San Luis Obispo County Municipal Code Ch. 19.07 Plumbing Code

The California Plumbing Code adopted in Section 19.01.040 is modified, amended and/or supplemented as follows:

(a) Delete Division II—Administration see 19.02.020. Administration of the Plumbing Code shall be as set forth in Chapter 1 of the California Building Code.

(b) Adopt Appendix A, Recommended Rules For Sizing The Water Supply System.

(c) Adopt Appendix H Table H 201.1(4). Estimated Waste/Sewage Flow Rates.

(d) Amend Section 603.0 to read as follows:

603.0 Cross-Connection Control. Cross-connection control shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and Chapter 8.30 of the San Luis Obispo County Code (Cross-Connections Control and Inspections).

No person shall install any water-operated equipment or mechanism, or use any water-treating chemical or substance, if it is found that such equipment, mechanism, chemical or substance may cause pollution or contamination of the domestic water supply. Such equipment or mechanism may be permitted only with an approved backflow prevention device or assembly.

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19; Ord. No. 3482, § 1, 11-8-22)

The design and installation of sewage disposal systems within the unincorporated areas of San Luis Obispo County are subject to the provisions of the following sections:

19.07.022 Private Sewage Disposal Systems.

19.07.023 Alternative and Supplemental Treatment Systems

19.07.024 Community Sewage Disposal Systems

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19)

The use of a private, on-site sewage disposal system, herein known as onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS), is allowed only within the rural areas of the county and within urban and village areas where no community sewage collection, treatment and disposal system exists. New or replacement OWTS shall be designed and constructed as provided by this section, in addition to satisfying all applicable requirements of the County of San Luis Obispo Local Agency Management Program (LAMP) and California Plumbing Code (CPC). In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this section, the LAMP, and the California Plumbing Code, the most restrictive shall govern.

(1) Legislative Findings. These regulations are enacted in part to implement the requirements of the "Water Quality Control Plan, Central Coastal Basin," adopted by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. To the extent that these regulations change applicable provisions of the California Health and Safety Code and California Code of Regulations as they would otherwise apply to local construction, the board of supervisors finds that the changes herein are necessary because of local geological and topographic conditions which change applicable provisions of the California Health and Safety Code and California Code of Regulations as they would otherwise apply to local construction, the board of supervisors finds that the changes herein are necessary because of local geological and topographic conditions which involve limitations on the capability of soils in the unincorporated areas of San Luis Obispo County to effectively handle sewage effluent disposal from private sewage disposal systems.

(2) General Requirements. Permitted new or replacement OWTS through per an approved LAMP shall be considered Tier 2. Tier 2 OWTS standards are customized to address conditions specific to the County of San Luis Obispo. Nothing shall prohibit new or replacement OWTS from meeting the standards mentioned in the LAMP and CPC. Replacement OWTS not involved with a natural disaster related rebuild shall be held to the same standards as new OWTS. OWTS which require corrective action shall be considered Tier 4 and shall be evaluated by the County of San Luis Obispo Planning and Building to ensure it meets the minimum design requirements of the LAMP or is in substantial conformance to the greatest extent practicable.

(3) Specific Requirements. See: San Luis Obispo Local Agency Management Program

(4) Relief from Standards. Any applicant for a permit to install, repair or replace a private sewage disposal system who is aggrieved by the administration of the requirements of this section by the building official may appeal the matter to the board of appeals as provided in Section 19.02.020. In cases where an exception is requested to any provision of this section that prohibits use of a private sewage disposal system under specified conditions, no exception granted by the board of appeals shall be effective unless the California Regional Water Quality Control Board has also approved an "Exemption to Basin Plan Prohibitions" for the proposed exception.

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19; Ord. No. 3454, § 1, 6-8-21; Ord. No. 3482, § 1, 11-8-22)

See: San Luis Obispo Local Agency Management Program

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19; Ord. No. 3454, § 1, 6-8-21)

See: San Luis Obispo Local Agency Management Program

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19; Ord. No. 3454, § 1, 6-8-21)

APPENDIX A. ON SITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR SECONDARY DWELLING UNITS ON PARCELS LESS THAN TWO ACRES IN SIZE

See: San Luis Obispo Local Agency Management Program

(1) All other technical requirements of this title, and Titles 22 and 23 shall be met.

APPENDIX B. PERCOLATION TEST AND BORING PROCEDURES

See: San Luis Obispo Local Agency Management Program

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19; Ord. No. 3454, § 1, 6-8-21)

(a) Every cesspool or septic tank that has been abandoned or has been discontinued otherwise from use, or which no waste or soil pipe from a plumbing fixture is connected, shall have the sewage removed therefrom and be completely filled with earth, sand, gravel, concrete or other approved material.

Exception: Septic tanks may be re-used as rainwater storage cisterns if all the following conditions are met.

(1) The applicant shall obtain a system abandonment permit from county building department. The permit application shall specify the intended use of the septic tank.

(2) The activities related to abandoning the onsite sewage treatment and disposal system shall not create a sanitary nuisance.

(3) The septic tank shall be disconnected from the drain field and from the building sewer pipe.

(4) All work to disconnect, clean and sanitize the septic tank shall be conducted by a registered septic tank contractor or a state-licensed plumber or by the owner of the owner-occupied single family residence being served by the septic tank.

(5) All septage, wash water, and other liquids removed from the tank shall be removed and handled as septage by an approved disposal service and disposed of at an approved regulated wastewater treatment facility.

