Last Updated 07/20/2026
The City of Yuma has enacted a Stormwater Ordinance in order to establish minimum stormwater management requirements and controls to protect and safeguard the general health, safety, and welfare of the public residing in watersheds within this jurisdiction. The City of Yuma is the permitting authority for all land disturbing activities and requires the land owner to maintain all on-site stormwater control facilities and all open space areas (e.g. parks or “green” areas) required by the approved stormwater control plan. The City of Yuma will only provide construction permits to projects that establish a plan to manage stormwater runoff occurring during the construction process. The City of Yuma, under the NPDES program, also has the authority to inspect properties for noncompliance and can issue a notice of violation (NOV) for any deficiency or infraction onsite. Property owners are responsible for the maintenance of any stormwater facilities or practices located on the property. The City of Yuma has the authority to inspect stormwater facilities and practices in order to ascertain that they are properly maintained and functioning.
Excerpt from ARTICLE VI POST-CONSTRUCTION STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
SECTION 601 PROHIBITED CONDUCT
Any entity owning or operating non-exempt real estate is prohibited from performing any of the following:
a. Discharge stormwater directly into a wetland or local water body without adequate treatment.
b. Discharge stormwater in a manner that is inconsistent with applicable state or federal law.
SECTION 602 REQUIRED CONDUCT
Any entity owning or operating non-exempt real estate shall comply with each of the following requirements:
a. Maintain any and all storm water measures and practices identified in the construction plan that were intended to remain in place after construction activities have been completed.
b. Install and maintain each post construction storm water quality measure approved as part of the construction plan
c. Provide the Yuma County Department of Development Services with a narrative description of the maintenance guidelines for all post construction storm water quality measures to facilitate their proper long-term function and identify the entity or entities responsible for long-term maintenance. It is an obligation of the property owners and their successors in interest to provide these narrative descriptions to future parties who acquire interest in any portion of the real estate or who assume responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the post-construction storm water quality measures.
d. Maintain all drainage systems and storm water storage facilities in good working order.
e. Maintain natural drainage for any portion of the real estate not served by a constructed drainage system.
f. Maintain all erosion sediment control systems installed on the subject property or identified as part of the construction plan unless such systems were temporary measures only intended to be in place during construction.
g. Maintain all drainage channels and swales installed or identified as part of the construction plan so they do not cause erosion in the receiving channel or at the outlet.
SECTION 603 DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS
Any development, redevelopment or sale consisting of two (2) or more lots (and totaling in the aggregate of one (1) or more acres) shall comply with the following requirements:
a. Execute an enforceable maintenance agreement that designates the parties responsible for the operation, maintenance and repair of all storm water management facilities, and any other system, structure or measure required by this ordinance. The agreement shall include provisions for funding all required maintenance.
b. Parties who are responsible for operation and maintenance of storm water management facilities shall make and maintain records for all installation and maintenance and repairs of all systems, structures and measures. These records must be maintained for at least five (5) years and made available to the Yuma County Department of Development Services as required or requested.
SECTION 604 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITY MAINTENANCE
All stormwater management facilities must be maintained to ensure the facility meets the minimum design requirements necessary for continuing compliance with this ordinance.
ARTICLE VII ENFORCEMENT
SECTION 701 NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Whenever the Yuma County Department of Development Services finds that a person has violated the requirements of this ordinance, the Yuma County Department of Development Services may order compliance by written Notice of Violation (NOV) to the responsible person.
The NOV shall identify the provisions of this ordinance that have been violated. If abatement of a violation and/or restoration of affected property are required, the NOV shall set forth a deadline within which such remediation or restoration must be completed. Said NOV shall further advise that, should the violator fail to remediate or restore within the established deadline, the work will be done by a designated governmental agency or a contractor and the expense thereof shall be charged to the violator.
