Tulare, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Under § 7.64.150, no person may throw, deposit, leave, maintain, or permit any object, accumulation, or pollutant in any drainage structure or location where it could enter the City surface water (storm drain) system. Construction contractors must keep debris, dirt, sediment, paint, concrete washwater, fuel, and other pollutants out of storm drains. Any operator whose activities may result in pollutant discharge must implement BMPs to prevent and reduce that discharge. The authorized enforcement officer (Public Works) may adopt regulations controlling the volume and rate of stormwater runoff for new development and redevelopment to minimize pollutant discharge — consistent with Low Impact Development (LID) standards required by the Phase II MS4 permit. Only uncontaminated stormwater is allowed into the storm drain; sanitary sewer connections are separate. Common allowed non-stormwater discharges (under state Phase II permit) include landscape irrigation, dechlorinated potable water line flushing, and firefighting flows, provided BMPs prevent pollutant transport.