Last Updated 08/07/2026
The City of Allentown has enacted a Stormwater Ordinance in order to control the quality of storm water drainage flowing through the municipal storm sewer and into the waters of the Commonwealth and of the United States and to protect the public health, safety, welfare, and recreational opportunities of the inhabitants of the City. The City of Allentown 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 Allentown will only provide construction permits to projects that establish a plan to manage stormwater runoff occurring during the construction process. The City of Allentown, 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 Allentown has the authority to inspect stormwater facilities and practices in order to ascertain that they properly maintained and functioning.
Stormwater Code: Excerpts from Allentown Municipal Code
942.2 GENERAL MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM WATER SYSTEM USE REQUIREMENTS
Standards for Admission of Waste into Storm Sewer
A. Residential, commercial or industrial property may be connected to the storm sewer system or may continue the discharge of waste to the storm sewer system providing the waste to be discharged thereto conforms to the following:
- All discharge of waste to storm sewers shall be in compliance with the laws or regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the Federal government or any agency thereof having jurisdiction over streams, rivers, waterways or water resources.
- No waste other than:
- potable water
- potable water line flushing
- natural uncontaminated surface or ground water
- runoff from lawn watering provided such runoff is not polluted with pesticides or herbicides or other lawn maintenance materials
- runoff from residential car washing
- swimming pool drainage free of residual chlorine
- unadulterated rain, roof or surface drainage water
- runoff from firefighting activities
- air conditioning condensate
- uncontaminated non-contact cooling water shall be discharged into a storm sewer and the City may regulate the rate of discharge of such waste into a storm sewer.
B. No person shall drain any water except storm water or authorized discharges into any drainage ditch or basin which will ultimately, by natural flow or otherwise, enter into the storm sewer system, or into a stream, river or watercourse. No user shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the municipal separate storm sewer any illicit discharge, spills or materials other than stormwater or authorized discharges. No person shall drain any water, except storm water or authorized discharges, into any gutter, street or pavement. These general prohibitions apply to all users of the municipal separate storm sewer.
C. All present connections to the storm sewer system that are in violation of any provision of this Article, and that the owner has knowledge of, shall be abated within 180 days of the passage of this ordinance and application to connect to the storm sewer system under the provisions of this Article shall be submitted to the Manager of Water Resources, 112 Union Street, Allentown, PA 18102
D. Upon discovery by the City of a connection to the storm sewer that is in violation of this article, notice shall be sent to the owner of such connection and the owner shall reconnect as directed.
Best Management Practices
During the development of any property within the City, a subdivider or person responsible or in control of said development must use best management practices for the control of the quality of storm water drainage originating from the subject property. Additionally, best management practices in combination with any necessary long-term water quality facilities are required to ensure continuing compliance with the provisions of the Land Development and Subdivision Ordinance, the Land Development Controls Ordinance, the Flood Control Ordinance and the Storm Water Management Ordinance.
Violation of the City’s NPDES Permit
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to cause or contribute to any deleterious effect on any receiving stream, or to contribute to a violation of the City’s NPDES storm water discharge permit.
B. A substantial contribution to a violation of the City’s NPDES storm water discharge permit may be found when the nature of a user’s discharge, either individually or cumulatively with the discharges of other users, causes the discharge at one of the City’s discrete outfalls to require remediation under the terms of the NPDES permit.
C. Notwithstanding any provision of this article to the contrary, if the City is required by the EPA, DEP or other regulatory agency to prepare and submit any type of remediation plan to ensure the City’s compliance with Federal and State laws, regulations or permits, any user who causes or substantially contributes to the situation requiring remediation shall provide such financial and technical assistance required by the City to develop the required plan in a proportion appropriate to the impact of that user’s discharge upon the situation requiring remediation.
Notice of Violation
Whenever the City finds that any user has violated, or is violating this ordinance, or has caused or substantially contributed to or is causing or substantially contributing to a violation by the City of Allentown of the terms of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit conditions or of any other Federal or State laws to which the municipal separate storm sewer is subject, the Manager of Water Resources or his designated agent, may serve upon such person written notice stating the nature of the violation. The Manager of Water Resources or his designated agent, may require any such person to comply with the analysis, monitoring, treatment or reporting requirements of sections 3, 4 and 5 of this ordinance as he deems necessary to bring about compliance. Within thirty (30) days of the date of the notice, a plan for the satisfactory correction of all violations shall be submitted to the Manager of Water Resources by such person. Submission of this plan in no way relieves the user of liability for violations occurring before or after receipt of the Notice of Violation. Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of the Manager of Water Resources to take any action, including emergency actions or any other enforcement action, without first issuing a Notice of Violation.