The NOV may be issued to: the owner or occupant of any property requiring abatement of conditions that may cause an illicit discharge; the owner or operator of a property that is subject to the requirements of any Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan; and to any person responsible for an illicit discharge or illicit connection.
Failure to comply with this ordinance shall be considered a violation and shall be enforced in accordance with the provisions of section 1209 of the Yuma County Zoning Ordinance
SECTION 702 ACCESS TO FACILITIES
Failure to provide reasonable access to inspect compliance with this ordinance is grounds to revoke any permit issued by Yuma County.
SECTION 703 NUISANCES
Any condition in violation of this ordinance constitutes a threat to the public health, safety and welfare, and is declared and deemed a nuisance.
SECTION 704 MISDEMEANOR
Any Person who violates any provision of this ordinance is guilty of a class one misdemeanor.
SECTION 705 CONSECUTIVE VIOLATIONS
Each day in which a violation of this ordinance occurs is a separate violation of this ordinance. Also, each violation of a separate provision of this ordinance is a separate violation of this ordinance. And finally, each day that a person fails to comply with the orders and requirements of a Notice of Violation is a separate violation of this ordinance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Am I required to maintain post-construction stormwater measures on my Yuma property indefinitely?
Yes. Any entity owning or operating non-exempt real estate has to maintain every stormwater measure identified in the approved construction plan that was intended to stay in place after construction wrapped up. That includes drainage systems, storage facilities, erosion and sediment control systems, and drainage channels or swales, all of which have to be kept in good working order on an ongoing basis.
What happens if part of my Yuma property isn't served by a constructed drainage system?
You’re still on the hook for it. The ordinance requires maintaining natural drainage on any portion of a property not served by a constructed system, so the absence of built infrastructure doesn’t remove the maintenance obligation, it just changes what “maintenance” looks like.
What happens if part of my Yuma property isn't served by a constructed drainage system?
Yes. You’re required to provide the Yuma County Department of Development Services with a narrative description of maintenance guidelines for every post-construction stormwater measure, along with identifying who’s responsible for long-term upkeep. That obligation carries forward: property owners and their successors have to pass this documentation to anyone who later acquires an interest in the property or takes over maintenance responsibility.
What size project requires a formal stormwater maintenance agreement in Yuma?
Any development, redevelopment, or sale involving two or more lots that together total one acre or more. That threshold requires an enforceable maintenance agreement designating who’s responsible for operating, maintaining, and repairing stormwater facilities, along with a funding plan for that maintenance.
How long do I need to keep stormwater maintenance records in Yuma?
At least five years. Anyone responsible for operating and maintaining stormwater facilities has to keep installation, maintenance, and repair records for that full period and make them available to the county’s Development Services department on request.
What happens if Yuma County issues a notice of violation for my property?
The notice identifies which provisions were violated and sets a deadline for remediation or restoration. Miss that deadline, and the county can have the work done through a designated agency or contractor and bill the cost back to you. A notice can be issued to a property owner, an occupant, or anyone responsible for an illicit discharge or connection.
Can I lose my permit if I deny Yuma County access for a stormwater inspection?
Yes. Failing to provide reasonable access for a compliance inspection is grounds for the county to revoke any permit already issued for the property, independent of whatever the inspection might have found.
How serious are stormwater violations in Yuma, legally speaking?
Serious. Any violation of the ordinance is legally declared a public nuisance, and violating any provision is a class one misdemeanor. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense, as does each day someone fails to comply with a notice of violation’s requirements, so unresolved issues accumulate quickly.
How can AQUALIS help my property stay compliant with Yuma's stormwater ordinance?
AQUALIS helps Yuma property owners maintain post-construction stormwater measures to the county’s standards, prepare the maintenance agreements and narrative documentation required for larger developments, and respond quickly to a notice of violation before daily misdemeanor exposure accumulates.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Regulations change frequently — AQUALIS makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this content, and any reliance on it is at your own risk. Consult a qualified professional or your local regulatory authority to confirm requirements applicable to your specific property.
