Los Angeles County Municipal Code Ch. 3 General Regulations

301.2.2   Standards.

Standards listed or referred to in this Chapter or other chapters cover materials that will conform to the requirements of this Code, where used in accordance with the limitations imposed in this or other chapters thereof and their listing. Where a standard covers materials of various grades, weights, quality, or configurations, the portion of the listed standard that is applicable shall be used. Design and materials for special conditions or materials not provided for herein shall be permitted to be used only by special permission of the Authority Having Jurisdiction after the Authority Having Jurisdiction has been satisfied as to their adequacy. A list of plumbing standards that appear in specific sections of this Code is referenced in Table 1701.1. Standards referenced in Table 1701.1 shall be applied as indicated in the applicable referenced section. A list of additional approved standards, publications, practices, and guides that are not referenced in specific sections of this Code appear in Table 1701.2. Solar thermal energy systems and material standards are referenced in Tables U 18.1 and U 18.2 of Appendix U. IAPMO Installation Standards are referenced in Appendix I for the convenience of the users of this Code. It is not considered as a part of this Code unless formally adopted as such by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

(Ord. 2025-0049 § 8, 2025.)

301.3   Alternate Materials and Methods of Construction and Modifications.

301.3.1   Alternate Materials and Methods of Construction.

Nothing in this Code is intended to prevent the use of systems, methods, or devices of equivalent or superior quality, strength, fire resistance, effectiveness, durability, and safety over those prescribed by this Code. Technical documentation shall be submitted to the Authority Having Jurisdiction to demonstrate equivalency prior to installation. The Authority Having Jurisdiction shall have the authority to approve or disapprove the system, method, or device for the intended purpose on a case-by-case basis. [HCD 1] (See Section 1.8.7).

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301.3.1.1   Testing.

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301.3.1.1.1   Tests.

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301.3.1.1.2   Request by Authority Having Jurisdiction.

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301.3.2   Modifications.

Whenever there are practical difficulties involved in carrying out the provisions of this Code, the Authority Having Jurisdiction shall have the authority to grant modifications on a case-by-case basis, upon application of the owner or the owner's authorized agent, provided the Authority Having Jurisdiction shall first find that a special individual reason makes the strict letter of this Code impractical, that the modification is in conformity with the spirit and purpose of this Code, and that such modification does not lessen any health, fire-protection, or other life-safety-related requirements. The details of any action granting modifications shall be recorded and entered in the files of the Authority Having Jurisdiction. Application for approval of a modification shall be in accordance with Section 103.12.2.

(Ord. 2025-0049 § 9, 2025.)

304.1   General.

Plumbing fixtures, drains, appurtenances, and appliances, used to receive or discharge liquid wastes or sewage, shall be connected properly to the drainage system of the building or premises, in accordance with the requirements of this Code.

Exception: [HCD 1] Limited-density owner-built rural dwellings. Where conventional plumbing, in all or in part, is installed within the structure, it shall be installed in accordance with the provisions of this Code. Alternative materials and methods shall be permitted provided that the design complies with the intent of the Code, and that such alternatives shall perform to protect health and safety for the intended purpose.

Dual waste piping shall be installed to permit the discharge from clothes washers, bathtubs, showers, and bathroom/restroom wash basins to be used for a graywater irrigation system. Partial connection of plumbing fixtures to the graywater system, based on accepted engineering practices and required volume of water for irrigation, shall be accepted. Graywater systems shall be designed and installed in accordance with Chapter 15 and other parts of this Code.

Exceptions:

(1)

Buildings with a graywater system, rain catchment system, or recycled water system.

(2)

Sites with landscape areas not exceeding 500 square feet.

(3)

Projects where graywater systems are not permitted due to geological conditions.

(4)

Additions and alterations that use the existing building drain.

(Ord. 2025-0049 § 10, 2025.)