Los Angeles County Municipal Code Part 2 Fees and Deposits

Any person desiring to connect any lot to a public sewer shall, as a prerequisite to obtaining the permits required by the Plumbing Code set out at Title 25, pay all fees or charges which may be required by Sections 20.32.130, 20.32.150, 20.32.170 and 20.32.200 of this chapter.

(Ord. 10020 § 3 (part), 1970; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5203, 1952.)

Before granting any permit for the construction of main-line sewer, house lateral sewer, water pollution control plant, sewage pumping plant, and whenever a permit for any industrial waste treatment or disposal facility is required by the County Engineer, the County Engineer shall collect the following fees from the applicant to cover the cost of permit application review, processing, field inspection of the proposed construction, procuring or preparing record plans, automobile mileage, and all overhead and indirect costs:

A.

For each $1,000.00, or fractional part thereof, of the total valuation of the proposed work in excess of $10,000.00 and not exceeding $50,000.00, an additional $163.00;

B.

For each $1,000.00, or fractional part thereof, of the total valuation of the proposed work in excess of $50,000.00 and not exceeding, $100,000.00, an additional $125.00;

C.

For each $1,000.00, or fractional part thereof, of the total valuation of the proposed work in excess of $100,000.00, an additional $97.00;

D.

For additional work approved by the County Engineer but not included in the original permit, the applicant shall pay a base fee of $25.00 and an additional fee of $25.00 for each $100.00, or fractional part thereof, of the total valuation of such additional work.

E.

The fees set forth in this section shall be reviewed annually by the County Engineer. Beginning on July 1, 2011, and thereafter on each succeeding July 1st, the amount of each fee shall be adjusted as follows: Calculate the percentage movement between March of the previous year and March of the current year in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all urban consumers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim areas, as published by the United States Government Bureau of Labor Statistics; adjust each fee by said percentage amount; and round up to the nearest dollar. No adjustment shall increase or decrease any fee to an amount more or less than the amount necessary to recover the reasonable cost of providing the services for which the fee is imposed. When it is determined that the amount reasonably necessary to recover the cost of providing the services for which the fees are imposed is in excess of this adjustment, the County Engineer may present fee proposals to the Board of Supervisors for approval.

(Ord. 2011-0008 § 2, 2011; Ord. 11716 § 15, 1978; Ord. 10020 § 4 (part), 1970; Ord. 8690 §§ 7 and 3 (part), 1964; Ord. 7314 § 1, 1958; Ord. 6982 § 6, 1956; Ord. 6541 § 2 (part), 1954; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5202, 1952.)

* Editor's note: Fee changes in this section were made by the director of public works due to increases in the Consumer Price Index and are effective July 1, 2025.

The County Engineer may, in writing, suspend or revoke a sewer construction permit whenever the County Engineer determines that the permit was issued in error, on the basis of incorrect information, or the permit is in violation of any ordinance or any other provision of this code.

(Ord. 2011-0008 § 3, 2011.)

In addition to being subject to any and all penalties prescribed by law, including under this code, any person failing to obtain a sewer construction permit as required by Section 20.32.010 of this code shall pay an investigation fee in the amount determined by the County Engineer to be necessary to recover all costs incurred in investigating the failure to obtain a sewer construction permit. The County Engineer shall have the discretion to waive the investigation fee in instances when the County Engineer determines that the work performed without a permit was performed as a result of an emergency or urgent circumstances which precluded timely application for a sewer construction permit provided that an application for a sewer construction permit is filed as soon as possible following the commencement of the unpermitted work and all of the requirements for a sewer construction permit are met. This section shall not be construed to authorize any work that requires a sewer construction permit to be performed without a sewer construction permit.

(Ord. 2011-0008 § 4, 2011.)

A.

