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Earlier editions: 2026-09

Title 8 — Health and Safety›Chapter 8.46 — URBAN STORM WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND DISCHARGE CONTROL

Seaside Municipal Code Art. II Discharge Prohibitions

Seaside Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Seaside

Cite as: Seaside Municipal Code Article II · Text as of 2026-10-04

§ 8.46.090. Prohibition of illegal discharges.

No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the city storm drain system or watercourses any materials, including, but not limited to, pollutants or waters containing any pollutants that cause or contribute to a violation of applicable water quality standards, other than storm water.

Illegal discharges include, but are not limited to, the following list unless the discharge is permitted under a separate NPDES permit or as allowed by BMPs published or approved by the city public works department:

A. Water from the cleaning of gas stations, vehicle service garages, or other types of vehicle service facilities;
B. Water, cleansers, or solvents from the cleaning of vehicles, machinery or equipment, and other such commercial and industrial operations;
C. Water from the washing or rinsing of vehicles containing soap, detergents, solvents or other cleaners;
D. Water from the washing or rinsing of vehicles, with or without soap, from auto body repair shops;
E. Water from the cleaning or rinsing of vehicle engine, undercarriage, or auto parts cleaning;
F. Vehicle fluids;
G. Mat wash and hood cleaning water from food service facilities;
H. Food and kitchen cleaning water from food service facilities;
I. Leakage from dumpsters or trash containers;
J. Water from the cleaning or rinsing of garbage dumpster areas and areas where garbage is stored or contained;
K. Water from pressure washing, steam cleaning, and hand scrubbing of sidewalks, gutters, plazas, alleyways, outdoor eating areas, steps, building exteriors, walls, driveways and other outdoor surfaces;
L. Wastewater or cleaning fluids from carpet cleaning;
M. Chlorinated swimming pool and spa water;
N. Wash out from concrete trucks;
O. Potentially contaminated runoff from areas where hazardous substances, including diesel fuel, gasoline and motor oil, are stored; and
P. Super-chlorinated water normally associated with the disinfection of potable water systems.

The discharge of sewage or other forms of polluted water from recreational activities and from vehicles, recreational vehicles and/or boats to the city storm drain system or watercourses is an illegal discharge and is prohibited.

The commencement, conduct or continuance of any illegal discharge to the storm drain system is prohibited except as described as follows:

A. Discharges from the following activities will not be considered a source of pollutants to the storm drain system and to waters of the U.S. when properly managed to ensure that no potential pollutants are present, and therefore they shall not be considered illegal discharges unless determined to cause a violation of the provisions of the Porter-Cologne Act, Clean Water Act, or this chapter:

  1. Water line flushing;

  2. Landscape irrigation;

  3. Diverted stream flows;

  4. Rising groundwaters;

  5. Uncontaminated groundwater filtration (as defined at 40 C.F.R. Section 35.2005(20)) to separate storm sewers;

  6. Uncontaminated pumped groundwater;

  7. Discharges from potable water sources;

  8. Foundation drains;

  9. Air conditioning condensation;

  10. Irrigation water;

  11. Springs;

  12. Water from crawl space pumps;

  13. Footing drains;

  14. Lawn watering;

  15. Individual residential car washing;

  16. Flows from riparian habitats and wetlands;

  17. Dechlorinated swimming pool discharges; and

  18. Flows from firefighting activities.

B. The prohibition against illegal discharge to the storm drain system shall not apply to any nonstorm water discharge permitted under an NPDES permit, waiver, or waste discharge order issued to the discharger and administered by the state of California under the authority of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency; provided, that the discharger is in full compliance with all requirements of the permit, waiver, or order and other applicable laws and regulations; and provided, that written approval has been granted by the city for any discharge to the storm drain system.

C. Written concurrence of the regional board shall be required for the city to provide a written exemption that a non-storm water discharge does not constitute a source of pollutants to the storm drain system or waters of the U.S.

(Ord. 959 § 2 (Exh. A), 2007)

Exceptions & meaning →

§ 8.46.100. Prohibition of illicit connections.

A. The construction, use, maintenance or continued existence of illicit connections to the storm drain system is prohibited.

B. This prohibition expressly includes, without limitation, illicit connections made in the past, regardless of whether the connection was permissible under law or practices applicable or prevailing at the time of connection was first made.

(Ord. 959 § 2 (Exh. A), 2007)

Exceptions & meaning →

§ 8.46.110. Waste disposal prohibitions.

No person shall throw, deposit, leave, maintain, keep, or permit to be thrown or deposited, in or upon any public or private property, driveway, parking area, street, alley, sidewalk, component of the storm drain system, or water of the U.S., any pollutant, refuse, rubbish, garbage, litter, or other discarded or abandoned objects, so that the same may cause or contribute to pollution. Wastes deposited in streets in proper waste receptacles for the purposes of collection are exempted from this prohibition.

(Ord. 959 § 2 (Exh. A), 2007)

Exceptions & meaning →

§ 8.46.120. Discharges in violation of industrial or construction activity NPDES storm…

Any person subject to an industrial or construction activity NPDES storm water discharge permit shall comply with all provisions of such permit. Proof of compliance with said permit is required in a form acceptable to the city engineer prior to or as a condition of a subdivision map, site plan, building permit, or development or improvement plan; upon inspection of the facility; during any enforcement proceeding or action; or for any other reasonable cause.

(Ord. 959 § 2 (Exh. A), 2007)

Exceptions & meaning →

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