Upland, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Upland Municipal Code § 13.32.400
- Permit needed for
- Storm drain construction/modification
- Approving official
- Public works director
- Illicit connections
- Prohibited, retroactively
- Enforcing chapter
- Ch. 1.22 administrative citations
Summary
Upland regulates its storm drain system under Municipal Code Article IV of Chapter 13.32. Connecting to, modifying, or diverting flow into the city's storm drain system requires a permit and public works director approval, and illicit connections are prohibited citywide, retroactively.
The discharge or diversion of stormwater or nonstormwater to the community drainage system is permissible when the connection is made in accordance with a valid permit, approved construction plan, or as applicable an NPDES permit and/or a notice of intent (NOI), and the discharge conforms to the standards of Section 13.32.420. ... It is prohibited to establish, use, maintain and/or continue any illicit drainage connections to the city storm drain system. This prohibition is retroactive and applies to connections made in the past regardless of whether made under a permit or other authorization or whether permissible under the law or practices applicable or prevailing at the time of the connection.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4480959; v4 updated 2025-09-22).
Full Breakdown
400 governs stormwater and non-stormwater connections to the city's community drainage system. 420. ' Permits are required for constructing or modifying any storm drain, collector, or conveyor of drainage waters, and appurtenant structures, within dedicated easements, rights-of-way, or public facilities, and on private property where flows are directly or indirectly discharged into the city system, including under-sidewalk drains, drive approaches, and unrestricted sheet flow. No person may construct or modify any structure that could alter the capacity, fall, or structural integrity of a storm drain or channel without the public works director's prior written approval; the director's review and approval of plans constitutes that written approval.
330 explain that runoff factors used to administer the program come from the San Bernardino County Flood Control District under the area-wide NPDES stormwater management program, tying Upland's local permitting into the countywide MS4 framework.
Violations & Fines
Discharging or connecting to the storm drain system without the required permit or director approval is a violation of Chapter 13.32 and is enforced administratively under Chapter 1.22, which sets maximum administrative fines of $130 for a first building-and-safety infraction, rising to $700 for a second offense and $1,300 for each subsequent offense within 12 months, plus separate judicial enforcement remedies under Section 13.32.530.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to connect my property drainage to Upland's storm drain?
Can an old, unpermitted drainage connection stay grandfathered in Upland?
Who administers Upland's stormwater permitting?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Upland
California rules heatmap·Compare Upland to another location·View the California environmental rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle stormwater management.