Laguna Beach Water Quality Dept

NPDES Permit

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit is the guiding document for most of the City's stormwater regulations and activities. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the federal agency in charge of the NPDES permit system which is administered through the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and the Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB). The city of Laguna Beach falls within the jurisdiction of the San Diego RWQCB (Region 9).

Under NPDES, all facilities which discharge pollutants from any point source into waters of the United States are required to obtain a permit from the RWQCB. Since the City discharges potentially polluted water

Key Permit Requirements:
Prohibited Discharges
Priority Development Projects
Best Management Practices

from its municipal stormwater system, the Water Quality Department must implement the requirements of a municipal stormwater permit issued by the RWQCB. The stormwater permit lists the County of Orange as the primary Permittee and the other municipalities throughout the county, including the City of Laguna Beach, as Copermittees.

For more information on the NPDES permitting system, check out the EPA's NPDES website. On their website, the EPA has a useful background page with NPDES Program Basics.

Currently, the municipal stormwater permit which the County operates under is scheduled to expire, and a new permit will be issued. The new permit has significant changes which will affect the way the City operates the Water Quality Department. For more information on the changes, see Tentative Order #R9-2007-0002 on the RWQCBs Municipal Permit page. Public involvement is encouraged!

The municipal stormwater permit has specific requirements for activities associated with construction, residential and commercial activities. These requirements affect everyone in Laguna Beach, so it is wise to read the permit to find out what is required of YOU.

Construction activities