The City of Vancouver 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 Vancouver 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 Vancouver will only provide construction permits to projects that establish a plan to manage stormwater runoff occurring during the construction process. The City of Vancouver, 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 Vancouver has the authority to inspect stormwater facilities and practices in order to ascertain that they are properly maintained and functioning.
Pursuant to Chapter 35.67 RCW, the city of Vancouver water and sewer utility establishes provisions for storm and surface water management. Such provisions shall give the utility authority and responsibility for carrying out the comprehensive stormwater plan, including responsibility for planning, design, construction, maintenance, administration and operation of all city stormwater facilities, as well as establishing standards for design, construction and maintenance of improvements on private property where these may affect stormwater management.
A. Because all real property in the city contributes stormwater runoff to and/or benefits from the city’s stormwater system, the owners thereof shall pay monthly charges as set forth in this section. Monthly charges will have two components as follows:
1. Operation and Maintenance. To provide for administrative and field operations, billing, accounting, and for the maintenance, repair and upgrade of existing stormwater facilities.
2. Capital Expenditures. To provide for basin-wide and system master planning and subsequent capital improvement projects as identified in the stormwater capital plan.
B. The water and sewer utility is authorized to establish charges for the use and discharge to the city’s stormwater system. Such charges shall be based on the cost of providing stormwater service to all properties within the city and may be different for properties receiving different classes of service
Vancouver Stormwater Management Plan
Stormwater Management Action Plan
Vancouver General Requirement Standards & Details for Water, Sanitary Sewer & Stormwater Page