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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Core rule
Only stormwater may enter the MS4
Enforcing agency
Dept. of Public Works, MS4 program
Construction trigger
1+ acre disturbed requires permanent controls
Notice period
14 days to fix after informal notice
Appeal window
15 days to appeal a formal notice
Lien penalty
10% for late payment after 60 days

Summary

Weld County bans dumping anything but stormwater into its municipal storm sewer system, and requires construction sites to control runoff before, during, and after building. The Department of Public Works polices illicit discharges and illicit connections to the MS4 under Chapter 8, Article IX, backing it with notices, fees, and criminal prosecution for anyone who won't clean up a violation.

City-specific rules exist: Greeley has its own stormwater management rules that differ from Weld County's county-level regulations. If you live in Greeley, check the city-specific page instead.

It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or cause to be discharged into the MS4 any pollutants that cause or contribute to a violation of applicable water quality standards. Subject to Subsection D. below and all applicable county, state or federal discharge regulations, only stormwater may be discharged into the MS4. ... It shall be unlawful for any person to cause pollutants to be deposited in such a manner or location as to constitute a threatened discharge to the MS4. Pollutants that are no longer contained are considered to be threatened discharges unless they are actively being cleaned up.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Charter and County Code: Supplement 95).

Full Breakdown

Chapter 8, Article IX of the Weld County Code establishes the county's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program, administered by the Department of Public Works under the Public Works Director's authority. Section 8-9-70(A) makes it 'unlawful for any person to discharge or cause to be discharged into the MS4 any pollutants that cause or contribute to a violation of applicable water quality standards,' and further declares that 'only stormwater may be discharged into the MS4' outside the exceptions the article allows; pollutants left where they threaten to reach the system are themselves treated as a discharge unless actively being cleaned up, and any illicit connection to the MS4 is a separate violation even if it predates this article.

Construction sites face their own pre-construction, construction-activity and post-construction control requirements under Sections 8-9-80 through 8-9-100, and any site disturbing an acre or more must install permanent control measures. Enforcement escalates from an informal notice, through compliance inspections, to a formal notice of violation if the problem isn't fixed within 14 days; a formal notice can be appealed to the Board of County Commissioners within 15 days, with a hearing held within 15 days of that appeal. S. Section 30-15-401(11), and abatement costs plus 5% for inspection become a lien against the property, collected with a 10% penalty if unpaid within 60 days of notice, per Sections 8-9-130 and 8-9-140.

Violations & Fines

Violating Article IX is prosecuted as a criminal offense under Sections 8-9-150 and C.R.S. Title 30, Articles 15 and 35, and is separately declared a public nuisance that the county can summarily abate at the violator's expense. Abatement and inspection costs become a property lien, collected with a 10% penalty for cost of collection if not paid within 60 days of notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can't I dump into a Weld County storm drain?
Almost nothing besides stormwater itself. Section 8-9-70(A) makes it unlawful to discharge, or threaten to discharge, any pollutant into the county's MS4 that causes or contributes to a water-quality violation, and it separately bans any illicit connection into the system, even one built before the article existed.
What happens after Weld County issues a stormwater violation notice?
You get an informal notice first, describing the problem and asking for immediate correction, followed by a compliance inspection. If it isn't resolved within 14 days, Public Works issues a formal notice of violation, which you can appeal to the Board of County Commissioners within 15 days of that notice.
Can Weld County put a lien on my property over a stormwater violation?
Yes. If the county has to abate the pollution itself, the full cost plus 5% for inspection becomes an assessment against the property under Section 8-9-140, recorded as a lien. Unpaid after 60 days, it's collected by the County Treasurer along with the state's standard 10% penalty for cost of collection.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Weld County

All Weld County rules

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