Adams County, CO Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Ordinance No. 11, adopted October 10, 2017 under Resolution 2017-471 and effective November 13, 2017, regulates what may enter unincorporated Adams County's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4), meaning county-owned storm drains, roadside ditches, curbs, gutters, culverts and detention ponds. Section 5 bars any discharge other than stormwater into that system or into watercourses, and separately bars illicit connections such as sump pumps, wash water lines or sewage tied into a storm drain, including connections that predate the ordinance. A list of everyday exemptions covers landscape irrigation, air conditioning condensate, individual car washing, footing and roof drains, dechlorinated pool discharges, firefighting water and NPDES/CDPS-permitted discharges.

Adams County Public Works, through its Director and Stormwater Coordinator, administers the ordinance, may inspect any property in the unincorporated county, install monitoring equipment, and require Best Management Practices from anyone whose activity could pollute stormwater. Section 6 lets the Director suspend a property's MS4 access without prior notice if a discharge poses an imminent danger, and terminate access for ongoing noncompliance. Property owners along a watercourse must keep their stretch free of trash, debris and obstructions under Section 5's watercourse-protection clause. Anyone reporting a known or suspected release must notify the Director no later than the next business day, and immediately notify emergency dispatch for hazardous material releases.