An owner or occupant of any property shall comply with the following good housekeeping requirements:
A. 
No person shall leave, deposit, discharge, dump, or otherwise expose any chemical, fuel, animal waste, garbage, batteries, and/or septic waste in an area where actual or potential discharge to the city streets or the storm drain system may occur. Any spills, discharge, or residues shall be removed as soon as possible and disposed of properly.
B. 
Runoff from landscape irrigation, air conditioning condensate, water line flushing, foundation/footing drains, individual residential car washing, dechlorinated swimming pool discharges and sidewalk washing shall be conducted in a manner not in violation of other provisions of this code.
C. 
Runoff from washing paved areas, including but not limited to parking lots, on industrial or commercial property is prohibited unless specifically required by federal, state, or local health or safety codes and not in violation of any other provision of this code. Runoff from authorized washing of paved areas shall be minimized to the extent practicable.
D. 
Objects, such as motor vehicle parts, containing grease, oil, or other hazardous materials, and unsealed receptacles containing hazardous materials, shall not be stored in areas exposed to stormwater or otherwise susceptible to runoff.
E. 
Any machinery or equipment which is to be repaired or maintained in areas exposed to stormwater or otherwise susceptible to runoff shall be provided with containment areas to control leaks, spills, or discharges.
F. 
All motor vehicle parking lots with more than 25 parking spaces and located in areas exposed to stormwater or otherwise susceptible to runoff shall have debris removed by regular sweeping or other equally effective measures. Such debris shall be collected and properly disposed of.
(Ord. 709 § 1, 1998)
All industrial and commercial facilities shall implement BMPs to the maximum extent practicable. Minimum BMPs applicable to all industrial and commercial facilities include, but are not limited to:
A. 
Termination of all nonstormwater discharge to the storm drain system that is not specifically authorized by an NPDES permit;
B. 
Exercising general good housekeeping practices;
C. 
Incorporating regular scheduled preventive maintenance into operations;
D. 
Maintaining spill prevention and control procedures;
E. 
Implementing soil erosion control;
F. 
Posting on-site private storm drains to indicate that they are not to receive liquid or solid wastes;
G. 
Implementing regular cleaning of the on-site private storm drain system; and
H. 
Ensuring that stormwater runoff is directed away from operating, processing, fueling, cleaning and storage areas.
(Ord. 709 § 1, 1998)
No person shall install a structural BMP for the purpose of treating, neutralizing, disposing of, monitoring or diverting to the sanitary sewer system any runoff without the approval of the director. Such facilities may be subject to plan review, application and issuance of operating permits pursuant to Chapter 11.08 BGMC.
(Ord. 709 § 1, 1998)
Projects submitted to the city of Bell Gardens for project approval by the planning department or the building and safety department for new construction or redevelopment of a property in the city of Bell Gardens in the following classifications shall prepare an urban stormwater management plan (USWMP) prior to the issuance of grading or building permits for the project:
A. 
Automotive repair shop.
B. 
Subdivision in 10 or more residential lots.
C. 
Commercial development that creates 100,000 square feet of impervious coverage, including parking lots and all roof areas.
D. 
Restaurants.
E. 
Retail gasoline outlets.
F. 
Parking lots.
(Ord. 732 § 2, 2001)
The USWMP required by this section shall be prepared by a registered civil engineer, licensed architect, landscape architect, or any other professional knowledgeable about stormwater management issues and shall evaluate and propose BMPs to address each source of pollutants identified by the project evaluation. As a minimum, the designer shall address the BMPs listed in the commercial site visit program, for the proposed use of the site, as approved by the Regional Water Quality Control Board – Los Angeles by Resolution 98-08 on April 13, 1998. All USWMPs shall contain the following elements:
A. 
Peak Stormwater Runoff Rate. Peak runoff rate shall not exceed predevelopment levels.
B. 
Provide Storm Drain System Stenciling and Signage. All storm drain inlets from a project shall be clearly labeled to indicate that no dumping is permitted, drains to ocean. Labels shall be maintained at least every three years.
C. 
Conserve Natural Areas. The development of properties shall preserve natural areas or pervious areas to the maximum extent practical. The pervious areas shall be used for treatment of runoff, as a recharge area, or as passive or active open space.
D. 
Proper Design of Trash Storage Areas. Trash enclosure areas shall not be designed in the path of drainage nor shall roof drainage downspouts discharge to the trash enclosure.
E. 
Vehicle/Equipment Wash Area. If the project includes vehicle/equipment wash areas, the design shall include a roof to prevent rainwater from entering the area along with berms to prevent site drainage from entering the wash area. The wash area shall be connected to the sanitary sewer.
F. 
Proof of Ongoing Maintenance. The plan shall incorporate record keeping standards to document maintenance of structural BMPs to assure ongoing operation of the systems. Records shall be maintained for three years.
The records shall be available for inspection upon request by the city engineer or the designated agent.
(Ord. 732 § 2, 2001)
In addition to the six items listed in BGMC § 11.12.542, the following projects must also consider issues unique to the occupancy:
A. 
Automotive Repair Shops.
1. 
Properly Designed Fueling Areas. Fueling facilities for a new automotive repair project shall be constructed in compliance with the Service Station Managers Association guidelines.
2. 