No permit shall be issued for the direct connection of any lot to a public sewer which has been constructed at no cost to such lot, or to a trunk sewer in which capacity has been assigned by the owner thereof to the county of Los Angeles until, in addition to any other fees required by this Division 2 and by the Plumbing Code set out at Title 28, there has been paid a connection charge in an amount equal to $12.00 per front foot of the lot sought to be connected if said lot is rectangular and has an average depth of 100 feet or more. If the shape of lot is other than the usual rectangular shape, or unusual in area, and the strict adherence to the above mentioned provision would require payment of an amount not commensurate with the benefits to be received, the provisions of this section as to the amount to be charged may be modified as determined by the county engineer. In no case shall the charge be less than $300.00, unless reduced by the charges of another public entity as provided in Section 20.32.160.

B.

Property owned by a public entity and being used by such entity in the performance of a governmental function is exempt from the requirements of this section.

(Ord. 81-0043 § 1, 1981; Ord. 11716 § 17, 1978; Ord. 10020 § 3 (part), 1970; Ord. 7314 § 3, 1958; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5204, 1952.)

When a public sewer has been constructed under federal aid, any lot to be connected to such sewer shall be exempt from the connection charge specified by Section 20.32.130.

(Ord. 10020 § 3 (part), 1970; Ord. 7314 § 4 (part), 1958; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5204.1, 1952.)

A.

If any property is in a sewer reimbursement district which has been formed by the board in accordance with Section 20.28.050, no permit shall be issued for the connection of such property to a public sewer until, in addition to any other fees required by this ordinance and by the Plumbing Code set out at Title 28, all area charges and frontage charges required by this section have been paid.

B.

An area charge computed by the area rates established for the reimbursement district shall be collected, whether or not additional public sewer is being constructed to serve the property. If the property is in more than one reimbursement district, an area charge shall be collected for each district.

C.

Additionally, if the reimbursement agreement provides for frontage reimbursement, any lot located in the frontage reimbursement area and seeking direct house connection to any public sewer shall pay a reimbursement district connection charge in the amount specified below.

D.

The reimbursement district connection charge shall be computed at the rate of $7.00 per front foot of the lot sought to be connected, with the frontage to be determined as provided in Section 20.32.130, but in no case shall be charged less than $200.00.

E.

If a reimbursement district connection charge is collected as provided in this section, then the connection charge required by Section 20.32.130 shall not be collected.

(Ord. 11716 § 18, 1978; Ord. 10020 § 3 (part), 1970; Ord. 8690 § 8 (part), 1964; Ord. 7314 § 4 (part), 1958; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5204.2, 1952.)

In the event that any public entity requires a connection charge or fee for use of a trunk sewer prior to the issuance of a permit by the county engineer, the charge in the amount required in Section 20.32.130 shall be reduced by the amount of the charge or connection fee made by the public entity, or shall be waived if such other charge or fee is greater than the amount herein required.

(Ord. 7314 § 4 (part), 1958; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5204.3, 1952.)

No permit shall be issued for the direct connection of any lot to a trunk sewer until the applicant has first obtained a permit for such connection from the owner of such trunk sewer.

(Ord. 11716 § 19, 1978; Ord. 10020 § 3 (part), 1970; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5205, 1952.)

A.

No permit shall be issued for the direct connection of any lot to a public sewer which was not designed for and intended to directly serve such lot unless the county engineer first determines that there is additional capacity available in such sewer beyond that required to serve the property for which it was designed.

B.

Further, if such lot may in the future be included in a special assessment improvement district which would provide sewers for such lot and adjoining area, such connection permit shall not be issued until the connection charge specified by Section 20.32.130 and any other applicable charges have been paid, and the property owner has executed and recorded in the office of the county recorder a waiver which states that he will not protest inclusion in, and will pay the assessment for, such improvement district. Such waiver and agreement shall be part of the conditions of ownership of the property and shall be binding on all heirs, successors and assigns to the property.

(Ord. 10020 § 3 (part), 1970; Ord. 9119 § 1 (part), 1966; Ord. 7314 § 5 (part), 1958; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5206, 1952.)

