storm system must notify the county immediately and confirm the notice in writing within three days (§ 58-245). Anyone with a legal, beneficial or equitable interest in the property or equipment causing a violation is jointly and severally liable for it, even after they no longer hold that interest (§ 58-248).