Modesto Municipal Code Art. 4 Outhouses, Construction and Maintenance

It is hereby declared to be unlawful for any person to maintain or to permit to be maintained on premises owned or controlled by such person, any outhouse or privy, except under the following conditions:

An outhouse or privy may be built, maintained and used on premises whereon builders, housemovers, contractors or workmen are engaged in the erection, construction, alteration, repair, razing, adding to, removing or demolition of a building or structure. Said outhouse or privy shall contain the following minimum requirements:

(a) It shall have a floor area not less than twelve (12) square feet.

(b) The floor of said outhouse shall be built of lumber not less than one (1) inch thick, nor less than eight (8) inches in width.

(c) The height of said privy or outhouse shall be not less than six (6) feet from the floor to the roof.

(d) Each privy or outhouse shall be roofed and shall be flytight.

(e) The roof may be composed of lumber or screen.

(f) Each such privy or outhouse must have at least one (1) riser and be equipped with tight fitting lid.

(g) There must be at least one (1) urinal in each such privy or outhouse not less than eight (8) inches in any dimension.

(h) Said privy or outhouse must be built in such a way as to exclude all flies.

(i) Each such privy or outhouse shall contain not less than three (3) square feet of fly screen net.

(j) Pits dug under said outhouses shall be not less than thirty (30) inches in depth, at least eighteen (18) inches in width and at least two (2) feet, nine (9) inches in length.

(k) The door to said privy or outhouse shall have a spring to make said door self-closing.

(l) The lid of said toilet seat shall be closed when said toilet is not in use.

(Ord. 657-N.S., § 1)

The term "outhouse" or "privy" as used herein shall be construed to mean any building or other structure not connected with a sewage or with properly installed and operating sewage disposal systems and which is used for the reception or storage temporarily of feces and other excreta of the human body.

(Ord. 657-N.S., § 2)

Every such privy shall be maintained in a sanitary condition and shall be disinfected daily or oftener with chloride of lime or other approved substance or chemical to prevent odor, flies or any nuisance therefrom.

(Ord. 657-N.S., § 3)

Whenever in the judgment of the Health Officer of the City, or his assistant, the use and maintenance of any privy, privy well or vault located upon any premises in the City is detrimental or dangerous to life or health, said Health Officer is ordered and authorized to prohibit the maintenance or use of such privy, privy well or vault, and is further authorized and empowered to order said privy, privy well or vault to be filled with fresh earth to the end that all danger of contamination from said privy, privy well or vault may be eliminated.

(Ord. No. 657-N.S., § 4)

No such privy or outhouse shall be maintained under the provisions of this article for a period of longer than ninety (90) days, unless for good cause a permit is obtained from the City Health Officer for the maintenance of said privy or outhouse for a period longer than ninety (90) days.

(Ord. No. 657-N.S., § 5)