Chapter 13.38
PRIVATE SEWAGE SYSTEMS
Sections:
13.38.020 Maintenance of private sewage systems – Nuisance when.
13.38.010 General provisions.
A. Objectives. The objectives of regulating private sewage disposal systems are as follows:
1. To attain the highest possible level of public health standards within new development in the city;
2. To ensure uniformity and consistency in the standards of sanitary service within the city;
3. To achieve and maintain environmental protection by utilizing a public sewer system instead of private septic systems;
4. To prevent the use of private sewage systems within the city except where specified conditions of approval are met.
B. Applicable Permit Required. No private sewage systems shall be installed, altered or repaired within the city without obtaining all required permits for private sewage systems, issued by the Sonoma County permit and resources management department.
C. Conditions of Approval. Private sewage system permit applications may be approved and issued by the Sonoma County permit and resources management department subject to the following conditions:
1. All approvals of private sewage system permit applications shall include a finding that city sewer facilities will not be available within the meaning of subsections A and B of this section and Section 13.34.036, Sewers required, within a reasonable time;
2. Except lots legally existing on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, all lots for which private sewage system approvals are sought must be at least two acres in size and less than thirty percent slope for the leach field area;
3. All private sewage system applicants seeking approvals shall furnish results of soil percolation tests performed under wet weather standards unless the applicant has furnished evidence sufficient to establish that it has been previously demonstrated to a county health officer or the regional board that percolation rates are satisfactory in the area for which the permit is sought;
4. All private sewage system permit applications shall be accompanied by plans which conform to county health department standards;
5. All applicants for whom private sewage systems are approved shall, prior to issuance of any required permit, record an irrevocable covenant running with the land obligating the land to connect to the public sewer when required by the director of public works as part of an area-wide sewer installation program;
6. All applicants for whom private sewage systems are approved shall allow inspection of their private sewage system by a county environmental health department representative upon presentation of proper identification;
7. At such time as a public sewer becomes available (within the meaning of Section 13.34.036), to parcels served by a private sewage system constructed subsequent to the enactment of the ordinance codified in this chapter, the building sewer shall be connected to said public sewer, as provided in this chapter;
8. Discharge of wastewater from any parcels within the city onto land or to any natural outlet may be permitted only if the discharge complies with all requirements of the Regional Water Quality Control Board and of all other local, state, and federal laws and regulations. (Ord. 898 § 2(part), 2020: Ord. 867 § 2(part), 2017: Ord. 824 § 5(part), 2009).
13.38.020 Maintenance of private sewage systems – Nuisance when.
The construction, continuance, or maintenance of private sewage systems, sewer pipes or other pipes or conduits, including residential graywater systems as defined by Chapter 22, Section 14875 et seq., of the California Water Code, for the treatment and discharge of sewage or impure waters, gas, vapor, oils, acids, tar or any other matter or substance offensive, injurious or dangerous to health, except only an authorized direct connection into the public sewers maintained and operated by the city, constitutes a public nuisance if a public sewer exists and connection thereto is available within two hundred feet of the property line closest to the available sewer of any parcel within the city upon which any such condition exists. (Ord. 898 § 2(part), 2020: Ord. 867 § 2(part), 2017: Ord. 824 § 5(part), 2009).