Ventura Municipal Code Art. 4 Requirements for the Control of Urban Runoff

A. On and after November 1, 1998, all construction activity including clearing, grading or excavation that requires a grading permit will be undertaken in accordance with:

1. Any conditions and requirements established by the NPDES permit or other permits that are reasonably related to the reduction or elimination of pollutants in stormwater from the construction site.

2. Any condition and/or requirements established by the city to protect specific watersheds or drainage bash.

3. A stormwater pollution prevention plan, which will be prepared and submitted in accordance with the State General Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated With Construction Activity; or a stormwater pollution control plan, which will be prepared in accordance with city requirements if a stormwater pollution prevention plan is not required by the regional board.

B. Prior to the issuance by the city of a discretionary land use approval or any permit authorizing grading or construction for a development or at the discretion of the city, the property owner will submit to and obtain the approval of the director for a stormwater pollution control plan.

C. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a stormwater pollution control plan will not be required for construction of a (one) single-family detached residence or for a room addition unless the director determines that the construction may result in the discharge of significant levels of a pollutant into the storm drain system. This exemption will not apply to construction of more than one home at a time by one developer in a residential subdivision.

D. Each stormwater pollution control plan will name a responsible party for the project.

E. The owners of a development project, their successors and assigns, and each named responsible party, will implement and adhere to the terms, conditions and requirements of the approved stormwater pollution control plan. Each failure by the owner of the property, their successors or assigns, or a named responsible party, to implement and adhere to the terms, conditions and requirements will constitute a violation of this chapter.

F. The costs and expenses of the city incurred in the review, approval, or revision of any stormwater pollution control plan (or in the approval or revision of any such) will be charged to the property owner or responsible party and will be due and payable to the city. The city may elect to require a deposit of estimated costs and expenses, and the actual costs and expenses will be deducted from the deposit, and the balance, if any, refunded to the property owner or responsible party.

G. Compliance with the conditions and requirements of a stormwater pollution control plan will not exempt any person from the requirement to comply independently with each provision of this chapter.

H. Proof of compliance with the State General Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated With Construction Activity (NPDES Permit No. CAS000002) may be required in a form acceptable to the city prior to issuance by the city of any permit authorizing grading or construction; upon inspection of the construction site; during any enforcement proceeding or action; or for any other reasonable cause. (Ord. No. 99-1, § 2, 1-11-99)

On and after November 1, 1998, all development within the city will be undertaken in accordance with:

A. Any conditions and requirements established by the NPDES permit or other permits that are reasonably related to the reduction or elimination of pollutants in stormwater from the project site.

B. Any condition and/or requirements established by the city to protect specific watersheds or drainage basins.

C. Any condition and requirement of a stormwater quality master plan covering the development site.

1. A stormwater quality master plan will be required to be submitted by the property owner in accordance with city requirements when the director determines that the development may result in the discharge of significant levels of any pollutant to the storm drain system such as, without limitation, specific plans, multiphased subdivisions, redevelopment plans, and larger planned developments.

2. Each stormwater quality master plan will name a responsible party for the project.

3. The owners of a development project, their successors and assigns, and each named responsible party, will implement and adhere to the terms, conditions and requirements of the approved stormwater quality master plan. Each failure by the owner of the property, their successors or assigns, or a named responsible party, to implement and adhere to the terms, conditions and requirements will constitute a violation of this chapter.

4. The director may require that the stormwater quality master plan be recorded with the county recorder’s office by the property owner. The signature of the owner of the property, any successive owner or the named responsible party will be sufficient for the recording of the plans or any revised plan and a signature on behalf of the city will not be required for recordation.

5. The costs and expenses of the city incurred in the review, approval, or revision of stormwater quality master plan or other development requirements (or in the approval or revision of any such) will be charged to the property owner or responsible party and will be due and payable to the city. The city may elect to require a deposit of estimated costs and expenses, and the actual costs and expenses will be deducted from the deposit, and the balance, if any, refunded to the property owner or responsible party.

6. Compliance with the conditions and requirements of a stormwater quality master plan will not exempt any person from the requirement to comply independently with each provision of this chapter.

D. Proof of compliance with any state general permit may be required in a form acceptable to the city prior to or as a condition of approval 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. No. 99-1, § 2, 1-11-99)

A. The director may adopt requirements identifying appropriate best management practices for any activity, operation, or facility which may cause or contribute to pollution or contamination of the storm drain system and every person undertaking such activity or operation, or owning or operating such facility, will comply with such requirements.

B. Notwithstanding the presence or absence of requirements promulgated pursuant to subsection A of this section, any person engaged in activities or operations, or owning facilities or property, which will or may result in pollutants entering the storm drain system or watercourses will implement best management practices to the extent they are technologically and economically achievable to prevent and reduce such pollutants. (Ord. No. 99-1, § 2, 1-11-99)

Each discharger associated with construction activity, or other discharger, described in any state general permit addressing such discharges, as may be issued by the EPA, the State Water Resources Control Board, or the regional board, will provide notice of intent, comply with, and undertake all other activities required by such permit applicable to such discharges. Copies of such notification will be provided to the city. (Ord. No. 99-1, § 2, 1-11-99)

The director may, by written notice, require a person responsible for an illicit connection to the storm drain system to eliminate or to secure approval for the connection within a specified time, regardless of whether or not the connection or discharges to it had been established or approved prior to the effective date of this chapter. If, subsequent to eliminating a connection found to be in violation of this chapter, the responsible person can demonstrate that an illicit discharge will no longer occur, said person may request approval to reconnect. The reconnection or reinstallation of the connection will be at the director’s discretion and will be subject to such conditions as the director may determine; such reconnection or reinstallation will be at the responsible person’s sole expense. (Ord. No. 99-1, § 2, 1-11-99)

Every occupant or owner of a property through which a watercourse passes will keep and maintain the property reasonably free of trash, debris, (excessive) vegetation, and other obstacles which would pollute, contaminate, or significantly retard the flow of water through the watercourse; will maintain existing structures within or adjacent to the watercourse, so that such structures will not become a hazard to the use, function, or physical integrity of the watercourse; and, consistent with other laws regarding riparian habitat protection, will not remove healthy bank vegetation beyond that required to remove obstacles, nor remove said vegetation in such a manner as to increase the vulnerability of the watercourse to erosion. (Ord. No. 99-1, § 2, 1-11-99)