Palo Alto Municipal Code Part 5 Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination and Mobile Sources

(a) Any responsible party who has knowledge or information of any known or suspected release of materials, which has resulted in or may result in a non-stormwater discharge other than that permitted by this chapter shall immediately report to the city and take all necessary steps to immediately cease, contain, and clean up the spill using dry clean-up methods. If a person cannot identify the spilled material, the person shall not attempt to clean it up in a manner that may result in a discharge or harm to human health. The responsible party shall adhere to the city regulations and any other direction from the Director or other city representative.

(b) If a spill occurs on private property, the responsible party shall be responsible for cleaning the private property and any private sanitary or storm drain components located on said property. The responsible party shall seek guidance from city staff before cleaning the private sanitary or storm drain components.

(c) The responsible party or representative shall not clean any city infrastructure, including any components of the city’s storm drain or sanitary sewer systems, without permission from the Director.

(d) The Director shall conduct an investigation and enforcement per the Enforcement Response Plan until the issue is deemed corrected.

(e) The responsible party and their agents shall adhere to the requirements of Title 17 of this Code with respect to hazardous materials and wastes, and all applicable requirements of the County of Santa Clara and the State of California.

(Ord. 5671 § 2 (part), 2025)

(a) Non-stormwater discharges from mobile businesses. Mobile businesses whose activities involve the potential non-stormwater discharge shall not allow wash water or any other non-stormwater discharge to discharge into a storm drain inlet or other component of the storm drain system, onto the street, sidewalk, or other paved surface, or directly into a water body. Instead, all wash water and pollutants shall be disposed of in a cleanout that is connected to the sanitary sewer system according to the requirements of the City of Palo Alto Pretreatment Program.

(b) Mobile businesses shall employ BMPs to prevent pollutants from discharging to the storm drain system or the sanitary sewer systems without pretreatment, as required by city regulations or otherwise required by the Director.

(Ord. 5671 § 2 (part), 2025)