STORMWATER DRAINAGE PROGRAM

Oklahoma City Municipal Code ch. 57, art. V

in effect

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 57-130 Purpose.

§ 57-130. - Purpose. It is the purpose of this article to address the mandates of the Federal Government and establish a stormwater drainage utility to promote public health, safety and welfare by providing for studying, designing, operating, construction, equipping, maintaining, acquiring and owning within the City a stormwater drainage system. A stormwater drainage system would: (1) meet the requirements and regulations of local, State and Federal governments, including but not limited to the NPDES permit; (2) reduce flood and storm losses and inconveniences from uncontrolled stormwater runoff in the City; (3) improve that the movement of emergency vehicles is not prohibited nor inhibited during storm or flood periods; and (4) preserve the City's watercourses, improve and preserve water quality, minimize water quality degradation, and otherwise facilitate urban water resource management techniques, including both the reduction of pollution and the enhancement of the urban environment, including but not limited to the NPDES permit requirements and such other requirements of the City, State and Federal Governments. (Ord. No. 20364, § 1, 6-13-95; Ord. No. 26913, § 1, 11-9-21)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 57-131 Definitions.

§ 57-131. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: (1) Commercial property means all land and real property other than residential real property and undeveloped real property. (2) Department means the Department of Public Works of The City of Oklahoma City. (3) Detention facilities means facilities designed to hold stormwater for a short period and then to release it to the natural watercourse. (4) Developed real property means all land and real property altered from its natural state by the addition to or construction of any impervious surface such that the hydrology of the property is affected or the alteration of land or real property affecting the quality, quantity, or direction of stormwater flow. (5) Director means the Director of the Department and/or the designated representative. (6) Drainage basin plan means a plan adopted by the City for managing surface and stormwater facilities and features within an individual drainage basin. (7) Impervious surface means any hard surfaced area which prevents or retards the entry of water into the soil in the manner and to the extent that such water entered the soil under natural conditions, causing water to run off the surface in greater quantities or at an increased rate of flow than was present under natural conditions, such as, but not limited to, roof tops, asphalt or concrete sidewalks, paving, driveways and parking lots, walkways, patio areas, storage areas, and gravel, bituminous substances or other surfaces which similarly affect the natural infiltration or runoff patterns of real property in its natural state. (8) NPDES permit means the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit issued to the City by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and any addition or amendment thereto. (9) Residential property means any land, tract, lot or parcel designed and used principally for the purpose of one residential single-family house or one duplex, developed according to and meeting the bulk and area requirements for residential single-family or duplex zoned property as set forth in the Oklahoma City Municipal Code at the time of the development of such property. However, multiple residential single-family housing or multiple duplexes or any combination thereof on one tract, lot or parcel shall not be deemed residential property. (10) Retention facilities means facilities designed to hold stormwater for a sufficient length of time to provide for it to be consumed by evaporation, infiltration into the immediate soil or other natural means. (11) Stormwater charge means the fees levied within the boundaries of the City for the use or benefit of the City's stormwater drainage system, and may include a stormwater base fee and stormwater utility fee. The stormwater fees are to meet the requirements and regulations of local, State and Federal Governments, including but not limited to the NPDES permit, to develop a stormwater utility, and to maintain a stormwater drainage system. (12) Stormwater drainage system means any facility, structure, improvement, development, equipment, property or interest therein, or other structural or nonstructural element made, constructed, used or acquired for the purpose of collecting, containing, storing, conveying and controlling stormwater wherever located, including, but not limited to, storm sewers, curbs, street drains, conduits, natural and manmade channels, pipes, culverts and detention ponds whether public or private. (13) Stormwater drainage utility means the system of providing certain stormwater and/or drainage services, as each is defined by the City as service provider, for which a fee is charged to users and those benefiting therefrom and to those to which such services are made available. (14) Stormwater management program or program means an overall strategy and framework for the stormwater management activities of the City. (15) Stormwater runoff means that portion of the rainfall that is drained into the stormwater drainage system. (16) Undeveloped real property means land or real property unaltered by the construction or addition of any impervious surface which would change or affect the hydrology of the property from its natural state. (17) User means the occupant, the owner of the land or real property, the owner of any impervious surface or improvement and/or other person or entity benefiting from the stormwater drainage system. (Ord. No. 20364, § 1, 6-13-95; Ord. No. 26913, § 1, 11-9-21)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 57-132 Duties of the Director.

