Chapter 14.24
SEWER CONNECTION, PERMITS*

Sections:

14.24.010    Definitions.

14.24.020    Dwelling Unit and Business Structure Sewer Connection Required.

14.24.030    Application for Sewer Connection.

14.24.040    Contents of Application.

14.24.050    Sewer Connection Fee.

14.24.060    Sewer Connection Requisite to Occupancy.

14.24.065    Sewer Use Charge.

14.24.070    Owner Indebted for Expense.

14.24.080    Sewer Connections in Orange County Sanitation District.

14.24.090    Permit Required for Connection Outside of City.

14.24.100    Permit Conditions for Connection Outside of City.

14.24.110    Consent Discretionary for Connection Outside of City.

*    Prior ordinance history: Ords. 1183, 1184, 1265, 1572, 1594, 1614, 1771, 1847, 1848, 82-20, 84-10, 85-8, 87-8, 89-12, 90-26 and 91-21.

14.24.010 Definitions.

Generally. For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and phrases are defined and certain provisions shall be construed as herein set forth, unless the provisions of the context otherwise require.

Business Structure. The term “business structure” shall mean any building or structure erected for the purpose of having transacted or carried on therein any trade, profession, occupation, business or calling, or which is capable of having carried on therein any trade, profession, occupation, business or calling.

Dwelling Unit. The term “dwelling unit” shall be defined as specified in Title 20 of this Code.

Public Sewer. The term “public sewer” shall mean any sewer in any part of the City used, controlled or operated by the City. (Ord. 2013-11 § 85, 2013; Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-33 § 1 (part), 1992)

14.24.020 Dwelling Unit and Business Structure Sewer Connection Required.

Every dwelling unit or business structure in the City shall be connected with the public sewer in the manner, at the place, under the supervision of and to the satisfaction of the Utilities Director, if the dwelling unit or business structure is within two hundred (200) feet of the public sewer.

Each dwelling unit or business structure shall be individually connected to the City sewer system unless otherwise approved by the Utilities Director. All sewer laterals shall be inspected by the Utilities Department either at the time of demolition or before final approval of the building permit or granting of occupancy for all projects involving demolition, construction, reconstruction and/or substantial remodeling of any dwelling unit or business structure. Each sewer lateral connection shall be replaced and/or constructed in accordance with the City’s standards for such construction and shall have a clean-out assembly installed at the property line whenever one or more of the following apply:

A.    If an area greater than fifty (50) percent of the existing building area is added;

B.    If the area of structural interior remodeling exceeds fifty (50) percent of the existing building area;

C.    If any alterations to the building sewer are done;

D.    If additional plumbing fixtures require a change in the size of a building sewer line;

E.    Wherever six or more fixture units (per the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC)) are added to an existing plumbing system; or

F.    Whenever it is found that the building sewer was/is installed in an illegal or unsanitary manner. (Ord. 2023-22 § 666, 2023; Ord. 2013-11 § 86, 2013: Ord. 2005-21 § 1, 2005: Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-33 § 1 (part), 1992)

14.24.030 Application for Sewer Connection.

At the time of application for a building permit by any person for the erection of any building in the City, if the building when erected shall be located within two hundred (200) feet of a public sewer line, an application to have the building connected with the public sewer shall also be filed with the Public Works Department and no building permit under such conditions shall be issued until the application for a sewer connection is completed and the sewer connection fee has been paid. (Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-33 § 1 (part), 1992)

14.24.040 Contents of Application.

The application shall set forth the name of the applicant and a description of the property upon which the sewer connection is to be made, and the approximate distance of the building when erected from the nearest point on a main sewer line of the public sewer. (Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-33 § 1 (part), 1992)

14.24.050 Sewer Connection Fee.

The applicant shall pay a connection fee, as set by resolution adopted by the City Council, for each connection to the public sewer. (Ord. 2023-22 § 667, 2023; Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-33 § 1 (part), 1992)

14.24.060 Sewer Connection Requisite to Occupancy.

No building hereafter erected in the City shall be occupied for any purpose until the same is connected with the public sewer, if such building is within two hundred (200) feet of a public sewer line, and until all fees and costs for making the connections have been paid. (Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-33 § 1 (part), 1992)

14.24.065 Sewer Use Charge.

A.    A monthly fixed sewer service charge adopted by resolution of the City Council shall be assessed against each individually metered dwelling unit or business structure connected to the public sewer system, for customers who also receive water service from the City of Newport Beach. This sewer service charge is based on the customer’s water meter size.

B.    A monthly fixed sewer service charge adopted by resolution of the City Council shall be assessed against each service connection to the public sewer system for customers who do not also receive water service from the City of Newport Beach.

C.    In addition to the fixed sewer service charge specified in subsection (A) of this section, a sewer use charge adopted by resolution of the City Council shall be assessed for each hundred (100) cubic feet of water delivered to sewer customers who also receive water service from the City of Newport Beach. (Ord. 2017-15 § 1, 2017: Ord. 2005-13§ 2, 2005: Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 95-23 § 1, 1995: Ord. 94-32 § 1, 1994: Ord. 92-33 § 1 (part), 1992)

14.24.070 Owner Indebted for Expense.

The expense of making any connection with the public sewer to a dwelling unit or business structure and the amount of any unpaid sewer charges shall be the obligation of the property owner. (Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-33 § 1 (part), 1992)

14.24.080 Sewer Connections in Orange County Sanitation District.

No building permit shall be issued by the Community Development Department for any construction requiring a sewer connection which is located within the boundaries of the Orange County Sanitation District until the applicant has presented written evidence of payment of any connection charges required by said district. (Ord. 2023-22 § 668, 2023; Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-33 § 1 (part), 1992)

14.24.090 Permit Required for Connection Outside of City.

No person shall connect property located outside of the City with the City sewer system, without a written permit from the City. (Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-33 § 1 (part), 1992)

14.24.100 Permit Conditions for Connection Outside of City.

The City Council in granting a permit authorizing the connection of property located outside of the City boundaries with the City sewer system shall impose a time limit on such permit and may attach any other terms and conditions as the Council may deem necessary. As a specific condition to granting such permit, the City Council may require the owner or owners of the property to be served to enter into a written agreement guaranteeing annexation to the City within a definite period of time. (Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-33 § 1 (part), 1992)

14.24.110 Consent Discretionary for Connection Outside of City.

No provisions of this chapter shall be construed to mean that the City shall be required at any time to give its consent, written or otherwise, to the use of the sewer system for property outside the corporate limits of the City. Any permit granted hereunder, except as may be otherwise provided by written agreement with the City, shall be revocable at any time upon a thirty (30) days’ written notice to the permittee outside of the City using the sewer system. (Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-33 § 1 (part), 1992)