Bureau of Watershed Protection
Stormwater FAQs

What stormwater structures are the City responsible for?

The City is responsible for maintaining and upgrading public stormwater structures related to public transportation system.

Is the City responsible for stormwater infrastructures on private property?

With the exception of those structures that are dedicated to public use, the City is not responsible for stormwater infrastructures on private property.

Can the City work on private property?

The City is not allowed to work on private property unless it has an easement on such a property.

What is a stormwater easement?

A stormwater easement is a limited right to make use of a property owned by another such as a privately owned property by another entity such as the City of Atlanta.

Is the City responsible for maintaining privately owned stormwater infrastructure constructed during the 1994 Atlanta Bond Referendum?

The City is not responsible for maintaining private stormwater infrastructure constructed under the 1994 Bond Referendum. This was a one time exception to the general rule, approved by voters to spend public money on private properties with easement. It was not intended for the City to assume ownership of these infrastructures.

Is it lawful to place an obstruction like appliances, broken bicycles and garbage in streams, drains, catchbasins, drop inlets and the entrance to sewers and storm drains?

It is against the law for a person to place an obstruction in streams, natural drains or waters in the City or to lay a pipe or construct any structure in such a way as to divert, decrease or obstruct the natural flow of water in the creek or drain or any sewer appurtenances.

Does the City own the creek that runs across any private property?

If a creek flows through any part of a private property, that portion on the property belongs to the private individual. It is responsibility of that individual property owner to keep it clean and prevent debris from accumulating in it.

Can I build a dam to prevent the free flow of water in the creek on my property?

The Code of the City of Atlanta prevents anyone from obstructing the free flow of water in the stream.

Stormwater from my neighbor’s property is flowing through my property. Can I block it off?

No one is allowed to block the stormwater from his/her neighbor’s property unless the person is authorized by the Court to do so.

A City pipe conveys stormwater runoff from the street through my property. The City is responsible for maintaining the pipe and the ditch through which Street stormwater flows.

T he City is only responsible for maintaining the portion of the stormwater infrastructure on the public right-of-way like roads or where the City has an easement. The City is not allowed to do any work on private property.

What is an easement?

An easement is a grant or reservation by the owner of a land for the use of such land by others for a specific purpose or purposes, and which must be included in the conveyance of land affected by such easement.

What is a public right-of-way?

A public right-of-way is the strip of land over which is built a public road or structure.

Can I connect surface water drains to sanitary sewer?

The City of Atlanta codes forbid connecting surface water to any sanitary sewer line.

Is it lawful for anyone to discharge chemicals or any contaminant like detergent, phenol or other pollutants in the storm drain or creek?

It is against the Laws of the State of Georgia and the Codes of the City of Atlanta for anyone to discharge anything other than stormwater into the creek or storm drain unless the person has an Industrial NPDES permit.

What is the purpose of the grates or catchbasins on the Streets?

They keep water out of the streets and prevent debris from clogging up the storm drains.

FLOODED PROPERTY

What is the number to call for stormwater related service requests, such as property flooding and erosion?

Stormwater complaints or service requests are to be forwarded to (404) 954-6340 for handling.

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