San Luis Obispo County Municipal Code Art. II Discharge Regulations and Requirements

Non-stormwater discharges to the county storm drain system are prohibited.

(1) Exceptions to Discharge Prohibition. The following discharges are exempt from the prohibition set forth above:

a. Any discharge regulated under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued to the discharger and administered by the State of California under authority of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, provided that the discharger is in full compliance with all requirements of the permit and other applicable laws or regulations;

b. Any discharge regulated under a storm drain discharge permit issued to the discharger and administered by the County of San Luis Obispo under authority of Article III of this chapter;

c. Flows from firefighting;

d. Agricultural discharges regulated by the State Water Resources Control Board and/or Regional Water Quality Control Board pursuant to waiver and/or formal policy, provided compliance with all relevant permit, waiver or policy conditions established by the State Water Resources Control Board and/or Regional Water Quality Control Board is maintained;

e. Incidental noncommercial and nonindustrial discharges resulting from water line flushing, landscape irrigation, diverted stream flows, rising groundwaters, uncontaminated groundwater infiltration, uncontaminated pumped groundwater, discharges from potable water sources, foundation drains, air conditioning condensation, springs, water from crawl space pumps, car washing, and flows from riparian habitats and wetlands.

(Ord. 3143 § 1 (part), 2008)

Any discharge that would result in or contribute to a violation of NPDES Permit No. CAS000004 and of any amendment, revision or reissuance thereof, either separately considered or when combined with other discharges, is prohibited. Liability for any such discharge shall be the responsibility of the person(s) causing or responsible for the discharge.

(Ord. 3143 § 1 (part), 2008)

It is prohibited to establish, use, maintain or continue illicit connections to the county storm drain system and to commence or continue any illicit discharges to the county storm drain system. This prohibition is expressly retroactive and applies to illicit connections made prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter regardless of whether permissible under the practices applicable or prevailing at the time of the illicit connection.

(Ord. 3143 § 1 (part), 2008)

Any person engaged in activities which will or may result in pollutants entering the county storm drain system shall undertake all practicable measures to reduce such pollutants. The following requirements shall apply:

(1) Littering.

a. Except when deposited into containers or in lawfully established dumping grounds, no person shall throw, deposit, leave, maintain, keep or permit to be thrown, deposited, placed, left or maintained any refuse, rubbish, garbage or other discarded or abandoned objects, articles and accumulations, in or upon any street, alley, sidewalk, storm drain, inlet, catch basin, conduit, or other drainage structures, business place, or upon any public or private lot of land in the county, so that the same might be or become a pollutant.

b. The occupant or tenant, or, in the absence of occupant or tenant, the owner, lessee or proprietor, of any real property adjacent to a paved sidewalk shall maintain said sidewalk free of dirt or litter to the maximum extent practicable. Sweepings from the sidewalk shall not be swept or otherwise made or allowed to go into the gutter or roadway, but shall be disposed of in receptacles maintained on such real property as required for the disposal of garbage.

(2) Standard for Parking Lots and Similar Structures. Persons owning or operating a parking lot, gas station pavement, or similar structure shall clean those structures as frequently and thoroughly as practicable in a manner that does not result in discharge of pollutants to the county storm drain system.

(3) Compliance with Best Management Practices. Where best management practices have been adopted by the county for any activity, operation, or facility which may cause or contribute to stormwater pollution or contamination, illicit discharges, and/or discharge of non-stormwater to the storm drain system, every person undertaking such activity or operation, or owning or operating such facility, shall comply with such guidelines or requirements.

(Ord. 3143 § 1 (part), 2008)

Within any urban reserve or village reserve line as shown on the county land use element official maps:

(1) Every person owning property through which a watercourse passes, or such person's lessee or tenant, shall keep and maintain that part of the bed, bank, and channel of the watercourse within the property free of pollutants, as defined in Section 8.68.030 of this chapter.

(2) All prohibitions, exceptions, and requirements contained in this chapter regarding non-stormwater discharges to the county storm drain system are extended to natural watercourses.

(Ord. 3143 § 1 (part), 2008)