Mobile wash businesses.
Riverside Municipal Code § 14.12.300
in effect14.12.300 - Mobile wash businesses.
A. No person shall engage in, conduct, or carry on any mobile wash business in the City without first demonstrating to the Public Works Director proper containment and recovery of wash water and wastes and obtaining a permit from the Public Works Director.
B. It is unlawful for any mobile wash business to discharge wastewaters to the storm drain and to operate within the City without a mobile wash business certificate issued by the environmental compliance section.
C. Users required to obtain a mobile wash business certificate shall complete and file with the Director an application form provided by the Director and shall pay all applicable fees within 30 days of invoicing by the City. The application form may require applicant's submission of any or all of the following:
1. Name, address, and location (if different from the mailing address);
2. NAICS number under the Federal North American Industry Classification System, Office of Management and Budget, 1997, as amended;
3. Liquid capacity of tanks on their trailer or vehicle;
4. A list of all environmental control permits held;
5. A written description of operations
D. Mobile wash businesses must demonstrate that they utilize BMPs and can recover all wash waters and cause no discharge of wash waters to the environment in order to obtain a certificate from the City. Wash waters must be disposed of legally. BMPS must be used at each wash event. Certificate must be carried with the vehicle and made available to City staff upon request.
E. Operating a mobile wash business within the City without a certificate can result in enforcement actions, including, but not limited to, fines.
F. Within 14 days after receiving the completed application and all required supporting information, and giving a demonstration of BMP implementation, the Director shall evaluate the application and information furnished by the applicant. The Director shall issue the certificate, if the Director believes that sufficient and accurate information has been provided by the applicant in the application and the Director finds that all of the following conditions are met:
1. The proposed discharge of the applicant is in compliance with the prohibitions and limitations of this chapter;
2. The proposed operation and discharge of the applicant would not cause a discharge to a storm drain or MS4;
3. The proposed discharge, operation or business activity of the applicant shall not result in a violation by the City of the terms and conditions of its NPDES permit or cause a pass through of any pollutants to the environment; and
4. The applicant has paid all applicable mobile wash business fees.
G. The Director may suspend or revoke the certificate at any time.
H. If the Director determines that the proposed discharge will not be acceptable, the Director shall disapprove the application and shall notify the applicant in writing, specifying the reason(s) for denial.
I. Mobile wash business certificates shall be subject to all provisions of this chapter and all other applicable regulations, charges and fees established by the City Council of the City of Riverside or the Riverside County Board of Supervisors by resolution.
J. Duty to comply. All users that have been issued a mobile wash business certificate, have a duty to comply with all conditions and limitations in this chapter and any conditions within the certificate and shall be subject to administrative, civil or criminal enforcement actions in accordance with this chapter.
K. Modifications. The Director may modify the certificate terms and conditions as the Director deems necessary.
L. Certificate transfer. Each mobile wash business certificate is issued to a specific user for a specific operation for a specified time. Any assignment, transfer or sale of any certificate to a new owner, new user, different premises, or different use is prohibited and is a violation of this chapter.
M. Fees and charges. The City is authorized to impose fees and charges to recover the costs of its storm water and environmental compliance programs. These fees and charges are exclusive to this chapter and are separate from all other fees or costs.
N. Unless otherwise specified, all fees, charges and penalties imposed pursuant to this chapter are due and payable within 30 calendar days after the date of the notice or invoice from the City. Users who fail to pay any required fee, charge or penalty by the due date shall pay a 50 percent surcharge in addition to the original fee, charge or penalty. The City shall give notice to a user of any certificate termination associated with the unpaid amounts and such certificate will be automatically revoked on the 30th day after the date of such notice if the amount due is not paid in full. The Director shall refer the unpaid amount to the City's Finance Department for collection.
O. All mobile wash businesses shall obtain a City business license and an authorization certificate and/or permit from the City before conducting business within the City's jurisdiction. Failure to obtain authorizations and/or a permit from the City prior to operating in the POTW service area is a violation of this chapter and may subject the user to enforcement actions including fines. The City shall mail-out a letter to any new pressure washer who has received a business license informing them of the rules and regulations for working in the City.
P. Contaminated wash water shall not be disposed of into storm drains, gutters, or waters of the State or US. Discharges shall be recovered and disposed of at the place of business where feasible (clean-out or other device which leads to sewer).
Q. Any mobile wash business observed doing business in the City shall have required documentation with them at all times. Mobile washers can be stopped by an inspector and asked for required documentation. If no documentation is presented, information will be recorded concerning the pressure washer company, the business where the washing is occurring, and a written warning may be issued.
(Ord. 7551 §16, 2021; Ord. 7362 §6, 2017; Ord. 7032 §2, 2009; Ord. 6637 §2 (part), 2002; Ord. 6232 §2 (part), 1995)
Source: City of Riverside, California, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/riverside/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TIT14PUUT_CH14.12DIWAINPUSEPOINSTDRSY_DIVIIGEPR_14.12.300MOWABUFetched: 11/1/2026