Chapter 3 — CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE

Section

• 63.0301 Adoption of California Plumbing Code.
• 63.0302 Express Findings.
• 63.0303 Changes in the Code.
• 63.0304 Adoption of Code Appendices.
• 63.0305 Changes in the Appendices.

A copy of the Uniform Plumbing Code, 2024 Edition, prepared and published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, with state amendments, also known as the 2025 California Plumbing Code, contained in Part 5 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, having been filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of San Bernardino County, is hereby designated and adopted by reference as the Plumbing Code for the unincorporated area of San Bernardino County, State of California, subject to those amendments and limitations as set forth in this Chapter 3. (Ord. 4501, passed - -2025)

It is expressly found and determined that more restrictive amendments to the 2025 California Plumbing Code adopted in § 63.0301 and its appendices adopted in § 63.0304 are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, and topographical conditions existing in the County which are more specifically described as follows: (a) The buildup of nitrate in groundwater poses a threat to public health and is one of the potentially significant long-term consequences of on-site sewage disposal practices; on-site private sewage disposal systems contribute to the discharge of nitrates and other pollutants into the groundwater table within the planning areas for the spheres of influence of the Cities of Chino and Montclair; the failure of private sewage disposal systems is a threat to the health of the public; and the orderly development of these areas is promoted by requiring development to connect to public sewers in order to obtain the maximum benefit from existing infrastructure. (b) The mountain areas of the County are generally unsuitable for the installation of private sewage disposal system seepage pits due to thin soils over bedrock, steep slopes and/or locally high groundwater. (c) Geologic conditions within the County make increasing the minimum separation between a well and a septic tank from 50 feet to 100 feet reasonably necessary for the protection of water quality in water supply wells. Soils are generally sufficiently porous so that should a septic tank have structural failure due to corrosion, earthquake damage, or by other means, 50 feet does not provide sufficient separation to prevent contamination of nearby wells from the leaking contents. (d) Geologic conditions within the County make increasing the minimum separation between a well and a soil absorption portion of a sewage disposal system discharging 5,000 gallons per day or more from 100 feet to 200 feet reasonably necessary for the protection of water quality in water supply wells. Local soils are generally porous so that where large volumes of sewage effluent are discharged closer than 200 feet, the cone of depression created by pumping a well may intercept significant amounts of sewage effluent, thereby contaminating the water produced by the well. (e) Geologic conditions within the County in the vicinities of the Colorado and Mojave Rivers make increasing the minimum separation from the soil absorption portion of a sewage disposal system from 100 feet to 200 feet reasonably necessary to protect the beneficial uses of these rivers as drinking water supplies. Both rivers flow through highly porous material and both rivers either directly or by nearby wells provide the primary sources of drinking water to residents and communities along their courses. (Ord. 4501, passed - -2025)

The following changes are hereby made to the 2025 California Plumbing Code, as adopted herein. Section 713.3 is amended by adding the following sentence at the end of that section to read as follows: Within the sphere of influence boundaries for the Cities of Chino and Montclair, as adopted by the Local Agency Formation Commission for San Bernardino County, the installation of building sewers shall connect to a public sewer. (Ord. 4501, passed - -2025)

Appendices A, B, D, G, H, and I of the 2025 California Plumbing Code are hereby adopted by reference as part of the Plumbing Code for the unincorporated area of San Bernardino County, State of California, subject to those amendments and limitations as set forth in this Chapter 3. (Ord. 4501, passed - -2025)

(a) Table H - 101.8 of Appendix H is amended in its entirety to read as follows: TABLE H-101.8 LOCATION OF SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM MINIMUM SETBACK REQUIREMENTS CHART SEPTIC TANK/SEWAGE HOLDING TANK DISPOSAL FIELD SEEPAGE PIT MINIMUM SETBACK REQUIREMENTS CHART SEPTIC TANK/SEWAGE HOLDING TANK DISPOSAL FIELD SEEPAGE PIT Private Water Supply Well1,8 100' 100'2 150'2 Public Water Supply Well1 100' 150'2 200'12 Buildings or Structures3 5' 8' 8' Property Line 5' 5' 8' Streams and Other Flowing Bodies of Water9,11 100' 100' 150' Drainage Course 50' 50' 50' Perennial Stream13 100' 100' 150' Ephemeral Stream14 50' 100' 100' Lakes, Ponds, and Other Surface Water Bodies10,11 200' 200' 200' River 50' 200' 200' Large Trees4 10' 10' 10' Joshua Trees 40' 40' 40' Seepage Pits 5' 5' 12' Disposal Field 5' 4'6 5' Onsite Domestic Water Lines 5' 5' 5' Pressure Public Domestic Water Lines 25' 25' 25' Distribution Box n/a 5' 5' Ground Surface on Sloping Ground n/a 15' 15' Groundwater5 5' 5'7 10'

1. Drainage piping will clear Domestic Water supply wells by no less than 50 feet. This distance will be permitted to be reduced to no less than 25 feet where the drainage piping is constructed of materials approved for use within a building.
2. For any system discharging 5,000 Gallons Per Day, or more, the required setback will be increased to 200 feet.
3. Includes porches and steps whether covered or uncovered, breezeways, roofed porte cocheres, roofed patios, carports, covered walls, covered driveway, and similar structures or appurtenances.
4. Any tree within 5 feet of the system that will not be removed during construction, or at the professional discretion of the contractor.
5. The highest known level is based on current or historical data to which groundwater is known to have occurred.
6. Plus 2 feet for each additional foot or depth more than 1 foot below the bottom of the drain line.
7. For any system utilizing advanced treatment, this minimum separation may be reduced to 2 feet with approval under the Advanced Protection Management Program (refer to Chapter 7 of the Local Agency Management Program for more information regarding the Advanced Protection Management Program) and the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
8. Unless regulatory requirements necessitate that monitoring wells be located closer.
9. Where the edge of the water body is the natural or levied bank for creeks and rivers or may be less where site conditions prevent mitigation of wastewater to the water body.
10. Where the edge of the water body is the high-water mark for the lakes and reservoirs and the mean high tide line for tidally influenced water bodies.
11. Where the effluent dispersal system is within 1,200 feet from a public water systems' surface water intake point, within the catchment of the drainage, and located such that it may impact water quality at the intake point (such as upstream of the intake point for flowing water bodies), the dispersal system will be no less than 400 feet from the high-water mark of the reservoir, lake or flowing water body. Where the effluent dispersal system is located more than 1,200 feet but less than 2,500 feet from a public water systems' surface water intake point, the dispersal system will be no less than 200 feet from the high-water mark of the reservoir, lake or flowing water body.
12. Dispersal Systems which exceed 20 feet in depth and are located within 600 feet of a public water supply well will be required to have the qualified professional evaluate the two-year travel time for microbial contaminants to determine required setback. In no case will the setback be less than 200 feet.
13. As measured from the high-water mark which would result from a 100-year flood
14. As measured from the apparent edge of the channel

(Ord. 4501, passed - -2025)