City of Centennial

The City of Centennial 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 Centennial 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 Centennial will only provide construction permits to projects that establish a plan to manage stormwater runoff occurring during the construction process. The City of Centennial, 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 Centennial has the authority to inspect stormwater facilities and practices in order to ascertain that they are properly maintained and functioning.

Excerpt from Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority Stormwater Management Manual

Chapter 2. Stormwater Management Policy & Principles

2.0.10 The stormwater management system must receive regular maintenance to ensure long-term function and effectiveness and stormwater management facilities shall be designed with ease of maintenance, long-term functionality, and accessibility as primary considerations. Operation and maintenance procedures and activities must be developed and documented along with the facility design. Clear assignment of maintenance responsibilities shall be identified, and assigned to an established agency with the resources and understanding, which are required to ensure proper maintenance. 

2.3 Operations and Maintenance Policies

2.3.2 The design of all stormwater management facilities within the City must be performed with access and long-term operation and maintenance being priority considerations. An Operation and Maintenance Manual must be developed concurrent with the design and accepted by SEMSWA. Stormwater facility designs where access or long-term operation and maintenance considerations are compromised will not be accepted. See Section 4.8 for additional information. 

2.3.3 The property owner shall be responsible for the maintenance of all stormwater facilities located on their property, unless those responsibilities are accepted by another party and documented via a legal agreement. Should the owner fail to adequately maintain the facilities, SEMSWA shall have the right to enter the property for the purposes of operation and maintenance and assess the costs for such maintenance to the property owner. 

Chapter 3. Stormwater Management and Development

3.5 Stormwater Facility Maintenance

Stormwater management facilities must be properly maintained to function as designed. SEMSWA will require that all stormwater management facilities be designed to minimize facility maintenance as well as to provide adequate maintenance access. Routine maintenance of facilities may include removal of debris and sediment, trash rack clearing, mowing, noxious weed control, etc. Non-routine restorative maintenance activities include repairs to, or replacement of, structures and other improvements necessary to retain the effectiveness of the system. Such tasks are necessary to preclude the facility from becoming unhealthy and to avoid reduced conveyance capability, unsightliness, and ultimate malfunction. 

3.5.1 Maintenance Responsibility. 

Maintenance responsibility lies with the owner of the land, except as modified by specific agreement. Maintenance responsibility shall be defined on Final Plats and Final Development Plans. The property owner or designee shall be responsible for the maintenance of all drainage facilities including inlets, pipes, culverts, channels, ditches, hydraulic structures, and detention basins located on their land unless modified by specific agreement. Maintenance access for all facilities must be adequate for the anticipated maintenance vehicles and equipment and should be shown on the Final Plats and Final Development Plans. Should the owner fail to adequately maintain said facilities, SEMSWA shall seek any remedies available to ensure that the facilities are adequately maintained.

3.5.3 Operation and Maintenance Manual. 

An Operation and Maintenance Manual (O&M) shall be required for all permanent stormwater facilities to ensure that they function as designed. The purpose of the O&M is to provide guidance and standard forms for those entities that will be responsible for the long-term inspection and maintenance of the facility. SEMSWA’s standard template shall be used as the basis for the O&M. For more information refer to Section 4.8

City of Centennial Resources

Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority Stormwater Management Manual