Last Updated 07/02/2026
The City of Florence, 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 Auburn has the authority to inspect stormwater facilities and practices in order to ascertain that they are properly maintained and functioning.
Excerpt from Florence Municipal Code
Chapter 23- Stormwater Management
Sec. 23-3. – Routine maintenance.
(a) All stormwater BMPs shall be maintained according to the measures outlined in the most recent version of the city stormwater pollution prevention plan, as required by the subdivision regulations and as approved in the permit.
(b) The person or organization responsible for maintenance shall be designated in the plan. Options include:
(1) Property owner.
(2) Homeowner’s association; provided that provisions for financing necessary maintenance are included in deed restrictions or other contractual agreements.
(3) Private contractor under contract with the owner.
(c) Maintenance agreements shall specify responsibilities for financing maintenance.
Sec. 23-5. – Inspections.
(a) The person or organization responsible for maintenance shall inspect stormwater BMPs on a regular basis as outlined in the plan.
(b) Authorized representatives of the city may enter at reasonable times to conduct on-site inspections or routine maintenance.
(c) For BMPs maintained by the property owner or homeowner’s association, inspection and maintenance reports shall be filed with the city, as provided for in the plan.
(d) Authorized representatives of the city may conduct inspections to confirm the information in the reports filed under section (c) of this section.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for maintaining stormwater BMPs in Florence?
Florence’s stormwater ordinance requires every best management practice, or BMP, to have a designated maintenance party named in the property’s stormwater pollution prevention plan. That party can be the property owner, a homeowner’s association with maintenance funding built into its deed restrictions, or a private contractor working under contract with the owner. Whoever holds that designation is accountable for keeping the BMP functioning as designed.
Do I need a maintenance agreement for my stormwater system in Florence?
Yes. Florence’s ordinance requires maintenance agreements to specify who finances the upkeep of stormwater BMPs on a property. This matters most for homeowner’s associations, where funding for pond dredging, structural repairs, or vegetation management needs to be written into governing documents rather than assumed.
How often do I need to inspect my stormwater BMPs in Florence?
Florence’s ordinance requires the designated maintenance party to inspect BMPs on a regular basis, with the exact frequency set in the property’s approved stormwater pollution prevention plan rather than a single citywide schedule. Properties should confirm their plan’s inspection interval rather than assume an annual default applies.
Do I have to report stormwater inspections to the city of Florence?
If your property’s BMPs are maintained by the property owner or a homeowner’s association, Florence requires inspection and maintenance reports to be filed with the city as outlined in the stormwater pollution prevention plan. The city can also conduct its own inspections to confirm the accuracy of those filed reports.
Can the city of Florence inspect my property without notice?
Authorized city representatives can enter a property at reasonable times to conduct inspections or routine maintenance related to stormwater compliance. This access applies both to BMPs maintained by the property owner and to systems the city maintains directly.
What is a stormwater pollution prevention plan, and does my Florence property need one?
A stormwater pollution prevention plan, or SWPPP, is the governing document for how a property manages runoff and maintains its BMPs. Florence’s ordinance ties nearly every maintenance obligation back to this plan: who is responsible for upkeep, how often inspections happen, and what gets reported to the city. If your property doesn’t have a current SWPPP on file, that’s the first gap to close.
Why is Florence's stormwater program tied to NPDES Phase II?
Florence operates its stormwater management program under the NPDES Phase II framework, which requires the city to demonstrate that development and runoff within its limits don’t degrade local water quality. That federal requirement is why Florence’s municipal code places such a direct emphasis on documented maintenance responsibility and inspection reporting instead of leaving BMP upkeep informal.
How can AQUALIS help my property stay compliant in Florence?
AQUALIS supports Florence property owners and homeowner’s associations with BMP inspections, maintenance, and the recordkeeping the city requires under Chapter 23. That includes helping establish or update a stormwater pollution prevention plan, keeping inspection reports current, and resolving maintenance issues before they become a compliance gap the city flags.
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.
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