Palo Alto Municipal Code Ch. 16.08 California Plumbing Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 5

Sections:

* Editor’s Note: Prior ordinance history: Prior code §§ 34.201, 34.202, 34.203, and portions of Ordinance Nos. 2436, 3215, 3668, 3881, 3912, 4091, 4303, 4560, 4770, 4978, 5102, 5219, 5392, 5480, and 5567.

The California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, Title 24, Part 5 of the California Code of Regulations together with those omissions, amendments, exceptions and additions thereto, is adopted and hereby incorporated in this chapter by reference and made a part hereof the same as if fully set forth herein.

Unless superseded and expressly repealed, references in City of Palo Alto forms, documents and regulations to the chapters and sections of the former editions of the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, shall be construed to apply to the corresponding provisions contained within the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, 2025. Ordinance No. 5567 of the City of Palo Alto and all other ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby suspended and expressly repealed.

Wherever the phrases "California Plumbing Code" or "Plumbing Code" are used in this code or any ordinance of the City, such phrases shall be deemed and construed to refer and apply to the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, Title 24, Part 4 of the California Code of Regulations, as adopted by this chapter.

One copy of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, has been filed for use and examination of the public in the Office of the Building Official of the City of Palo Alto.

(Ord. 5677 § 1 (part), 2025)

The provisions of this chapter contain cross-references to the provisions of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, in order to facilitate reference and comparison to those provisions.

(Ord. 5677 § 1 (part), 2025)

The provisions of this chapter shall constitute local amendments to the cross-referenced provisions of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, and shall be deemed to replace the cross-referenced sections of said Code with the respective provisions set forth in this chapter. Where used in this Chapter 16.08, ellipses shall indicate text of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, that has been adopted without amendment but is omitted for brevity.

(Ord. 5677 § 1 (part), 2025)

Administration and enforcement of this code shall be governed by Chapter 1, Division II of the 2025 California Building Code as amended by Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 16.04.

(Ord. 5677 § 1 (part), 2025)

Chapter 1, Division II Administration of the 2025 California Plumbing Code is adopted by the City of Palo Alto to supplement, to the extent it does not conflict with, Chapter 1, Division II of the 2025 California Building Code as amended.

(Ord. 5677 § 1 (part), 2025)

The following Appendix Chapters of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, are adopted and hereby incorporated in this chapter by reference and made a part hereof the same as if fully set forth herein:

A. Appendix A - Recommended rules for sizing the water supply system

B. Appendix D - Sizing storm water drainage systems

(Ord. 5677 § 1 (part), 2025)

Section 306.3 of Chapter 3 of the California Plumbing Code is added to read:

306.3 Palo Alto sewer use. ll non-domestic waste shall comply with the City of Palo Alto Sewer Use Ordinance (Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 16.09). Where discrepancies exist between the requirements of this code and said ordinance, the provisions of said ordinance shall apply.

(Ord. 5677 § 1 (part), 2025)

Subdivsion (4) of Section 701.2 of Chapter 7 of the California Plumbing Code is amended to read:

701.2 Drainage Piping

Materials for drainage piping shall be in accordance with one of the referenced standards in Table 701.2 except that:

[. . .]

(4) Copper, copper alloys, lead and lead alloys, including brass, shall not be used for building sanitary drainage lines, connectors or seals coming in contact with sewage except for domestic waste sink traps and short lengths of associated connecting pipes where alternate materials are impracticable.

Where permitted by the building official or their designee, copper tube for drainage piping shall have a weight of not less than that of copper drainage tube type DWV.

[. . .]

(Ord. 5677 § 1 (part), 2025)

Section 719.7 of Chapter 7 of the California Plumbing Code is added to read:

719.7 Cleanouts. A cleanout shall be provided at the point of connection between the building sewer and the city lateral and an approved fitting shall be used to bring the cleanout riser to grade. Where sewer cleanouts are to be connected to existing city laterals, such connections shall be accomplished by use of a City of Palo Alto Utility approved fitting.

(Ord. 5677 § 1 (part), 2025)

Section 808.2 of Chapter 8 of the California Plumbing Code is added to read:

808.2 Single pass cooling water systems prohibited. Clean running water used exclusively as a cooling medium in an appliance, device, or apparatus is prohibited. Refer to PAMC 16.14.350 for additional CALGreen measures.

(Ord. 5677 § 1 (part), 2025)

Section 1014.1 of Chapter 10 of the California Plumbing Code is amended to read as follows (additions to the 2025 California Plumbing code are underlined, deletions are struck through):

1014.1 General. Where it is determined by the Authority Having Jurisdiction that waste pretreatment is required, an approved type of grease interceptor(s) shall comply with ASME A112.14.3, ASME A112.14.4, CSA B481, ANSI/CAN/IAPMO Z1001, PDI G-101, or PDI G-102, and sized in accordance with Sections 1014.2.1 and 1014.2.1.1 or Section 1014.3.6, shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions to receive the drainage from fixtures or equipment that produce grease-laden waste. Grease-laden waste fixtures shall include, but not be limited to, sinks and drains, such as floor drains, floor sinks, and other fixtures or equipment in serving establishments, such as restaurants, cafes, lunch counters, cafeterias, bars and clubs, hotels, hospitals, sanitariums, factory or school kitchens, or other establishments where grease is introduced into the drainage or sewage system in quantities that can effect line stoppage or hinder sewage treatment or private sewage disposal systems. A combination of hydromechanical, gravity grease interceptors and engineered systems shall be allowed to meet this code and other applicable requirements of the Authority Having Jurisdiction where space or existing physical constraints of existing buildings necessitate such installations. A grease interceptor shall not be required for individual dwelling units or private living quarters. Water closets, urinals, and other plumbing fixtures conveying human waste shall not drain into or through the grease interceptor.

