Yucaipa, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Allowed in storm drains
- Stormwater; other discharges need an NPDES or city permit
- Enforcing official
- City engineer
- Notice of violation fines
- $100, $200, $500 minimum within one year
- Civil penalty ceiling
- $25,000 per violation per day
- Misdemeanor fine floor
- $3,000, up to six months in jail
- Construction trigger
- Five acres or more needs state general permit
Summary
In the City of Yucaipa, only stormwater belongs in the storm drain system unless a discharge is permitted by an NPDES permit or a city permit. Yucaipa Municipal Code § 13.04.090 bans non-stormwater discharges and lists wastes such as sewage, pool chemicals and pet waste, and the city engineer enforces with fines starting at $100.
It is prohibited to: ... A. Discharge directly or indirectly into the storm drain system any stormwater or other solid, liquid or gaseous matter in violation of any law, rule, regulation, permit, order or other requirement of any federal, state, county, municipal or other governmental entity or agency; B. Discharge non-stormwater directly or indirectly to the storm drain system or any street, lined or unlined drainage ditch which leads to a public storm drain, unless such discharge is permitted by an NPDES permit or a city permit. ... E. Discharge any of the following types of waste into the city’s stormwater drainage system: 1. Sewage, ... 7. Discharges from pool or fountain water containing chlorine, biocides, acids or other chemicals; pool filter backwash containing debris and chlorine, 8. Pet waste, yard waste, debris, sediment, etc.,
Full Breakdown
Chapter 13.04 of the Yucaipa Municipal Code applies to all dischargers, residents as well as commercial, industrial and construction enterprises, and the city engineer administers and enforces it under Sections 13.04.050 and 13.04.055. Section 13.04.090 bans discharging non-stormwater to the storm drain system or to any street or ditch leading to a public storm drain without an NPDES permit or city permit, and lists wastes including sewage, vehicle and equipment wash water, restaurant waste, pool and fountain water with chlorine, and pet waste, yard waste, debris and sediment.
Section 13.04.100 exempts items such as waterline flushing with approved best management practices, landscape irrigation, uncontaminated pumped groundwater, individual residential carwashings and dechlorinated swimming pool discharges. Section 13.04.171 adds residential bans on animal waste, leaves, grass clippings, fertilizer, concrete waste, motor oil and pool filter backwash. Under Section 13.04.173, private residential drainage inlets, underdrains and gutters get an annual inspection and cleaning before the rainy season when sediment storage is twenty-five percent or more full.
Construction carries added duties. Section 13.04.190 requires a stormwater quality management plan before any grading or building permit for qualifying projects, including home subdivisions of ten units or more and commercial developments of 100,000 square feet or more. Section 13.04.191 requires state general permit coverage for construction disturbing five acres or more, with the WDID number shown to the engineering department.
Spills must be reported to the engineering and fire departments at once, and a written report goes to the city engineer within five working days under Section 13.04.160.
Violations & Fines
Section 13.04.210 sets minimum fines on notices of violation: $100 for a first, $200 for a second within one year, $500 for a third and each later one. Section 13.04.245 allows administrative civil penalties of at least $3,000 per day for ignoring an order and at least $5,000 per violation per day for a discharge violation. Section 13.04.270 caps civil penalties at $25,000 per violation per day, and Section 13.04.280 makes willful violations a misdemeanor, with a fine of at least $3,000, up to six months in jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rinse my driveway into the street in Yucaipa?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yucaipa
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How other cities in San Bernardino County handle stormwater management.