Whenever a sewer connection permit is requested for only a portion of a lot and the county engineer finds that only such portion will be benefited by a sewer connection, and that both the area of such portion and the remaining area of such lot conform to the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance as set forth in Title 22 of this code, a house sewer connection permit may be issued for such portion and all charges required by this ordinance shall be based on the dimensions of such portion.

(Ord. 10020 § 3 (part), 1970; Ord. 7314 § 5 (part), 1958; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5207, 1952.)

The county engineer shall collect from the applicant a fee of $154.00 to tap the public sewer, which shall include the installation of a saddle furnished by the applicant but no excavation, backfill or resurfacing.

(Ord. 84-0109 § 1, 1984; Ord. 11716 § 14, 1978; Ord. 10020 § 3 (part), 1970; Ord. 6982 § 5 (part), 1956; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5201, 1952.)

A.

A permit shall be obtained from the county engineer wherever construction, reconstruction or adjustment is to be performed adjacent to an existing sewer manhole, to ascertain that the sewer lines and manholes have been thoroughly cleaned and the manholes have been satisfactorily constructed, reconstructed or adjusted to county standards.

B.

This inspection is also required for construction of industrial waste measuring manholes, reconstruction or adjustment of any portion of a manhole due to service connections or grading or paving operation, or any other work which in the opinion of the county engineer may cause damage to a manhole.

C.

The fee shall be $56.00 for the first manhole and $28.00 each for each additional manhole. These fees shall cover the costs of field inspection, automobile mileage, and all overhead and indirect costs.

(Ord. 11716 § 16, 1978; Ord. 7314 § 2, 1958; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5202.1, 1952.)

In the event that any lot which has paid any charges required under Section 20.32.110 receives additional benefit from any public or trunk sewer, nothing contained in Part 2 of this chapter shall relieve the property owner from future payment of charges as herein provided nor from a special assessment levied under a statute of the state of California for such additional benefit.

(Ord. 10020 § 3 (part), 1970; Ord. 7314 § 7 (part), 1958; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5210, 1952.)

Any person required by Chapter 20.32 of this division to have plans checked and processed shall pay to the director of public works the following fee or fees for the service:

If the total valuation of the proposed work, as determined by the director of public works, is $5,000.00 or less, the plan checking fee will be $2,029.00;

For each $100.00 or fractional part thereof of the total valuation of the proposed work in excess of $5,000.00, and not exceeding $20,000.00, an additional 18.31%;

For each $100.00 or fractional part thereof of the total valuation of the proposed work in excess of $20,000.00, an additional 15.05%;

If any portion of the plans, or specifications, including changes in materials after having been checked, or after being approved and signed by the county engineer are required to be redrawn, rechecked or revised, the applicant shall pay a rechecking fee in the amount of the estimated cost of doing the work as determined by the county engineer;

If the plans have been submitted three times for checking and are not ready for approval, the applicant shall pay for each additional submittal a fee in the amount of the estimated cost of doing the work as determined by the county engineer;

If any portion of plans which have been abandoned or which have expired pursuant to Section 20.32.420 are resubmitted, the applicant shall pay a fee as if work was new.

Beginning on July 1, 2003, and thereafter on each succeeding July 1, the amount of each fee in this section shall be adjusted by the lesser of 1) the increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all urban consumers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim areas, as published by the United States Government Bureau of Labor Statistics, from March of the previous calendar year to March of the current calendar year, or 2) the increase, if any, in the cost of providing the service for which the fee is collected, as confirmed by the Auditor-Controller; the adjusted fee shall be rounded to the nearest dollar; provided, however, notwithstanding any of the above, no fee shall exceed the cost of providing the service for which the fee is collected.

