El Paso County adopts stormwater management ordinance to meet MS4 permit requirements

El Paso County commissioners voted 5–0 March 31 to adopt an ordinance to develop, implement and enforce a stormwater management program required by the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit.

Josh Palmer, county engineer, told the board the state requires the county to implement practices and procedures to prevent and mitigate illicit discharges and to update county code to provide the legal mechanism to enforce MS4 permit requirements. "El Paso County is required by the state to implement practices and procedures to prevent and then mitigate any illicit discharge," Palmer said.

Commissioner Williams moved to adopt the ordinance; Commissioner Applegate seconded. After a brief clarification about coordinating with other jurisdictions on compliance, the board approved the ordinance on a 5–0 roll call.

Palmer said the county’s MS4 program applies to construction and post‑construction requirements in unincorporated El Paso County and that staff will continue to work with municipalities to avoid downstream impacts. The ordinance provides the county with enforcement tools for construction plan review, illicit discharge response and long‑term stormwater controls.

The board’s action was recorded as an adoption of the ordinance; no amendments were recorded during the meeting. The ordinance was adopted on second reading and took effect per county code upon formal recording of the ordinance.