Gilroy Municipal Code Art. II Sanitary Disposal of Sewage Within City

Editor’s note: Section 19.3 was repealed by Ord. No. 857, § 1, enacted July 7, 1969.

This article shall apply to all territory embraced within the incorporated limits of the city.

(Ord. No. 633, § 1)

It shall be unlawful to use or maintain a pit or vault privy excepting that no requirement herein shall prohibit the lawful use of portable chemical toilets on a temporary basis.

(Ord. No. 633, § 2)

It shall be unlawful to 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 means for the disposal of sewage by a flush toilet connected with a sewerage system approved by the health officer.

(Ord. No. 633, § 2)

Every building where persons reside, congregate, or are employed which abuts a street or alley in which there is an approved public sanitary sewer, or which is within two hundred (200) feet of an approved public sanitary sewer, shall be connected to the sewer, by the owner or agent of the premises, in the most direct manner possible, and with separate connection for each home or building.

(Ord. No. 633, § 3)

It shall be unlawful for any person to construct or maintain any privy, cesspool, septic tank, sewage treatment works, sewer pipes or conduits, or other pipes or conduits for the treatment or discharge of sewage or impure waters or any matter or substance offensive, injurious or dangerous to health, whereby they shall do any of the following:

(a) Overflow any lands whatever;

(b) Empty, flow, seep, drain into or affect any springs, streams, rivers, lakes or other waters within the city; provided, however, if with respect to existing septic tanks, sewage treatment works, sewer pipes or conduits or other pipes or conduits for the treatment or discharge of sewage or impure waters, it would be exceptionally difficult, if not impossible to comply with the provisions of this section, the health officer shall have the power by special permit to allow such variations from the provisions contained in this section as will prevent unnecessary hardship or injustice and at the same time most nearly accomplish the general purpose and intent hereof.

(Ord. No. 633, § 4)

Plans for sewerage construction shall meet all design requirements of the Standard Details, Public Works Department Manual and shall also meet the design requirements as established from time to time by the director of public works.

Inspection of all sewerage construction shall be made by the city in the manner described in Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction (commonly referred to as the “Green Book”). Maximum allowable infiltration/exfiltration shall be as determined in section 306-1.4, testing pipelines, of the “Green Book.”

Editor’s note: Former § 19.9 was repealed by Ord. No. 857, § 1, enacted July 7, 1969.

(Ord. No. 88-3, § 2, 1-19-1988)

It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, build, or rebuild any residence, place of residence, or other building or place where persons congregate, reside or are employed which is not to be connected to an approved public sanitary sewer without first submitting plans of the means of sewage disposal to the health officer, and obtaining a permit therefor as herein provided. Such plans shall include the plot plan of the premises with sufficient elevations, the size and type of septic tank, and a plan of the absorption field, giving all dimensions and other pertinent information. Every applicant for a permit shall pay to the health officer for each permit issued a fee as established by the county for that purpose.

No building permit as required in the city zoning ordinance, and any amendments thereto, shall be issued for any building which is not to be connected to an approved public sanitary sewer, without the written approval of the health officer of the plan of the means of sewage disposal for such building.

No certification of occupancy shall be issued for any building which is not connected to an approved public sanitary sewer without the written approval by the health officer of the means of sewage disposal for such building.

(Ord. No. 633, §§ 6—8; Ord. No. 81-28, § 3, 9-8-1981)

Editor’s note: Section 19.11 was repealed by Ord. No. 857, § 1, enacted July 7, 1969.

This article shall not be construed as imposing upon the city any liability or responsibility for damage resulting from the defective construction of any sanitary disposal system as herein provided, nor shall the city or any official or employee thereof be held as assuming any such liability or responsibility by reason of the inspection authorized thereunder.

(Ord. No. 633, § 13)