Chapter 13.20 SEPTIC TANKS, CESSPOOLS AND PRIVIES

No single-family residence or duplex residence shall hereafter be constructed, built or moved on any lot, for such residential purpose, where the sewage disposal will be located on the same lot as the building unless and except where such lot contains the minimum lot area for each such type residence as indicated:

A. Single-Family Residence. The lot shall contain a minimum of twenty thousand square feet for each such residence when both sewage disposal and the source of domestic water supply are located on the lot. When only sewage disposal is located on the lot, the lot shall contain a minimum of ten thousand square feet for such residence;

B. Duplex Residence. The lot shall contain a minimum of twenty-five thousand square feet for each such residence when both the sewage disposal and the source of domestic water supply will be located on the same lot. When only the sewage disposal is located on the lot, the lot shall contain a minimum of fifteen thousand square feet for each such residence. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9076)

13.20.020 Connection requirements.

The sewer drainage system in every building where persons reside, congregate or are employed, which the owner of the building may lawfully connect to the public sanitary sewer collection system upon proper application and the payment of the required fees, shall, when there is an existing violation of any provision of this chapter, connect to the public sanitary sewer collection system in the most direct manner possible.

Where a public sanitary sewer collection system is not available, as determined by the city manager and/or city council in each case, the building sewer drainage system shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this section.

A. Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system, the property owner shall first obtain a permit from the city. The applicant for such permit shall supplement any plans, specifications, and other information as are deemed necessary by the city manager. The city manager shall forward a report with recommendations to the city council prior to any action being taken on the permit application.

B. A permit for a private sewage disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the city manager. The applicant for the permit shall notify the city when the work is ready for inspection and before any underground portions are covered.

C. The type, capacity, location, and layout of a private sewage disposal system shall comply with all recommendations of the city manager. No permit shall be issued for any private sewage disposal system employing subsurface soil absorption facilities. No septic tank or cesspool shall be permitted to discharge to any natural outlet.

D. Within sixty days of the day upon which a public sanitary sewer collection system becomes available to a property served by a private sewage disposal system, a direct connection shall be made to the public sanitary sewer collection system in compliance with this chapter, and any septic tank, cesspool, or similar private sewage disposal system facility shall be cleaned of sludge, abandoned, and filled with clean bank run gravel or dirt.

E. The owner shall operate and maintain the private sewage disposal system facilities in a sanitary manner at all times, at no expense to the city.

F. No statement contained in this chapter shall be construed to interfere with any additional requirements that may be imposed by the city manager and/or city health officer. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9077)

13.20.030 Sewage disposal system required.

No person shall maintain or use any residence, place of business or other building or place where persons reside, congregate or are employed which is not provided with a means for the disposal of sewage which complies with the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9078)

13.20.040 Permit required.

No person shall hereafter construct, alter or relocate a sewage disposal system without first having obtained a permit from the city. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9079)

13.20.050 Permit—New construction.

If a sewage disposal system is to be constructed in connection with a new building, the permit therefor shall be obtained prior to the commencement of construction of the new building. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9080)

13.20.060 Sewage disposal system business—Bond required.

No person shall carry on, contract to perform or engage in the business of constructing, altering, relocating, or repairing sewage disposal systems for places of business or human habitation, where the reasonable cost of the labor and materials exceeds two hundred fifty dollars without first posting a bond equal to twenty-five percent of the cost of constructing, altering, relocating or repairing the sewage disposal system. The bond may be in the form of cash, or a surety bond issued by a surety company acceptable to the city, that is willing and able to guarantee faithful performance on the part of the applicant by the issuance of a corporate surety bond. The cash or surety bond must name the city as obligee and must guarantee performance of the sewer system to the satisfaction of the city for one year after completion of the job as a whole, or such severable unit thereof as is expressly approved by the city. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9081)

13.20.070 Septic tank minimum capacity.

All septic tanks disposing of sewage from single-family residences shall have minimum capacity of eight hundred liquid gallons. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9082)

13.20.080 Uniform rules and regulations.

In order that privies, septic tanks and drains for the disposal of the tank effluent shall not be offensive, injurious or dangerous to health, the utilities director shall make and establish reasonable and uniform rules and regulations regarding the size, materials used, location and manner of construction of all privies, septic tanks and drains for the disposal of the tank effluent hereafter constructed. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9083)

13.20.090 Sewer wells—Declared nuisance.

All sewer wells are declared a public nuisance. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9084)

13.20.100 Sewer well—Prohibited.

No person shall drill, construct, maintain in or operate a sewer well. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9085)