Proper Design of Outside Material Storage Areas. Areas used for storage of vehicles under repair or for storage of spare parts shall be designed to minimize, to the greatest extent practicable, the exposure of stored parts or vehicles to rainfall.
3. 
Proper Design of Repair/Maintenance Bays. Repair/maintenance bays shall be designed to allow for collection of all fluid spills and floor wash down runoff and provide for the proper discharge of these fluids to the sanitary sewer system. Automotive fluids and greases shall not be discharged to areas exposed to rainfall.
4. 
Properly Designed Loading and Unloading Areas. Loading and unloading of materials and vehicles shall be handled to limit the discharge of pollutants to the storm drain system. Spill prevention and cleanup materials shall be maintained on site and staff shall be trained in its proper use.
B. 
Residential Subdivisions of 10 or More Lots.
1. 
Mitigate Stormwater Runoff. The project shall use, to the greatest extent practicable, pervious surfaces for drainage structures, walkways, parking areas, and recreation facilities. The project shall also evaluate the feasibility of reducing impervious surfaces, to the greatest extent practical, by reducing street widths, reducing sidewalk areas, and limiting impervious site improvements.
C. 
One Hundred Thousand Square Foot Commercial Developments.
1. 
Mitigate Stormwater Runoff. The project shall use, to the greatest extent practicable, pervious surfaces for drainage structures, walkways, parking areas, and recreation facilities. The project shall also evaluate the feasibility of incorporating infiltration and treatment BMPs into the project design.
2. 
Proper Design of Outside Material Storage Areas. Areas used for storage of raw materials or for storage of finished products or merchandise shall be designed to minimize, to the greatest extent practicable, the exposure of stored materials to rainfall.
3. 
Proper Design of Repair/Maintenance Bays. Repair/maintenance bays shall be designed to allow for collection of all fluid spills and floor wash down runoff and provide for the proper discharge of these fluids to the sanitary sewer system. Automotive fluids and greases shall not be discharged to areas exposed to rainfall.
4. 
Properly Designed Loading and Unloading Areas. Loading and unloading of materials and equipment shall be handled to limit the discharge of pollutants to the storm drain system. Spill prevention and cleanup materials shall be maintained on site and staff shall be trained in their proper use.
D. 
Restaurants (SIC 5812).
1. 
Properly Designed Equipment/Accessory Wash Areas. Projects in this SIC shall be designed with an area for the washing of floor mats and other large equipment that is connected to the sanitary sewer system. The area shall be roofed to prevent the entrance of rainwater or shall be designed to activate a valve to transfer the discharge from the storm drain to the sanitary sewer when mats or equipment are being washed. The operator may, upon submission of substantial proof, eliminate the wash area if no floor mats or equipment will be washed outside.
2. 
Proper Design of Outside Storage Areas. Projects shall be designed to limit, to the greatest extent practicable, the exposure to rainfall or rainwater runoff for materials stored outside of the building. This provision shall apply to, but is not limited to, the storage of fryer fat stored for recycling, cardboard or paper storage intended for recycling, and waste food products stored for recycling.
E. 
Retail Gasoline Outlets.
1. 
Properly Designed Fueling Areas. Fueling facilities for a new retail gasoline outlets project shall be constructed in compliance with the Service Station Managers Association guidelines.
2. 
Proper Design of Outside Material Storage Areas. Areas used for storage of products or merchandise shall be designed to minimize, to the greatest extent practicable, the exposure of stored materials to rainfall.
3. 
Proper Design of Repair/Maintenance Bays. Repair/maintenance bays shall be designed to allow for collection of all fluid spills and floor wash down runoff and provide for the proper discharge of these fluids to the sanitary sewer system. Automotive fluids and greases shall not be discharged to areas exposed to rainfall.
(Ord. 732 § 2, 2001)
The city shall review the USWMP to assure that all elements of the plan have been addressed and that the applicant has identified the BMPs necessary to protect the MS4. If the plan is found to comply with the provisions of this section, the grading or building permits may be issued for the project. If, during construction, the plan is found to be deficient by the city or any other interested party, the applicant shall amend the plan to address the deficiency.
(Ord. 732 § 2, 2001)
Upon acceptance of the USWMP by the city the applicant shall file a signed original of the plan with the county recorder. The document shall contain sufficient legal description to identify the property covered and shall be binding on the applicant and all successors in interest to the property. The form shall be provided by the city and shall only be amended or deleted from title with the consent of the city.
(Ord. 732 § 2, 2001)
If, after evaluating the issues related to a project, the designer determines that all BMPs are impractical for their project a waiver may be granted. The waiver for impracticability shall only be granted when all other structural or treatment BMPs have been considered and rejected as infeasible. The following situations will be recognized as grounds for an impracticability waiver:
A. 
Extreme limitation of space for treatment on a redevelopment project.
B. 
Unfavorable or unstable soil conditions at a site to attempt infiltration.
C. 
Risk of ground water contamination because a known unconfined aquifer lies beneath the site or an existing or potential underground source of drinking water is less than 10 feet from the soil surface.
A justification not identified above must be approved by the Regional Water Quality Control Board – Los Angeles upon application by the city before a waiver for impracticability may be approved by the city. A waiver granted by the city may be revoked by the Regional Board's executive officer for cause with proper notice upon petition. Any waivers granted for impracticability shall be filed, as required, by BGMC § 11.12.545.
(Ord. 732 § 2, 2001)