Thousand Oaks, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing rule
- TOMC § 7-8.201; NPDES Permit No. CAS063339
- Explicitly banned
- Yard trimmings, cut grass, and paint clean-up water down storm drains
- Enforcement escalation
- Notice of violation -> compliance order -> cease-and-desist order
- Penalty
- Infraction citation or criminal misdemeanor (§ 7-8.504)
- Ongoing violations
- Each day a violation continues is a separate offense
Summary
Thousand Oaks makes it unlawful to discharge anything but stormwater into the City's storm drain system, and specifically calls out dumping yard trimmings, cut grass, or paint clean-up water down a gutter or drain as prohibited. The rule implements the federal Clean Water Act and the City's NPDES permit, and applies to any property owner or occupant whose land drains into the storm system.
(a) The unauthorized discharge of a pollutant into the storm drain system is unlawful and prohibited. All discharges of material other than stormwater must be in compliance with NPDES Permit No. CAS063339 or any other NPDES permit issued by the State of California. ... (b) Unless in full compliance with a discharge permit, it is unlawful to and no person shall: ... (4) Use the City's storm drain system for the discharge or disposal of wastes (including, but not limited to yard trimmings, cut grass or paint clean-up).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-78: 2026 S-78 Supplement contains: Current city legislation passed through March 31, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under TOMC § 7-8.201, any discharge other than stormwater into the storm drain system is prohibited unless it's authorized by an NPDES discharge permit. The ordinance lists specific unlawful acts, including using the storm drain system to dispose of wastes like yard trimmings, cut grass, or paint clean-up, blocking or altering the natural flow of the drain system, and leaving refuse or debris where it could wash into a drain. Owners, occupants, or anyone in charge of day-to-day operations on a property who fail to remove pollutants within a reasonable time (as determined by the Public Works Director) can be cited. Enforcement escalates from a notice of violation to an administrative compliance order to a cease-and-desist order, and the City can bill violators for its investigation and enforcement costs.
Violations & Fines
Violations can be charged as an infraction, or as a criminal misdemeanor for negligent, knowing, concealed, or repeat violations (TOMC § 7-8.504). Each polluting source and each day a violation continues is a separate offense, and the City can also pursue civil injunctions and cost-recovery lawsuits (§§ 7-8.506, 7-8.507).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hose paint or yard clippings into the street gutter?
What happens if I ignore a City stormwater violation notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Thousand Oaks
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Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle stormwater management.