40.370.010 Sewerage Regulations

A.    Purpose.

    The purpose of this section is to further the public health by providing clear rules for when connection to public sewer is required or prohibited. Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit violation of regulations for on-site sewage disposal systems promulgated by the Washington Department of Health or local governments.

B.    Definitions.

1.    “Public sewer” means extension of a public sewer system operated by a public entity or, where such extension is impractical, connection to an alternative public sewer system operated by the designated public sewer purveyor.

2.    “UGA” means an urban growth area designated in the comprehensive plan.

C.    New Structures within UGA and Rural Centers Served by Public Sewer – Public Sewer Connection Required – Exceptions.

    Inside UGAs and rural centers served by public sewer, connection to public sewer is required as a condition of building permit issuance for any new structure unless the responsible official determines, using a Type I review process, that one (1) of the following exceptions applies:

1.    The new structure is an alteration, expansion or replacement of an existing structure which will not entail a material increase in sewage effluent production.

2.    The new structure lawfully incorporates no on-site sewage system.

3.    The new structure is for single-family detached residential use, or a nonresidential use, generating a projected effluent flow of not more than seven hundred (700) gallons per acre per day, if:

a.    Such use does not generate hazardous/dangerous waste, as defined by applicable federal, state or local law; and

b.    Extension of public sewer is impractical based upon the following criteria:

(1)    Public sewer would have to be extended more than three hundred (300) feet; or

(2)    Necessary permission cannot be obtained from intervening landowner(s); or

(3)    Intervening property contains natural or manmade obstructions, such as deep canyons, elevation changes, and solid rock impediments, which make public sewer extension prohibitively expensive or undesirable; and

c.    A covenant to the county surveyor or purveyor is recorded which commits the current future property owner(s) to connect to public sewer within twelve (12) months of sewer becoming available. The covenant shall also contain a provision that commits the current future property owner(s) to participate in a future local improvement district if this is the method used to extend sewer.

(Amended: Ord. 2008-06-02)

D.    Land Divisions within UGA – Public Sewer Connection Required – Exceptions.

    Inside UGAs, connection to public sewers is required as a condition of approval of new land divisions, whether by plat, short plat or site plan application, unless the following exception applies:

1.    A two (2) lot land division where one (1) of the lots is, or will be, developed in a use that generates no sewage effluent. Any plat approved under this exception shall record a covenant prohibiting the installation of plumbing fixtures for any use on the designated lot unless the lot connects to sewer.

2.    Short plats approved under Section 40.200.050(B).

(Amended: Ord. 2008-06-02)

E.    Public Sewer Connection Prohibited Outside UGAs – Exceptions.

    For proposed structures or other developments outside of a UGA, connection to public sewer is prohibited except as follows:

1.    In response to documented health hazards; or

2.    To provide public sewer to regional park facilities, K – 12 public schools or to uses within the urban reserve district otherwise required to be served by public sewer; or

3.    Where the county has contractually committed to permit public sewer connection.

    If sewer is extended, the maximum number of permitted hookups should be specified at the time of extension and no additional development exceeding this number should be permitted.

(Amended: Ord. 2008-06-02)

F.    Period of Validity.

    A Type I decision under this section shall be valid for a period of one (1) year if not associated with any other action. When such a decision is made in conjunction with another application (e.g., short plat, plat or site plan), the decision shall be valid for the same period as the decision on the related application.