According to this document, unless it's a charitable fund raising event, you are not allowed to discharge car wash waste water into the storm drain, which sounds to me like you can't wash your own car in your own home.

http://www.lacitysan.org/wpd/siteorg.../ordinance.htm

When I walked down the street near where I live, I see the storm drains, and I see these holes on the side of the curb. Are thoes the sewage drain holes? So if I can't drain the waste water into the storm drain, does that mean that if I park my car on the street and make sure that the waste water drains into the sewage hole that I am good?

So, how does one legally wash one's car at one's residence in LA?

And how do you detailers handle this issue? I understand that there is a fine associated with running the waste water into the storm drain, if your neighbor decided to call the city on you.

 

Use some ONR (optimum no rinse) it uses two 5 gallon buckets and it's eco friendly and safe for the clear coat.

 

Q: When I walked down the street near where I live, I see the storm drains, and I see these holes on the side of the curb. Are thoes the sewage drain holes?
No
a) A storm drain- so called because it takes away rain water runoff from roads and sidewalks and conveys it to lakes, rivers and / or the sea
b) A sanitary drain - conveys household waste and drainage conveying it to a water treatment plant


Q: So if I can't drain the waste water into the storm drain, does that mean that if I park my car on the street and make sure that the waste water drains into the sewage hole that I am good?
One should never assume that aqueous solutions can be disposed of down the drain. Your local water treatment authority or publicly owned treatment works will have information on treatment and disposal of these cleaners. Adjustment of pH and dilution are usually required before disposal to a drain. Always comply with current water usage and disposal regulations / water usage restrictions.

A car care product may be biodegradable and environmentally safe but just remember the dirt, oil and road grease you are cleaning with it are not, once rinsed off the vehicle paint surface the resultant solution is no longer biodegradable and environmentally safe

Q: So, how does one legally wash one's car at one's residence in LA?
Waste water containment systems- pending regulations are in place (Clean Water Act and Ground Water Pollution) to limit the amount of contaminated water that is allowed to be discharged into storm water systems (i.e. street vehicle washing)

An innovative and practical waste water capture system to prevent run-off from washing operations indoors and outdoors. VacuBoom is a highly effective spill containment system for many hazardous materials that will withstand the chemicals used in automobile, marine, and aviation washing and refinishing applications that would allow the water to be contained and then pumped into an optional holding tank preventing run-off contamination into rivers, lakes, bays and oceans.

Always ensure that vehicle washing is in compliance with the discharge guidelines established by the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other local regulations regarding wastewater runoff, / containment may be the answer -http://www.vacuboom.com/


Q: And how do you detailers handle this issue? I understand that there is a fine associated with running the waste water into the storm drain, if your neighbor decided to call the city on you.
Perhaps an LA detailer should answer this question

 

What a freakin' headache. I don't have the answers for you and we're all responsible for taking care of our environments but it seems ridiculous to criminalize washing your car. I can see regulations applying to commercial outfits but you get to a point where it all becomes ridiculous.