Shawnee County, KS Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Article V of General Code Chapter 23 sets up the county's stormwater pollution prevention program. Sec. 23-193(a) prohibits releasing 'any discharge that is not composed entirely of uncontaminated stormwater,' naming 'trash, yard waste/grass clippings, lawn chemicals, pet waste, wastewater, oil, petroleum products, cleaning products, paint products, hazardous waste, and sediment' as common contaminants, and separately bans any 'illicit connection' to the storm drain system, including ones made legally in the past. Subsection (b) exempts NPDES-permitted discharges, agricultural runoff, uncontaminated waterline flushing, occasional residential vehicle washing, swimming pool water discharged per health department rules, and a handful of other narrow categories.

Subsection (c) then layers on affirmative duties: owners of private drainage systems must maintain them to reduce pollutant discharge, paved parking lots and drives must be cleaned to prevent trash buildup, materials must be stored to prevent releases, pet waste and yard waste must be kept out of storm drains, and anyone owning property along an open drainage channel must keep it clear of obstacles. ' Enforcement runs through Sec. 23-195: the director's designated staff can issue written violation notices, order stop-work at construction sites, order disconnection of illicit connections, and bill abatement costs as a lien on the property; a property owner has 15 days to appeal a notice to the director and another 15 days to appeal that decision to the board of county commissioners.