Last Updated 08/26/2026
Excerpt from Florence Municipal Code
§ 54.41 REQUIREMENTS TO PREVENT, CONTROL AND REDUCE STORM WATER POLLUTANTS.
§ 54.43 REQUIREMENT TO ELIMINATE SECURE APPROVAL FOR ILLICIT CONNECTIONS.
§ 54.46 REQUIREMENT TO MONITOR AND ANALYZE.
§ 54.45 REQUIREMENT TO REMEDIATE.
§ 54.49 ENFORCEMENT.
- The performance of monitoring, analyses, and reporting;
- The elimination of illicit connections or discharges;
- That violating discharges, practices, or operations shall cease and desist or a stop work order may issue pending correction, elimination of discharges or their abatement;
- The abatement or remediation of storm water pollution or contamination hazards and the restoration of any affected property
- Payment of a fine to cover administrative and remediation costs; and
The implementation of source control or treatment BMPs.
(B) If abatement of a violation and/or restoration of affected property is required, the notice shall set forth a deadline within which such remediation or restoration must be completed. Said notice shall further advise that, should the violator fail to remediate or restore within the established deadline, the work may be done by the city or a contractor designated by the Public Services Director and the expense thereof shall be charged to the violator pursuant to § 54.51.
From Kentucky Best Management Practices Manual
When land is developed, the hydrology, or the natural cycle of water is disrupted, altering the delivery of water and sediment to local waterways. Clearing removes the vegetation that intercepts, slows and returns rainfall to the air through evaporation and transpiration. Grading flattens hilly terrain and fills in natural depressions that slow and provide temporary storage for rainfall. Rainfall that once seeped into the ground now runs off the surface. The addition of buildings, roadways, parking lots and other surfaces that are impervious to rainfall further reduces infiltration and increases runoff.
Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, a primary cause of water quality impairment, is largely caused by polluted or poorly managed storm water runoff. NPS pollution comes from many diffuse or scattered sources—most of which are the result of human activities within a watershed. Development concentrate and increases the amount of these nonpoint source pollutants. As storm water runoff moves across the land surface, it picks up and carries away both natural and human-made pollutants, depositing them into Northern Kentucky’s streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, marshes, and underground aquifers. Nonpoint source pollution is a leading source of water quality degradation in Northern Kentucky.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can Florence, Kentucky require specific best management practices for stormwater pollution?
Yes. The city can adopt or amend a BMP Manual identifying best management practices for any activity, operation, or facility that could pollute or contaminate stormwater, the storm drain system, or waters of the United States. Anyone undertaking such activity, or owning or operating such a facility, must comply once those requirements are in place, whether promulgated by the city or a federal, state, or regional agency.
Does Florence require stormwater controls for new development and redevelopment projects?
Yes. The city can adopt requirements identifying BMPs to control the volume, rate, and pollutant load of runoff from new development and redevelopment, and it incorporates those requirements directly into land use entitlements and construction or building permits. Owners and developers must comply with those terms, along with the Boone County Subdivision or Zoning Regulations.
Is a Florence property required to implement BMPs even without a specific city requirement in place?
Yes. Regardless of whether the city has adopted formal BMP requirements, anyone engaged in an activity or owning a facility that will or may result in pollutants entering stormwater, the storm drain system, or waters of the United States must implement BMPs to the extent technologically achievable.
Who pays for stormwater protection measures at a commercial or industrial facility in Florence?
The owner or operator. Commercial and industrial establishments must provide reasonable protection against accidental discharge of prohibited materials into the municipal storm drain system or watercourses, and any facilities needed to prevent that discharge must be installed and maintained at the owner’s or operator’s own expense.
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.
