Bakersfield Municipal Code Ch. 14.20 Private Sewer System Review

A. All persons proposing to construct, install, maintain, operate or use a private sewer system, which shall include any sewerage system of any kind or description, utilizing any method of disposal other than by delivery into the sewer system of the city, shall, prior to obtaining his, her or its final entitlement from the city, first submit the plans therefor, together with supporting data and information, to the health officer for review and approval and shall provide any additional data and information required by the health officer.

B. The words “final entitlement” for the purposes of this chapter shall mean any approval, permit, license or other action by the city which entitles the applicant to proceed with a division of land, construction of buildings or other structures, development, plan or any use of land or structures, requiring approval, permit, license or other action by the city which includes, or necessarily or conditionally involves, the construction, installation, maintenance, operation or use of a private sewer system as described and defined in this section.

C. The provisions set out in subsections A and B of this section shall not include, and shall not be construed to include private sewer systems which are existing and in use on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, unless such preexisting private sewer system is to be, or is proposed to be, utilized for a new or expanded use or additional hookups or users. (Prior code § 8.62.010)

A. Upon submission to him or her of plans with supporting data and information, together with any additional data and information required by him or her as a condition of submittal, the health officer shall review the same for all aspects thereof which may reasonably appear to bear any relationship to the public health or safety or to the health or safety of the proposed users of said system. Upon completion of said review, the health officer shall certify in writing to the development services director of the city his or her approval, conditional approval, or disapproval of the proposed system. In the case of disapproval, the health officer shall set forth reasons for the disapproval. The development services director shall be responsible for the dissemination of that information to any and all officers and departments of the city with responsibility for the granting of final entitlement for the project or proposal for which the private sewer system is proposed.

B. In the performance of his or her duties pursuant to this chapter, the health officer may, and is authorized to, delegate on-site inspection duties to such officers and employees of the city as he or she deems necessary subject to the approval and with the concurrence of the development services director. (Ord. 4939 § 3, 2018; Ord. 4778 § 1, 2014; Ord. 4714 § 1, 2012; prior code § 8.62.020)

A. The health officer is authorized and directed to charge and collect fees for the review of proposed private sewer systems as described in this chapter.

B. Said fees shall be the same as those charged for identical services within the unincorporated territory of the county.

C. Upon collection, said fees shall be deposited with the treasurer of said county as and for full compensation for the services required by this chapter.

D. If installation of a dry line to the vicinity of a septic tank is required pursuant to public works standards, and if a city sewer system is scheduled to be available to the property within a five year period, a fee for connection to the city sewer system shall be paid prior to issuance of a building permit. (Ord. 3571 § 1, 1993; prior code § 8.62.030)