(Ord. 2005-0033 § 7, 2005; Ord. 2003-0017 § 4, 2003; Ord. 90-0067 § 2, 1990; Ord. 81-0043 § 2, 1981; Ord. 11716 § 20, 1978; Ord. 10020 § 3 (part), 1970; Ord. 8690 § 8 (part), 1964; Ord. 6541 § 3 (part), 1954; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5217, 1952.)

* Editor's note: Fee changes in this section were made by the director of public works due to increases in the Consumer Price Index and are effective July 1, 2025.

A.

For each private contract requiring the processing of sewer easements, the county engineer shall collect from the applicant a fee of $1,163.00 for the first parcel description and title report, and $547.00 for each additional parcel through which a sewer easement is required. In the event it is necessary to revise the description and/or title report due to realignment or revision of the easement, the county engineer shall collect an additional fee of $703.00 for each parcel.

B.

For each private contract requiring the vacation of a sewer easement, the county engineer shall collect from the applicant a minimum fee of $3,342.00. In the event it is necessary to revise the boundary of the proposed vacation due to any revisions submitted by the applicant, the county engineer shall collect an additional fee of $244.00 for each revision.

C.

Beginning on July 1, 2005, and thereafter on each succeeding July 1, the amount of each fee in this section shall be adjusted by the lesser of: (1) the increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all urban consumers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim areas, as published by the United States Government Bureau of Labor Statistics, from March of the previous calendar year to March of the current calendar year, or (2) the increase, if any, in the cost of providing the service for which

the fee is collected, as confirmed by the auditor-controller. The adjusted fee shall be rounded to the nearest dollar; provided, however, notwithstanding any of the above, no fee shall exceed the cost of providing the services for which the fee is collected.

(Ord. 2004-0029 § 1, 2004; Ord. 90-0067 § 3, 1990; Ord. 81-0043 § 3, 1981; Ord. 11903 § 1, 1979; Ord. 11716 § 21, 1978; Ord. 8690 § 8 (part), 1964; Ord. 7314 § 9 (part), 1958; Ord. 6541 § 3 (part), 1954; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5218, 1952.)

* Editor's note: Fee changes in this section were made by the director of public works due to increases in the Consumer Price Index and are effective July 1, 2025.

A.

Before proceeding with the preparation of an area, reimbursement, or other special study, the county engineer shall collect from the person making the request for the work a fee in the amount of the estimated cost of doing the work, as determined by the county engineer, but not less than $350.00.

B.

If the cost of doing the work exceeds the fee originally collected, a supplemental fee shall be collected to cover the additional cost as determined by the county engineer.

C.

If the county engineer determines that a flow measurement of this existing system is required, there will be an additional minimum fee of not less than $600.00 per manhole.

D.

Studies prepared by others and submitted for checking by the county engineer shall be subject to the fee requirements stated above, except that the minimum fee shall be $200.00.

(Ord. 90-0067 § 4, 1990; Ord. 81-0043 § 5, 1981; Ord. 10020 § 3 (part), 1970; Ord. 8960 § 8 (part), 1964; Ord. 6541 § 3 (part), 1954; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5220, 1952.)

For each private contract requiring reimbursement under Section 20.28.050, the applicant shall pay, in addition to the plan checking fee, a fee of $2,000.00 for the preparation of reimbursement documents and maps. If the cost of doing the work exceeds $2,000.00, a supplemental fee shall be collected to cover the additional cost, as determined by the county engineer.

(Ord. 90-0067 § 5, 1990; Ord. 81-0043 § 4, 1981; Ord. 11716 § 22, 1978; Ord. 10020 § 3 (part), 1970; Ord. 8690 § 8 (part), 1964; Ord. 6541 § 3 (part), 1954; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5219, 1952.)

A.

Any person who desires to place a newly constructed public sewer system in operation, and the property so benefited is not within a maintenance district, shall pay a charge as determined by the county engineer to cover the cost of processing, including the necessary state of California processing fee, the annexation or formation.

B.

There will be no charges under this section for processing the dissolution of a maintenance district or the exclusion of any portion of a maintenance district.