Imminent or Substantial Endangerment of Persons or the Environment
When, in the opinion of the Manager of Water Resources or his designated agent, it is necessary to stop discharge originating from a property to the municipal separate storm sewer which represents an actual or threatened reduction of the quality of storm water drainage which presents or may present an imminent or substantial endangerment to the health, safety or welfare of persons or the environment, he may suspend the provision of storm water drainage utility services to any such property and/or order the owner of such property to take immediate action to stop or eliminate the offending discharge or discharges.
In the event of a failure of the responsible user to take immediate, voluntary action to comply with the order, the Manager of Water Resources shall take such steps as deemed necessary, including but not limited to, the immediate impoundment of storm water drainage to prevent or minimize damage to individuals or the environment. The Manager of Water Resources may also initiate appropriate legal action in the name of the City.
A detailed written statement shall be submitted by the offending party to the Manager of Water Resources describing the causes of the offending discharge or discharges and the measures taken to prevent any future occurrence of the same within five (5) days of the date of notice from the City.
942.4 – REPORTING
Stormwater Analysis
When required by the Manager of Water Resources, a user must submit information on the nature and characteristics of its stormwater within ninety (90) days of the request. The Manager of Water Resources is authorized to prepare a form for this purpose and may periodically require users to update this information.
Analytical Requirements
All pollutants analyses, including sampling techniques, to be submitted as part of a stormwater discharge report shall be performed in accordance with the techniques prescribed in 40 CFR Part 136. If 40 CFR Part 136 does not contain sampling or analytical techniques for the pollutant in question, sampling and analyses must be performed in accordance with procedures in the latest edition of “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater”.
Report Signatories and Certification
All reports must be signed by an authorized representative of the user and contain the following certification statement:
“I certify under penalty of law that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations.”
942.5 – COMPLIANCE MONITORING
Right of Entry: Inspection and Sampling
The Manager of Water Resources shall have the right to enter the premises of any user to determine whether the user is complying with all requirements of this ordinance and any or order issued hereunder. Users shall allow the Manager of Water Resources ready access to all parts of the premises for the purposes of inspection, sampling, records examination and copying, and the performance of any additional duties.
A. Where a user has security measures in force which require proper identification and clearance before entry into its premises, the user shall make necessary arrangements with its security guards so that, upon presentation of suitable identification, the Manager of Water Resources will be permitted to enter without delay for the purposes of performing specific responsibilities.
B. The Manager of Water Resources shall have the right to set up on the user’s property, or require installation of, such devices as are necessary to conduct sampling and/or metering of the user’s operations.
C. The Manager of Water Resources may require the user, at the user’s expense, to install monitoring equipment as necessary. The facility’s sampling and monitoring equipment shall be maintained at all times in a safe and proper operating condition by the user at its own expense. All devices used to measure flow and quality shall be calibrated annually to ensure their accuracy.
D. Any temporary or permanent obstruction to safe and easy access to the facility to be inspected and/or sampled shall be promptly removed by the user at the written or verbal request of the Manager of Water Resources and shall not be replaced. The costs of clearing such access shall be borne by the user.
E. Unreasonable delays in allowing the Manager of Water Resources access to the user’s premises shall be a violation of this ordinance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if my property is found in violation of Allentown's stormwater rules?
You’ll receive written notice describing the violation. Within 30 days, you must submit a plan to correct it, though submitting a plan doesn’t remove liability for violations that occurred before or after the notice. In cases of imminent health, safety, or environmental risk, the city can suspend stormwater service to your property or order you to stop the discharge immediately, without waiting for the standard notice process.
Does Allentown require ongoing monitoring or reporting for my property's stormwater discharge?
It can, depending on your property’s discharge characteristics. The city may require periodic reports on pollutant concentrations, using specific sampling and analysis procedures, and any planned changes that could significantly alter your discharge must be reported at least 90 days in advance. AQUALIS can help property owners set up a monitoring and reporting routine that meets these requirements.
How long do I need to keep stormwater monitoring records in Allentown, Pennsylvania?
At least 3 years, covering sampling dates, methods, who performed the work, and the results. This period extends automatically if there’s ongoing litigation involving your property, or if the city specifically notifies you of a longer retention requirement.
Can the City of Allentown inspect my property after construction is complete?
Yes. The Manager of Water Resources has the right to enter your property at any time to confirm compliance with the ordinance, with ready access for inspection, sampling, and records review. If your property has security measures, you’ll need to arrange for entry without delay once proper identification is presented.
What are the penalties for ongoing stormwater violations in Allentown?
Violations are treated as a summary offense, with a fine of up to $1,000 per violation for each day the violation continues, or up to 90 days of imprisonment, or both. Knowingly falsifying a report or monitoring device carries the same penalty. Beyond these penalties, the city can also pursue injunctive relief through the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas. AQUALIS can help property owners resolve ongoing compliance issues before they reach this level.
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.
