Los Angeles County Municipal Code Ch. 7 Sanitary Drainage

721.3   Public Sewer.

If the public sewer does not extend to a point from which each building on a lot or parcel of land large enough to permit future subdivision can be independently served, the property owner shall construct a public sewer as required by Title 20 — Utilities — of the Los Angeles County Code, Division 2 (Sanitary Sewer and Industrial Waste), to provide adequate sewerage for each such possible parcel.

Exception: When the Authority Having Jurisdiction finds that the character of a lot is such that no further subdivision can be reasonably anticipated, or the use is such as to preclude subdivision, or where the owner has executed a covenant stating that the lot or parcel of land, together with all improvements thereon, will be maintained as a unit and that before any subdivision is made or any portion of said lot is transferred to another owner, separate sewerage facilities as hereinbefore required in this Section will be installed, the drainage system of all buildings may be connected to a common building sewer or private sewage disposal system. The covenant shall be recorded by the owner in the office of the Registrar-Recorder as part of the conditions of ownership of said property. Such agreement shall be binding on all heirs, successors, and assigns to said property.

This exception shall apply only while the whole of such lot remains in one undivided ownership. Upon the transfer of any portion of such lot other than the whole thereof to another owner, whether such transfer is made before or after the operative date of the ordinance adding this provision, the exception shall cease and a person shall not use or maintain any building or structure except in compliance with the provisions of this Code. As used in this Section, a sale, foreclosure, or contract to sell by the terms of which the purchaser is given the right of possession shall be deemed a transfer.

(Ord. 2025-0049 § 13, 2025.)

728.1   Size.

That portion of the building sewer extending from the public sewer to the property line shall be not less than 4 inches (100 mm) in internal diameter.

728.2   Depth.

When laid within the limits of any public thoroughfare when the public sewer is sufficiently deep, no building sewer shall be less than 6 feet (1.8 m) below grade. Whenever practicable, the alignment and grade of each building sewer shall be straight from the public sewer to the property line.

728.3   Taps and Saddles.

Whenever it becomes necessary to connect a building sewer to a public sewer at a point where no branch fitting has been installed in the public sewer, such connection shall be made as required by Title 20 — Utilities — of the Los Angeles County Code, Division 2 (Sanitary Sewer and Industrial Waste).

728.4   Connection to Trunks.

Whenever required, an approved-type unvented running trap shall be installed in each building sewer, which is connected directly to a trunk sewer by any means whatsoever. Each such running trap shall be installed in the building sewer between the house drain or drains and the connection to the trunk sewer. A T-type cleanout shall be installed in the building sewer immediately below the running trap. This cleanout need not be extended to grade. Every running trap and cleanout shall be located on the lot served by the building sewer.

728.5   Street Widening.

Where a future street or road-widening area has been established by the master plan of highways or in any other manner, all work installed in such area shall conform to the requirements established in this or other related ordinances for work on public property.

728.6   Main Line Required.

Building sewer construction shall conform to the requirements of main line sewers as set forth in Title 20 — Utilities — of the Los Angeles County Code, Division 2 (Sanitary Sewer and Industrial Waste), when either of the following conditions exists:

Where the Authority Having Jurisdiction requires such construction because of the character or quantity of the sewage or industrial waste to be discharged.

Where the sewer is designed to be, or proposed to be, dedicated to the County of Los Angeles at the present or any future time.

(Ord. 2025-0049 § 14, 2025.)

APPENDIX H - PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM

Tables

TABLE H 101.8 LOCATION OF SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM

For SI units: 1 foot = 304.8 mm

Notes:

1 Including porches and steps, whether covered or uncovered, breezeways, roofed porte cocheres, roofed patios, carports, covered walks, covered driveways, and similar structures or appurtenances.

2 See Section 312.3.

3 Drainage piping shall clear domestic water supply wells by not less than 50 feet (15 240 mm). This distance shall be permitted to be reduced to not less than 25 feet (7620 mm) where the drainage piping is constructed of materials approved for use within a building.

4 Plus 2 feet (610 mm) for each additional 1 foot (305 mm) of depth in excess of 1 foot (305 mm) below the bottom of the drain line. (See Section H 601.0)

5 See Section 720.0.

6 For parallel construction—For crossings, approval by the Health Department shall be required.

7 These minimum clear horizontal distances shall also apply between disposal fields, seepage pits, and the mean high-tide line.

8 Where disposal fields, seepage pits, or both are installed in sloping ground, the minimum horizontal distance between any part of the leaching system and ground surface shall be 15 feet (4572 mm).

9 Where special hazards are involved, the distance required shall be increased as may be directed by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

10 The septic tank and seepage pit shall not be within the protected zone of an oak tree as defined by Section 22.14.150 of