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Moore council unanimously updates stormwater code to meet state permit requirements
Summary
The Moore City Council adopted four companion ordinances to align local stormwater rules with state DEQ requirements, adding illicit-connection enforcement, soil stabilization timelines, broader land‑disturbance permitting and limits on certain discharges into the storm sewer.
The Moore City Council on Aug. 4 unanimously approved four companion ordinances to amend the city’s stormwater management code to reflect requirements in the Oklahoma Pollutant Discharge Elimination System general permit OKR04.
City staff told council members the changes stem from an annual DEQ audit that identified gaps between the city code and the state permit. The changes add illicit connections to the list of violations that can be cited, require quicker soil stabilization for construction sites, broaden which land-disturbing activities need a permit and list authorized non-stormwater discharges while barring commercial vehicle wash water from the city’s separate storm sewer system.
The package includes Ordinance No. 41-25, which adds illegal or illicit connections to the municipal storm sewer system as a violative condition enforceable by citation; Ordinance No. 42-25, which requires permanent or temporary soil stabilization be applied within seven days to areas left unfinished more than 14 calendar days; Ordinance No. 43-25, which revises the land-disturbance permitting threshold to capture smaller parcels that are part of a larger development and requires post-construction best management practices, consideration of low-impact development techniques, limits on imperviousness for parking lots and long-term maintenance agreements (for example with homeowners associations) for detention or retention features; and Ordinance No. 44-25, which enumerates authorized non-stormwater discharges and specifically prohibits commercial vehicle wash water from being discharged into the separate storm sewer.
A city staff member said the illicit-connection citation authority is not responding to a known enforcement problem locally but is required by DEQ. On the commercial wash-water ban, staff explained commercial car washes typically use oil‑water separators and discharge to the sanitary sewer, while residential car washing and charity car washes would remain allowed under the updated code if they meet the listed conditions.
Council members did not record any dissent during discussion and voted yes during roll call on each ordinance. The changes take effect as provided in the ordinances, and staff said the amendments are intended to preserve stormwater quality and ensure the city remains consistent with the state permit.
The ordinances were presented as a linked package and treated together during the discussion and votes.
