Chapter 15.12
PLUMBING CODE

Sections:

15.12.010    Uniform Plumbing Code—Adopted.

15.12.020    Uniform Plumbing Code—Enforcement.

15.12.030    Uniform Plumbing Code—Modification.

15.12.040    Uniform Plumbing Code—Appeals.

15.12.050    Uniform Plumbing Code—Disclaimer.

15.12.060    Uniform Plumbing Code—Violations—Penalties.

15.12.070    Amendments to the Uniform Plumbing Code.

15.12.080    Plumbing permits required.

15.12.090    Plumbing permit fees.

15.12.010 Uniform Plumbing Code—Adopted.

A.    The 2009 Edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code, including Appendix Chapters A-F and H-L; and appendices thereto, published by the Uniform Code Council, together with the amendments set out in this chapter, are designated and shall be known as the Valdez Plumbing Code, and shall constitute the laws of the city relating to electrical regulations. Although not published in full in this section, all of the provisions of these codes shall be and are adopted by reference to the same extent as if set forth in full herein, except to the extent that they shall be in conflict with this code or any relevant ordinance later adopted in which case the provisions of this code and later ordinances shall prevail.

B.    The city clerk is directed to keep on file at least three copies each of the Uniform Plumbing Code, and all appendices thereto published by the Uniform Code Council.

C.    It is unlawful for any person to take any action or permit any action to be taken contrary to or in violation of any provisions of the Uniform Plumbing Code.

D.    All permits shall be issued with the name of the person who owns the improvement and the name, if another, of the person performing the work. All permits shall be accompanied by plans, diagrams, computations and specifications as required by the building inspector or the building official. All permits shall show the location and nature of the work. All work shall be inspected before it is concealed and without the necessity of removing any covers or obstructions. (Ord. 12-05 § 1 (part): Ord. 02-28 § 1 (part))

15.12.020 Uniform Plumbing Code—Enforcement.

The Uniform Plumbing Code shall be enforced by the building department. (Ord. 12-05 § 1 (part): Ord. 02-28 § 1 (part))

15.12.030 Uniform Plumbing Code—Modification.

The city council shall have power to modify the provisions of the Uniform Plumbing Code adopted by this chapter. (Ord. 12-05 § 1 (part): Ord. 02-28 § 1 (part))

15.12.040 Uniform Plumbing Code—Appeals.

Whenever the building department shall disapprove an application or refuse to grant a permit applied for, or when it is claimed that the provisions of the code do not apply or that the true intent and meaning of the code has been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the applicant may appeal the decision of the chief building official.

A.    Appeal to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

1.    Filing Limit. An appeal of the decision of the building official in enforcement of this title may be taken to the planning and zoning commission by the permittee or agent thereof. The written appeal must be filed within fifteen days of the decision of the building official. The appeal must be filed with the office of the city clerk.

2.    Report. A report concerning each case appealed to the planning and zoning commission shall be prepared by the building official and filed with the city clerk. Such report shall state the decision and recommendations of the building official together with reasons for the decision and recommendations. All data pertaining to the case shall accompany the report.

3.    Stay of Proceedings. The filing of an appeal shall stay all proceedings in the matter until a determination is made by the planning and zoning commission, unless the court issues an enforcement order based on a certificate of imminent peril to life or property.

B.    Appeal to the Board of Adjustment.

1.    Filing Limit. An appeal from any action or decision of the planning and zoning commission may be taken by the permittee or agent thereof. The appeal shall be in the form of a written statement, and state how the appellant will be affected or aggrieved by the action. The appeal must be filed within ten days of the date of the action or decision by the planning and zoning commission. The notice of appeal must be filed with the city clerk.

2.    Report. A report concerning each case appealed to the board of adjustment shall be prepared by the planning and zoning commission and filed with the city clerk. Such report shall state the decision and recommendations of the commission together with reasons for the decision and recommendations. All data pertaining to the case shall accompany the report.

3.    Stay of Proceedings. The filing of an appeal shall stay all proceedings in the matter until a determination is made by the board of adjustment, unless the court issues an enforcement order based on a certificate of imminent peril to life or property.