§ 57-132. - Duties of the Director. The Director shall exercise all lawful powers necessary and appropriate to administer the City's stormwater management program. The Director shall have the authority to: (1) develop and administer all phases of a comprehensive program of stormwater management, including, studying, planning, designing, establishing, acquiring, constructing, developing, installing, administering, maintaining, operating, improving, repairing, replacing and reconstructing the City's stormwater drainage system; (2) administer the accounting, budgeting, record keeping and support personnel necessary for the efficient operation of the stormwater management program; (3) administer the regulations contained in the NPDES permit and in this chapter; (4) perform studies, tests and analyses required to establish or modify the stormwater management program; (5) provide for public information and awareness that would improve management and reduce pollution and hazards to life and property; (6) establish a flood alert and early warning system as a joint effort with emergency response agencies; (7) coordinate enforcement of the regulations contained in this title with other City departments; (8) seek the cooperation of counties and municipalities within the metropolitan area in reducing the contribution of all storm drainage systems to flooding and, in particular, cooperate with other affected political jurisdictions in preparing and implementing master drainage plans; (9) hear and consider challenges to the application of this ordinance, the calculation of fees, the determination of the impervious surface area and the classification of users; (10) collect the stormwater charges; (11) provide an exchange of information between the public and City employees and officers on flooding and stormwater drainage problems in the City; (12) recommend to the City Manager and the City Council a comprehensive stormwater management program; (13) propose cooperation studies and plans for coordinated stormwater drainage services in the City and surrounding areas; and (14) recommend from time to time to the City Manager and the City Council policies for establishing new kinds of stormwater drainage services, preserving and expanding existing service and making changes in service for the benefit of the public. (Ord. No. 20364, § 1, 6-13-95)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 57-133 Stormwater drainage fund.

§ 57-133. - Stormwater drainage fund. (a) A special fund or funds shall be maintained for the purpose of identifying and controlling all revenues and expenses attributable to stormwater charges. All stormwater charges and all loans, grants or funds received for the administration, operation, construction and improvement of the stormwater drainage system shall be deposited in such fund or funds. Disbursements for costs of data collection, planning, designing, engineering, policing, constructing, maintaining, operating, and improving drainage services and any other activity provided for by this ordinance shall be made from the appropriate fund or funds. (b) A special Stormwater Management Enterprise Fund shall be established to receive all stormwater charges for the use of the City's stormwater drainage system and to meet applicable local, State and Federal regulations, including but not limited to the NPDES permit. (c) Expenditures and disbursements from the Stormwater Management Enterprise Fund shall be at the direction and discretion of the City Council. (Ord. No. 20364, § 1, 6-13-95; Ord. No. 26913, § 1, 11-9-21)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 57-134 Stormwater charge and exemptions.

§ 57-134. - Stormwater charge and exemptions. (a) There is hereby established stormwater charges for the use and benefit of the City's stormwater drainage system and to meet applicable local, State and Federal regulations, including but not limited to the NPDES permit at schedule of charges hereinafter established in Chapter 60, the General Schedule of Fees and for operations, maintenance, and capital plans and improvements; provided, however, the stormwater charges shall not be imposed on the following types of property: (1) City, State and Federal roads, bridges, highways, streets, rights-of-way; (2) City parks, City buildings, City facilities and open spaces owned or operated by the City; or (3) undeveloped parcels of land. (b) All proceeds from the stormwater charges established herein shall be deposited to the Stormwater Management Enterprise Fund established in Section [57-133] of this Chapter. (Ord. No. 20364, § 1, 6-13-95; Ord. No. 26913, § 1, 11-9-21)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 57-135 Inspection.

§ 57-135. - Inspection. The Director shall have the right to inspect any on-site detention or retention facility at any reasonable time to determine if it is in compliance with the approved design and is capable of functioning properly. The Director shall have the right to inspect any property within the City to determine the source, quantity, quality or flow rate of stormwater and to determine the source and nature of pollutants, hazards and/or activities creating or promoting same. (Ord. No. 20364, § 1, 6-13-95)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 57-136 Collection of stormwater charge.

§ 57-136. - Collection of stormwater charge. (a) The stormwater charges herein established for the use of the City's stormwater drainage system shall be billed monthly to each user. The stormwater charges may be billed along with a bill for water or other utility services. The deposit requirement, late charges and penalties as are now or may hereinafter be established for water service bills shall also apply to stormwater charges. In the event that any person, firm or corporation shall tender as payment of water service, sewer service, collection of solid waste service and/or service charge for the use of the City's stormwater drainage system an amount insufficient to pay in full all of the charges so billed, payment shall be credited proportionately among all charges. (b) The provision for collection provided herein shall be in addition to any rights or remedies which the City may have under the laws of the State of Oklahoma. (Ord. No. 20364, § 1, 6-13-95; Ord. No. 26913, § 1, 11-9-21)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 57-137 Appeal or adjustments of charge.

§ 57-137. - Appeal or adjustments of charge. Any user who considers the stormwater charges, applicable of stormwater charges or calculation of stormwater charges, to be inaccurate or erroneous may request review thereof by the Director. The determination by the Director may be appealed to the City Manager by written notice of appeal stating the reasons or basis for the appeal filed with the Director and City Manager within ten days of the Director's written determination. (Ord. No. 20364, § 1, 6-13-95)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 57-138 City Council discretion.

§ 57-138. - City Council discretion. The determination of stormwater services to be provided and stormwater facilities and improvements to be constructed will be made at the sole discretion of the City Council. The Director shall recommend the provision of stormwater services and construction of the stormwater facilities and improvements to the City Council based upon his engineering analysis, taking into consideration frequency of flooding events, potential loss of life, potential property damage, potential affect upon the general public and any other factor affecting the purpose of this ordinance. (Ord. No. 20364, § 1, 6-13-95)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 57-139 Reserved.

Source: City of Oklahoma City, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ok/oklahoma_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=OKMUCO2020_CH57WARE_ARTVSTDRPRFetched: 10/28/2026