Dana Point Municipal Code Ch. 6.12 Construction and Demolition Debris

The purpose of this Chapter is to promote the recycling of construction and demolition debris in order to protect the public health, safety and welfare and to meet the City's obligations under both AB 939 and SB 1374, and to meet the requirements of the three year extension approved by the California Integrated Waste Management Board under the provisions of Public Resources Code Section 41820 (Senate Bill 1066).

(Added by Ord. 03-17, 12/10/03)

For the purpose of this Chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

"Applicant"

means any individual, firm, limited liability company, association, partnership, political subdivision, government agency, municipality, industry, public or private corporation, or any other entity whatsoever who applies to the City for the applicable permits to undertake any construction, demolition, or renovation project within the City.

"C&D Compliance Official"

means the person designated by the City Manager who is authorized and responsible for implementing this Chapter.

"Construction"

means the building, rehabilitation, remodeling, renovation or repair of any facility or structure or any portion thereof, including any tenant improvements to an existing facility or structure.

"Construction and demolition debris" or "C&D debris"

means all waste building materials resulting from construction or demolition operations as defined in Title XIV, Division VII, Article IV, Section 17381, subdivision e, of the California Code of Regulations.

"Covered project"

shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.12.030 of this Chapter.

"Demolition"

means the decimating, razing, ruining, tearing down or wrecking of any facility, structure, pavement or building, whether in whole or in part, whether interior or exterior.

"Divert," "diverted," or "diversion"

means to use material for any purpose other than disposal in a landfill or transformation facility.

"Security deposit"

means the deposit required as security for performance for covered projects to ensure that the applicant complies with the requirements of this Chapter.

(Added by Ord. 03-17, 12/10/03)

(a) Covered projects: Except as otherwise set forth herein, all construction and demolition projects within the City requiring a building permit, demolition permit, or encroachment permit, are deemed to be covered projects for purposes of this Chapter. Concurrent permits at the same site shall be considered "one" covered project.

(b) Non-covered projects: the following shall not constitute covered projects for purposes of this Chapter:

(1) Construction or demolition on residentially zoned premises when the scope thereof is less than 150 square feet;

(2) The construction on pools, spas, or retaining walls on residentially zoned premises;

(3) Construction or demolition on commercially zoned premises when the scope thereof is less than 250 square feet;

(4) The construction of retaining walls on commercially zoned premises; and

(5) The re-roofing of any residential or commercial structure that does not include the tear-off of an existing roof.

(Added by Ord. 03-17, 12/10/03)

Every applicant shall divert from the landfills or disposal sites a minimum of 75%, measured by tonnage, of all construction or demolition debris generated as a result of any covered project.

(Added by Ord. 03-17, 12/10/03)

(a) Prior to issuance of a building, demolition or encroachment permit for any covered project, the applicant shall complete and submit a Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan ("WRRP") to the C&D Compliance Official.

(b) The C&D Compliance Official is authorized to create guidelines setting forth the information to be included in a WRRP, as well as the form thereof. At a minimum, the WRRP shall delineate all of the following:

(1) The estimated weight of C&D debris to be generated by the covered project, listed by material types;

(2) The estimated weight of C&D debris generated by the covered project to be diverted, listed by material types;

(3) The facility or facilities to which C&D debris will be taken, listed by material types; and

(4) The estimated weight of C&D debris generated by the covered project that will be landfilled, listed by material types.

(Added by Ord. 03-17, 12/10/03)

Except as otherwise specified in this Chapter, each applicant who applies for a building, demolition or encroachment permit for a covered project, shall remit a security deposit in the amount set forth by Resolution of the City Council. The security deposit shall be remitted at the same time the permit application is filed, and shall be in the form of cash or cash equivalent such as a cashier's check or credit card payment to the City.

(Added by Ord. 03-17, 12/10/03)

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, no building or demolition permit shall be issued by the City for any covered project prior to approval of the WRRP by the C&D Compliance Official. Approval shall not be required if an emergency demolition is required to protect public health or safety.

(b) The C&D Compliance Official shall approve a WRRP only if:

(1) The WRRP provides all the information set forth in Section 6.12.050 and complies with all guidelines as may be established by the C&D Compliance Official; and

(2) The applicant has paid the security deposit required by Section 3.12.060.

(Added by Ord. 03-17, 12/10/03)

(a) Neither a Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan nor a security deposit shall be required for, and the provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to any otherwise covered project which meets one or more of the following criteria:

(1) Work for which only a plumbing permit, only an electrical or only a mechanical permit is required;

(2) Seismic tie-down projects;

(3) Installation of pre-fabricated patio enclosures and covers where no foundation or other structural building modifications are required;

(4) Installation of pre-fabricated accessories such as signs or antennas where no structural building modifications are required;

(5) Other work that the C&D Compliance Official determines will not produce a significant quantity of construction or demolition waste;

(6) Projects less than 150 square feet in size;

(7) Projects which have a valuation of less than $10,000; or

(8) Roofing projects that do not include the tear-off of the existing roof.

(b) In order for an applicant to receive an exemption from an otherwise covered project on the basis it falls within one of the exempt categories noted in Subsection (a) of this Section 6.12.080, the applicant shall submit an application for exemption, stating the grounds for the requested exemption, to the C&D Compliance Official who shall grant the exemption request if he or she determines that the otherwise covered project meets one or more of the criteria set forth in Subsection (a) of this Section 6.12.080.

(Added by Ord. 03-17, 12/10/03)

(a) Within 60 days following the completion of a covered project, the applicant shall, as a condition precedent to release of the applicant's security deposit, submit a Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling and Disposal Report Summary to the C&D Compliance Official, summarizing the applicant's compliance with the requirements of its Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan.