13.20.110 Construction requirements.

No person shall construct, excavate or maintain any privy, vault, cesspool, septic tank, sewage treatment works, sewer pipes or conduits for the treatment and discharge of sewage or impure waters or substances offensive, injurious or dangerous to health whereby they shall overflow lands except where the person is complying with established requirements of the State Water Resources Control Board, Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the city. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9086)

13.20.120 Privy—Permit—Granting conditions.

No privies shall be permitted and no permit therefor shall be granted, except for temporary vault privies under the following conditions:

A. The utilities director, in every case, may determine whether or not it is practicable to provide running water and proper means of sewage disposal and, if it decides that it is not practicable to provide running water, shall issue a special temporary permit in writing authorizing the noninstallation of plumbing fixtures. The permit shall be made in duplicate, and a copy shall remain on file with the city;

B. When a permit authorizing the noninstallation of a water closet is issued, a temporary vault privy or toilet other than a water closet for the deposit of fecal matter, urine, or sewage may be installed;

C. The temporary vault privy shall be maintained in a sanitary condition in order to prevent a spill. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9087)

13.20.130 Privy—Removal.

Within sixty days of the day upon which running water becomes available and in which a public sanitary sewer collection system becomes available to a property served by a privy, a direct connection shall be made to the public sanitary sewer collection system in compliance with this chapter; any privy installed pursuant to this chapter shall be completely removed; the place where it was located shall be properly disinfected; and it shall be replaced by one or more individual water closets meeting the requirements of this part relating to water closets in buildings. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9088)

13.20.140 Privy—Application.

The provisions of this chapter apply to privies existing within the city. No person shall maintain a privy which fails to conform to the standards set forth herein. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9089)

13.20.150 Reserved.

(Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026)

13.20.160 Permit—Denial conditions.

No permit shall be issued for the construction, addition to, alteration or modification of any privy, cesspool, septic tank, sewage treatment works, excavation, sewer pipes or conduits or other means for the disposal, common treatment or discharge of sewage if the means or proposed means will permit any of the following conditions:

A. The escape of any unpleasant or noxious odors, vapors or gases;

B. The ingress and egress of flies, other insects, rodents or animals;

C. The discharge of sewage or the discharge or drainage of effluent from the sewage disposal system to empty, flow, seep, drain or condense into or otherwise pollute any stream, river, lake, tributary or subterranean or other waters;

D. A condition which will be offensive, dangerous or injurious to health. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9091)

13.20.170 City health officer authority.

The city manager or city health officer may order reasonable changes in the method, means, manner and place for the disposal treatment or discharge of sewage in order that the same shall not constitute a menace to health of human beings, animals, or a public nuisance. The orders of the city manager or city health officer shall designate the period within which such changes are to be made. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9092)

13.20.180 Permit—Application—Fee.

Any person desiring to secure a permit or approval shall file an application therefor with the city, on such forms as the city shall require. A fee shall be paid to the city on filing an application for a permit, to defray costs of administration and inspection. No fee shall be required for a permit to repair a sewage disposal system. The application shall contain a detailed plan and description of the existing or proposed means for the disposal of sewage and/or proposed addition or alteration. The application shall also contain such other information as the city manager or city health officer shall prescribe. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9093)

13.20.190 Investigation.

The city may investigate the proposed sewage disposal system and the conditions effecting it to determine whether the construction as proposed will be offensive, injurious or dangerous to health. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9094)

13.20.200 Permit—Action required.

The city must grant, conditionally grant, or deny an application for a permit within thirty days after the application is filed. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9095)

13.20.210 Permit—Denial—Appeal.

Any person whose application for a permit has been denied by the city may within thirty days after the date of such denial appeal therefrom in writing to the city. Such appeal shall be heard by the city council within sixty days after the date appeal is filed. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9096)

13.20.220 Completion notice required.

Upon the completion of a sewage disposal system by an applicant to whom a permit has been issued, they shall forthwith notify the city of such fact by transmitting to the city a notice of completion on a form supplied by the city. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9097)

13.20.230 Certificate of completion.

The city may make such investigation and inspection after completion as may be necessary to determine that the plans and specifications approved in the permit have been complied with. The city shall issue to the applicant a certificate of completion prior to the time that the work is covered, concealed or put in use. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9098)

13.20.240 Variances.

The city manager or city health officer may grant special permits allowing for variances from the provisions of this chapter when practicable difficulties and unnecessary hardships exist in the way of strict enforcement, and when the general purpose and intent of this chapter can be carried out by the variance. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9099)

13.20.250 Enforcement authority.

The utilities director shall enforce all of the provisions of this chapter relative to sewage disposal, treatment or discharge and other matters regulated by this chapter. (Ord. 1367 § 2, 2026; prior code § 9100)