[…]

1014.1.2 Maintenance. Grease interceptors shall be maintained in efficient operating condition by periodic removal of the accumulated grease and latent material. No such collected grease shall be introduced into drainage piping or a public or private sewer. Where the Authority Having Jurisdiction determines that a grease interceptor is not being properly cleaned or maintained, the Authority Having Jurisdiction shall have the authority to mandate the installation of additional equipment or devices. The Authority Having Jurisdiction shall have the authority and to mandate a maintenance program for grease interceptors.

1014.1.3 Food waste disposers and dishwashers.

Unless specifically required or permitted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction, no No food waste disposer or dishwasher shall be connected to or discharge into a grease interceptor. Commercial food waste disposers shall be permitted to discharge directly into the building’s drainage system. Commercial Food Waste Disposal Units are prohibited.

Exception: Food waste disposers shall be permitted to discharge to grease interceptors that are designed to receive the discharge of food waste.

1014.1.4 Wastewater Discharge through Grease Interceptors. Wastewater Discharge through grease interceptors shall be by means of gravity only. Unless otherwise approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction, mechanical pumping of wastewater through a grease interceptor shall not be allowed. Pumps and/or other mechanical pumping equipment to convey wastewater shall only be installed to convey wastewater after the wastewater has passed through the grease interceptor.

1014.1.5 Two-Way Lateral Cleanouts. Two-way Lateral cleanouts shall be installed on the inlet and outlet sides of grease interceptors for ease of maintenance and flushing of the lateral line(s).

1014.1.6 Acceptable Materials. Grease interceptors made of the following materials shall not be installed in the City: materials susceptible to corrosion in low pH environments, concrete, metal, and acid-resistant enamel or epoxy (A.R.E.) coatings. Examples of acceptable materials of construction include thermoplastic (low or high-density polyethylene) or similar non-corrosive materials.

1014.1.7 Sharing of Grease Interceptors Prohibited. Unless specifically required or permitted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction, a grease interceptor may be used by only one food facility. Sharing grease interceptors between multiple food facilities is prohibited.

(Ord. 5677 § 1 (part), 2025)

Section 1014.2.1.1 of Chapter 10 of the California Plumbing Code is added to read:

1014.2.1.1 Grease Capacity. In addition to the sizing criteria based on flow rate specified in Section 1014.2.1, hydromechanical grease interceptors shall meet the sizing criteria based on grease capacity outlined in the “Palo Alto Regulations for Food Facilities Related to Water Pollution Prevention and Management of Fats, Oils, and Grease.” The correctly sized grease interceptor will have both the minimum flow rate determined according to Section 1014.2.1 and the minimum grease storage capacity determined.

(Ord. 5677 § 1 (part), 2025)

Section 1101.4 of Chapter 11 of the California Plumbing Code is amended to read:

Pipe, tube, and fittings conveying rainwater shall be of such materials and design as to perform their intended function to the satisfaction of the Authority Having Jurisdiction. Conductors within a vent or shaft shall be of cast-iron, galvanized steel, wrought iron, Schedule 40 ABS DWV, Schedule 40 PVC DWV, stainless steel 304 or 316L [stainless steel 304 pipe and fittings shall not be installed underground and shall be kept not less than 6 inches (152 mm) aboveground], or other approved materials, and changes in direction shall be in accordance with the requirements of Section 706.0. ABS and PVC DWV piping installations shall be installed in accordance with applicable standards referenced in Chapter 17 and the firestop protection requirements in the California Building Code. Except for individual single-family dwelling units, materials exposed within ducts or plenums shall have a flame-spread index of not more than 25 and a smoke-developed index of not more than 50, where tested in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723. Plastic piping installed in plenums shall be tested in accordance with all requirements of ASTM E84 or UL 723. Mounting methods, supports and sample sizes of materials for testing that are not specified in ASTM E84 or UL 723 shall be prohibited.

[HCD 1 & HCD 2] ABS or PVC installations are limited to not more than two stories of areas of residential accommodation.

[OSHPD 1, 2, 3 & 4] ABS and PVC installations are not allowed.

(Ord. 5677 § 1 (part), 2025)

Section 1101.4.1 of Chapter 11 of the California Plumbing Code is amended to read:

1101.4.1 Copper and copper alloys. Joints and connections in copper and copper alloy pipe and tube is prohibited.

(Ord. 5677 § 1 (part), 2025)

Section 1101.4.2 of Chapter 11 of the California Plumbing Code is amended to read:

1101.4.2 Conductors. Conductors installed aboveground in buildings shall comply with the applicable standards referenced in Table 701.2 for aboveground drain, waste, and vent pipe. Conductors installed aboveground level shall be of Schedule 40 copper pipe or Schedule 40 copper alloy pipe; service weight cast-iron soil pipe or hubless cast-iron soil pipe; standard weight galvanized steel pipe; stainless steel 304 or 316L [stainless steel 304 pipe and fittings shall not be installed underground and shall be kept not less than 6 inches (152 mm) aboveground], or Schedule 40 ABS or Schedule 40 PVC plastic pipe.

(Ord. 5677 § 1 (part), 2025)

Section 1101.4.3 of Chapter 11 of the California Plumbing Code is amended to read:

1101.4.3 Leaders. Leaders installed outside shall be in accordance with the applicable standards referenced in Table 701.2 for aboveground drain, waste, and vent pipe; aluminum sheet metal; or galvanized steel sheet metal.

(Ord. 5677 § 1 (part), 2025)

Section 1102.1 of Chapter 11 of the California Plumbing Code is amended to read: