Stafford Township, NJ Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Chapter 185 of the Stafford Township Code was adopted by the Township Council on 10-4-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-89 and amended in its entirety on 12-6-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-105. It covers two separate wrongs. Section 185-2 bars spilling, dumping or disposing of materials other than stormwater into the municipal separate stormwater system, and it also bars disposal in a manner that causes pollutants to be discharged into that system.

The code defines the system broadly: a conveyance or system of conveyances owned or operated by the Township or another public body and used to collect and convey stormwater, including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels and storm drains. A catch basin or roadside ditch counts as part of the system, so what goes into it is regulated.

Section 185-3 targets illicit connections. No person can discharge, or cause to be discharged through an illicit connection, any domestic sewage, noncontact cooling water, process wastewater or other industrial waste (other than stormwater). The definition in § 185-1 reaches nonphysical connections too, including leaks, flows or overflows into the system, unless the discharge is authorized under a NJPDES permit other than the Tier A Municipal Stormwater General Permit (NJPDES Permit Number NJ0141852).

Section 185-2C lists what is not a violation: waterline flushing and discharges from potable water sources; uncontaminated groundwater such as crawl space or basement sump pumps and foundation or footing drains; air-conditioning condensate; irrigation water; flows from springs, wetlands and diverted stream flows; residential car washing water and residential swimming pool discharges; sidewalk, driveway and street wash water; flows from fire-fighting; and clean-water rinsing of beach maintenance equipment and of salt and de-icing equipment. Before salt equipment is rinsed, residual salt must be removed by dry methods such as shoveling and sweeping, and rinsing is limited to exterior, undercarriage and exposed parts.

The chapter also points to additional stormwater regulations in §§ 130-73 through 130-79 and Chapter 130, Appendix A, which govern development applications.