C.    Appeal to Superior Court. An appeal from any action, decision, ruling, judgment or order of the board of adjustment may be taken by the permittee or agent thereof, or any officer, commission or board of the city, to the superior court by filing with the court, with a copy to the city clerk, within thirty days from the date of the action appealed from, a notice of appeal which shall specify the grounds of such appeal. Failure to file the notice of appeal in the manner and time specified shall forfeit any right to appeal. The filing of an appeal shall stay all proceedings in the matter until a determination is made by the court, unless the court issues an enforcement order based on a certificate of imminent peril to life or property. (Ord. 12-05 § 1 (part): Ord. 02-28 § 1 (part))

15.12.050 Uniform Plumbing Code—Disclaimer.

If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter is, for any reason, held to be unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter. The city council hereby declares that it would have passed the ordinance codified in this chapter, and each section, subsection, clause or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses and phrases be declared unconstitutional. (Ord. 12-05 § 1 (part): Ord. 02-28 § 1 (part))

15.12.060 Uniform Plumbing Code—Violations—Penalties.

A.    Violation Penalties. Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter, repair or do work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the code official, or of a permit or certificate used under provisions of this code, shall be punishable by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars. Each ten days that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.

B.    Failure to Comply. Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be liable to a fine of not more than three hundred dollars, in addition to other remedies available by law. (Ord. 12-05 § 1 (part): Ord. 02-28 § 1 (part))

15.12.070 Amendments to the Uniform Plumbing Code.

The following amendments are made to the Uniform Plumbing Code, 2009 Edition (references are to section numbers in the Uniform Plumbing Code and appendices thereof):

A.    Section 608.4 is amended by adding a third sentence which reads as follows:

Each relief valve drain shall be piped independently of other relief valve drains.

B.    Section 604.1 is amended by adding a third paragraph to read as follows:

Plastic piping material shall not be used for water service piping from the street service main to a building except upon approval by the building official and the public works director.

C.    Section 609.10, Water Hammer, is amended by adding a second paragraph to read as follows:

An air chamber may be created with a minimum of 12 inches of water pipe at each fixture to reduce water hammer or line noise to such an extent that no pressure hazard to piping system will exist.

D.    Section 610.8, Size of Meter and Building Supply Pipe Using Table 6-6, is amended by deleting (3/4) inch (20 mm) in the last table note and adding (1) inch (25 mm).

E.    Section 703.1 is amended by adding a second paragraph to read as follows:

The minimum size of drain, waste or vent piping under or in concrete shall be 2 inches.

F.    Section 719.1, Cleanouts, is amended by deleting the first paragraph and adding a new paragraph to read as follows:

Cleanouts shall be placed outside the building near the connection between the building drain and the building sewer at the lower end of the building drain and extended to grade. Cleanouts shall be of the same material as the building drain.

G.    Section 1002.2, Traps Protected by Vent Pipes, is amended by adding a second paragraph to read as follows:

Trap arm for residential floor drains may extend beyond the limits of Table 10-1 to where they pass under the nearest wall before installing the required vent. A single garage floor drain installed in a residential garage, which has a 3-inch minimum trap, and trap arm and 2-inch floor drain and tailpiece need not be vented.

(Ord. 19-03 § 1; Ord. 12-05 § 1 (part): Ord. 02-28 § 1 (part))

15.12.080 Plumbing permits required.

A.    A permit and inspection shall be required for all plumbing work performed, except where the work is confined to the incidental replacement or repair of plumbing devices and equipment; but such exception shall not include any extensions or changing the characteristics of the plumbing system or equipment, either in whole or in part.

B.    A permit shall not be issued to any person in violation of any city, state or federal law.

C.    All permits shall be issued in the name of the person who owns the improvement, and the name, if another, of the person performing the work. All permits for new construction and remodeling that substantially change the characteristics of the plumbing system or equipment shall be accompanied by plans, diagrams, computations and specifications prepared by the electrical contractor, engineer or other designer approved by the building official. Permit applications for installation or alteration of fire alarm signaling systems shall be accompanied by a copy of the State Fire Marshal plan review certificate. All permits shall show the location and the nature of the work. All work shall be inspected before it is concealed and without the necessity of removing any covers or obstructions.

D.    Any plumbing system or portion thereof deemed unsafe by the building official because of wear, damage, neglect, defects or hazardous location shall, upon written notice from the building official, be repaired, replaced or altered in accordance with this chapter upon receipt of such notice. (Ord. 12-05 § 1 (part): Ord. 02-28 § 1 (part))

15.12.090 Plumbing permit fees.

A.    Fees shall be established by resolution of the city council.

B.    Where work for which a permit is required by this chapter is started or proceeded with prior to obtaining such permit, the fees specified by resolution shall be doubled.

C.    When extra inspections are made necessary because of life safety issues, or otherwise through fault or error on the part of the holder of the permit, or on the part of his employees, contractors, or agents thereof after notice has been given in writing by the building inspector setting forth the violation, additional fees may be assessed, and will be established by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 12-05 § 1 (part): Ord. 02-28 § 1 (part))