(b) The C&D Compliance Official is authorized to create guidelines setting forth the information to be included in a Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling and Disposal Report Summary, as well as the form thereof. At a minimum, the Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling and Disposal Report Summary shall contain the following:

(1) The actual weight of C&D debris generated by the covered project that was diverted, by material type, the diversion method utilized, and the actual weight of C&D debris that was not diverted, supported by evidence deemed reasonably satisfactory by the C&D Compliance Official to demonstrate the accuracy of the information supplied (such as originals or photocopies of receipts and weight tags or other records of measurement from recycling companies, contractors and/or landfill and disposal companies);

(2) The identity of any processing facility utilized to divert C&D debris generated at the covered project;

(3) Any barriers encountered that prohibited diversion of C&D debris; and

(4) Any recommended actions that would further the efforts to divert and or recycle C&D debris; or

(c) As an alternative to providing a Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling and Disposal Report Summary, the applicant may file a certification under penalty of perjury that all C&D debris generated by the covered project was processed at a City Certified C&D Processing Facility, accompanied by copies of receipts, weight tickets, or other evidence deemed reasonably satisfactory by the C&D Compliance Official to demonstrate that the material in question was processed by a City Certified C&D Processing Facility.

(Added by Ord. 03-17, 12/10/03)

(a) The C&D Compliance Official shall authorize the refund of any security deposit which he or she determines was erroneously paid or collected.

(b) The C&D Compliance Official shall authorize the refund of any security deposit when the building permit, demolition permit, or encroachment permit application is withdrawn or cancelled before any work has begun.

(c) The C&D Compliance Official shall authorize the refund of any security deposit if the applicant submits documentation in compliance with Section 6.12.090, Subsection (c), demonstrating that all C&D debris generated by the covered project was processed at a City Certified C&D Processing Facility.

(d) The C&D Compliance Official shall authorize the refund of any security deposit if the applicant submits a Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling and Disposal Report Summary in compliance with Section 6.12.090, and demonstrates that the 75% minimum diversion requirement set forth in Section 6.12.040 has been met.

(e) The C&D Compliance Official shall authorize the refund of any security deposit if the applicant submits a Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling and Disposal Report Summary in compliance with Section 6.12.090, and demonstrates that the applicant is a resident of the City, that the covered project is the applicant's primary residence, and that the applicant personally hauled all C&D debris generated at the covered project to a lawful disposal or processing facility (and specifically did not pay any commercial enterprise to remove any of the C&D debris generated at the covered project from that location.

(f) If a covered project involves both demolition and construction, and if the applicant does not meet the 75% minimum diversion requirement for the demolition phase, the C&D Compliance Official may, as an alternative to the other remedies set forth in this Chapter, and as a prerequisite to the return of any security deposit, require a diversion rate for the construction phase of the covered project which is high enough to ensure that the combined diversion rate for entirety of the covered project (i.e., both demolition and construction) meets the 75% minimum diversion requirement.

(Added by Ord. 03-17, 12/10/03)

If the C&D Compliance Official determines that the applicant has failed to submit the documentation required by Sections 6.12.090 and 6.12.100 within the required time periods, then the security deposit shall be forfeited to the City.

(Added by Ord. 03-17, 12/10/03)

(a) A City Certified C&D Processing Facility means a recycling, processing, composting, materials recovery, or re-use facility for which the C&D Compliance Official has issued a certification pursuant to regulations promulgated by the C&D Compliance Official.

(b) The regulations promulgated by the C&D Compliance Official to certify a facility as a City Certified C&D Processing Facility shall at a minimum require that the owner or operator of the facility demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the C&D Compliance Official:

(1) That the facility will be able to obtain a diversion rate of not less than 75% for all C&D debris delivered to it from covered projects in the City; and

(2) That the facility will provide satisfactory documentation to the C&D Compliance Official, at such intervals as he or she may require, demonstrating a diversion rate of not less than 75% has been achieved for all C&D debris delivered to it from covered projects in the City.

(c) The C&D Compliance Official may revoke any certification it grants pursuant to the regulations he or she promulgates.

(d) The City shall make available to each applicant a list of City Certified C&D Processing Facilities.

(Added by Ord. 03-17, 12/10/03)

As a part of any application for, and prior to the issuance of, any building or demolition permit that involves the creation of construction and demolition debris, every applicant for covered projects, unless exempt, shall pay to the City a cash fee sufficient to compensate the City for all expenses incurred in reviewing the Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan and reviewing performance of the plan. The amount of this fee shall be set forth in a Resolution of the City Council.

(Added by Ord. 03-17, 12/10/03)

The applicant or any interested person may appeal to the City Manager any decision of the C&D Compliance Official. Notice of any appeal from the decision of the C&D Compliance Official must be filed with the City Manager's office within 10 calendar days of the date of the decision being appealed. The notice of appeal shall set forth in concise language that particular decision or decisions complained of and the reason why the person feels aggrieved thereby. Failure to file a notice of appeal within the time prescribed herein shall constitute a waiver of any objection to the decision(s) of the C&D Compliance Official and such decision(s) shall be final; otherwise the decision of the City Manager shall be final. The fee for any appeal authorized herein shall be as set forth by City Council Resolution.

(Added by Ord. 03-17, 12/10/03)

(a) Violation of any provision of this Chapter may be enforced by civil action including an action for injunctive relief.

(b) Violations of any provision of this Chapter shall constitute an infraction punishable by a fine as outlined in Section 1.10 of the City of Dana Point Municipal Code. Where the violation is the failure to achieve the 75% minimum diversion requirement and the C&D debris from the covered project has already been landfilled, the violation shall be deemed to have ceased after a period of 10 days.

(Added by Ord. 03-17, 12/10/03)