City of Sacramento Stormwater Quality Improvement Program

Street Washing Guidelines

Due to the ongoing sedimentation problems found in new drainange systems being constructed throughout the City; since December 10, 2001, the practice of washing down streets and sidewalks in new developments will be subject to the following:

1. Street/sidewalk washing may only be conducted on Friday afternoons.

2. No street/sidewalk washing will be allowed prior to inspection and certification by City inspectors.

3. In order to obtain approval for street/sidewalk washing, an inspection must be scheduled. Inspections will be conducted Friday mornings between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Inspection requests must be called in by 4:00 p.m. on the preceeding Wednesday.

To Schedule an Inspection, call: (916) 808-0130.

4. If the inspection finds the site to be adequately free of sediment and potential stormwater pollutants and all drain inlets adequately protected, the site will be certified for street/sidewalk washing. The certification is valid until 5:00 p.m. the following day. If the site fails the inspection, site clean up will be required and street/sidewalk washing will be prohibited.

This procedure is consistent with the City's Grading, Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance (15.88) and Stromwater Ordinance (13.16), and violations wil be subject to the authority provided in these ordinances. If street/sidewalk washing is being conducted without certification by the City, an administrative penalty of $500 for the first violation will be issued to the property owner. Administrative penalties for subsequent washing violations will range from $500 to $4,999.99.

A Fire Hydrant Use Permit must be obtained before using city water from a public fire hydrant for street/sidewalk washing activities. Permits are issued at the Department of Utilities, Customer Service Counter located at 1395 35th Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95822. For more information, call (916) 808-5454.

This procedure should not create a hardship to your site operations if you are diligently employing the erosion, sediment and pollutant control best management practices required in accordance with the City's ordinances.