Contra Costa County Municipal Code Ch. 420-2 General Regulations

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(1) "Person" has the meaning in Section 16-4.002, but also includes public or governmental entities and agencies and their officers, employees and agents.

(2) "Sewage" means liquid or solid waste substance, together with any groundwater, surface water, or stormwaters that may be present, which is associated with human or animal habitation or activity, or which contains or may be contaminated with human or animal excrement or offal, and includes wastewater, wastewater effluent, sewage sludge, and/or supernatant liquid.

(Ords. 84-42 § 5, 68-16 § 1: prior code § 4600: Ord. 829).

No person shall collect, discharge or deposit, or cause or suffer to be collected, discharged or deposited, any sewage, sewage effluent or garbage from more than one building in or upon unincorporated territory of this county or into streams or bodies of water where the same is or may be carried through or upon unincorporated territory of this county, or make use of county roads or highways therefor, without first securing in the manner hereinafter provided a permit from the board of supervisors so to do, and at all times having an unrevoked permit therefor. No person shall collect, discharge or deposit any such sewage which creates a public nuisance in the unincorporated portions of this county.

(Prior code § 4601: Ord. 1424).

(a) Application. Every person seeking a permit to do any of the acts described in Section 420-2.004 shall file with the board a written application therefor.

(b) Content. The application shall contain a complete and detailed plan, description and history of the existing or proposed lines, works, system, procedures, or purification plant through which such waste matter is proposed to be collected and discharged.

(c) Investigation. The board may direct the county health officer and/or the public works director to investigate the existing or proposed system or plant, and report to the board.

(d) Findings, Permit. If the board determines as a fact that the waste matter being or to be so collected, discharged or deposited does not or will not constitute a public nuisance, and does not or will not emit disagreeable odors or fumes offensive to the public in the vicinity of such place of collection or deposit or passing over and along public highways adjacent thereto, it may grant a permit authorizing the petitioner to collect, deposit or discharge or to continue to collect, deposit or discharge such substance.

(e) Revocation, Suspension. All permits are revocable by the board at any time, and also may be suspended by the board if it finds as a fact that the substance collected, discharged or deposited by virtue thereof constitutes a public nuisance or emits disagreeable odors or smells offensive to the public in the vicinity thereof or passing over and along public highways adjacent thereto or any permit term, limitation or condition has been violated.

(Ord. 82-42 § 6: prior code § 4602: Ord. 1424).

Every person engaged in, or applying for a permit to engage in, any activity regulated by this division shall allow the health officer and/or public works director and/or any of their therefor-designated subordinates to enter and inspect the place, facilities and activities, for compliance with this division, during reasonable hours upon demand identifying the official and the official's purpose hereunder.

(Ord. No. 2024-23, § III(Exh. A), 12-3-24; Ord. 74-67 § 2: prior code § 4603: Ords. 1424 § 5, 829 § 3, 827 § 3).

This chapter does not apply to a septic tank-chemical toilet cleaner as defined in Section 413-3.415, having a valid, unrevoked, unsuspended public health license issued therefor pursuant to the provisions of Article 413-3.8.

(Ord. 82-42 § 7).