C.

If the sum collected is for processing an annexation to an existing maintenance district, it shall be deemed to have been appropriated for the year in which the sum was collected, and shall be transferred to the county treasurer and credited to the funds of such district.

D.

If the sum collected is for the formation of a new maintenance district, it shall be deemed to have been appropriated for the year in which the sum was collected, and shall be placed in trust and expended therefrom for the purposes intended. The remainder of such sum, if any, shall be credited to the new district when formed.

(Ord. 11716 § 25, 1978; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5223, 1952.)

A.

Any person who desires to place a newly constructed public sewer system in operation prior to the availability of sewer maintenance revenue from the property to be served by such sewer system, shall pay a sewer maintenance charge in an amount determined by the county engineer to cover such cost of maintaining such system from the time the sewer is placed in operation until the property so benefited is included in a maintenance district and revenue becomes available.

B.

Such charge shall be computed by multiplying $4.17 by the number of manholes to be constructed by the number of months before the property benefited can be included in a maintenance district and revenue becomes available.

C.

If a sewage pumping plant or a water pollution control plant is included in the computations, an additional sum shall be paid as determined by the county engineer to cover the maintenance and operation costs until the property benefited can be included in a maintenance district and revenue becomes available.

D.

If the newly constructed sewers are in an area served by an existing sewage pumping plant or water pollution control plant, an additional sum shall be paid as determined by the county engineer to cover the additional maintenance and operation costs until the property benefited can be included in the maintenance district and revenue becomes available.

E.

If the property benefited is to be annexed to an existing maintenance district, the sum collected shall be deemed to have been appropriated for the year in which the sum was collected and shall be transferred to the county treasurer and credited to the funds of such district.

F.

If a new maintenance district is to be formed, the sum collected shall be deemed to have been appropriated for the year in which the sum was collected and shall be placed in trust and expended therefrom for the purposes intended. The remainder of such sum, if any, shall be credited to the new district when formed.

(Ord. 84-0109 § 2, 1984; Ord. 11716 § 24, 1978; Ord. 9119 § 1 (part), 1966; Ord. 8690 § 9, 1964; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5222, 1952.)

Operators of cesspool pump trucks desiring to discharge the contents of their tanks into facilities provided at county maintenance yards, in conformance with Section 20.32.650, may do so upon payment of a disposal fee of $3.00 for each truck load.

(Ord. 11716 § 23, 1978; Ord. 7314 § 10, 1958; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5221, 1952.)

A.

Except as otherwise provided in this Division 2, all money received under Sections 20.32.130, 20.32.200 and 20.32.290 shall be deposited with the county treasurer and credited to the special sewer maintenance fund.

B.

All money received under Section 20.32.270 shall be deposited in trust for transfer to the appropriate reimbursement "deferred accounts receivable" fund, or to the subdivider, school district or person, in accordance with the terms of the agreement entered into between the contractor and the board as set forth in Section 20.28.050.

(Ord. 9119 § 1 (part), 1966; Ord. 8690 § 8 (part), 1964; Ord. 7314 § 7 (part), 1958; Ord. 7026 § 1, 1956; Ord. 6982 § 7.5, 1956; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5212, 1952.)

Money deposited in the special sewer maintenance fund, as provided in Section 20.32.300, may be expended by the county engineer, contingent upon receipt and availability of such funds, to accomplish the purpose set forth in Section 5471 of the Health and Safety Code, for which no other provisions have been made or for such other sewer purposes that the board of supervisors may authorize not in conflict with existing laws.

(Ord. 7314 § 7 (part), 1958; Ord. 6982 § 9, 1956; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5213, 1952.)

The county engineer shall keep a permanent record of all applications and a permanent and accurate account of all payments received under Sections 20.32.130 and 20.32.150 of this chapter.

(Ord. 7314 § 7 (part), 1958; Ord. 6130 Part 5 Ch. 2 § 5211, 1952.)