(6) The planning and building department shall inspect the tank once it is disconnected, emptied, cleaned, disinfected and filled with water. The inspection shall determine that:

a. The tank has been disconnected from the drainfield and the building sewer.

b. The tank is full of water within twelve inches from the top of the tank.

c. The clarity of the water is such that a Secchi disk is visible at the bottom of the tank.

d. The pH of the water is between 6.0—8.0.

e. The free Chlorine residual of the water in the tank is >5.0ppm.

f. The total coliform count <1,000 per 100 ml.

g. The fecal coliform count is <200 per 100 ml.

h. No sanitary nuisance condition exists on the property related to the abandonment activities.

(7) While one inspection is included in the abandonment permit fee, the applicant shall pay a re-inspection fee for any additional inspection visits necessary until all of the criteria in (6) are met and final approval of the abandonment is granted by the county planning and building department.

(8) The applicant shall be responsible for all required laboratory fees. All sampling shall be conducted by county planning and building department staff during the final inspection.

(9) The abandonment permit shall be valid for twelve months. The septic tank shall be properly abandoned within ninety days after the connection to the sanitary sewer.

(10) The tank shall not be connected to any irrigation components nor the water used for irrigation purposes until final approval of the abandonment has been granted by the county planning and building department.

(11) Upon final approval of the abandonment, use of the tank or the drain field for sewage storage, treatment or disposal is prohibited.

(12) Upon final approval of the abandonment, the water collected in the tank shall be utilized for non-potable, irrigation purposes only.

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19)

(a) Suitable toilet facilities shall be provided and maintained in a sanitary condition for the use of workers during construction. Portable toilet facilities shall conform to ANSI Z4.3.

(b) The number of toilet facilities to be provided shall be in accordance with Table 19.07.030(b) It shall be the responsibility of each employer to provide toilet facilities sufficient for the number of his own employees.

TABLE 19.07.030(b)

(c) It shall be the responsibility of the employer to ensure that all toilet facilities are maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. If toilet facilities are of the type that require a periodic servicing, it shall be the responsibility of the employer to provide sufficient toilet facilities and servicing to prevent the stated capacity of those facilities from being exceeded; the employer shall also assure ready access to the toilet facilities by the required servicing equipment.

(d) Toilet facilities shall be located so as to be readily accessible to the employees for whom they are furnished.

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19)

All commercial buildings and dwellings shall be provided a potable water supply system as required by this section. Such system shall also satisfy all applicable requirements of the California Plumbing Code and the San Luis Obispo County Health Department.

(1) Community System or On-Site Well. Subject to the approval of the chief building official, a commercial building or dwelling may be supplied potable water from either:

A public water supply or domestic water system approved by the health department or operated by a state licensed water purveyor; or

An on-site well, water storage and delivery system in accordance with this section.

(2) On-site Wells. When an on-site well is the proposed potable water supply, a building permit may be issued only where the building site is located outside the service boundary of a community water system, and where the well, together with any on site water storage, satisfies all the following requirements:

a. Health Department Approval. All water wells shall be designed constructed and shall obtain health department approval as required by Chapter 8.40 of this code.

b. Minimum Capacity—Residential: A domestic well shall provide a minimum capacity of five gallons per minute (gpm) in order to be approved for use as a source of potable water for a single family dwelling and three and one-half gpm for use as a source of potable water for an accessory dwelling unit. Use of a well with a minimum capacity of two and one-half gpm per dwelling may be approved by the chief building official where one thousand gallons of approved on site water storage is also provided. (Note: onsite water storage for fire protection may also be required by the Land Use Ordinance or, where applicable, the Coastal Zone Land Use Ordinance regardless of the requirements of this section.) A building permit may be issued where use of a well with less capacity than two and one-half gpm per dwelling is proposed only where authorized by the director of environmental health.

c. Minimum Capacity—Commercial: A domestic well for commercial use shall provide proof that the on-site wells will meet the demand requirements of the intended use. Unless an engineered design is submitted, each structure shall use Appendix A of the California Plumbing Code to determine the gallons per day requirements. Outdoor areas used for events shall be sized the same as stores. Storage tanks shall be sized the same as septic tanks. If applicable, additional demand requirements for process water shall be submitted with the construction drawings by the engineer/architect of record (wine processing, industrial processing, etc).

d. Testing of Capacity. The capacity required by subsection (2)b., c. of this section for a residential or commercial domestic well shall be verified by a minimum four hour pump test with drawdown and recovery data by a licensed and bonded well driller or pump testing company. The pump test shall not be more than five years old.

e. Potability. All residential or commercial domestic water wells intended to provide potable water to residential or commercial buildings shall meet the requirements of the health department for potability.

f. Testing for Potability. All new residential or commercial uses which use domestic water wells shall test the wells for potability as required by the health department. A report of the potability test shall be submitted and approved by the health department prior to granting temporary or permanent occupancy or final inspection approval of a project.

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19; Ord. No. 3482, § 1, 11-8-22; Ord. No. 3534, § 1, 6-3-25)

No grading, building or plumbing permit application or plans for a project which will require new service with potable water shall be issued unless:

(1) The chief building official is provided a written statement from the operator of a community or domestic water system that the purveyor will provide potable water service to the dwelling and that the water purveyor has sufficient water resource and system capacity to provide such service; or

(2) The chief building official is provided evidence that a permit or other authorization has been granted by the water purveyor for the proposed project to connect to and use the community or domestic water system; or

(3) An on-site well is installed, tested, and is certified to satisfy the requirements of Section 19.07.040(2), or the chief building official is provided evidence showing that potable water adequate to satisfy the standards of Section 19.07.040(2) is available on site. Evidence provided to prove availability of potable water shall include:

a. Existing county data; or

b. A report submitted by a registered hydrologist, geologist; or

c. Satisfactory evidence from a test well drilled on the parcel.

d. No final building inspection for a dwelling shall be approved until the dwelling is connected to an operating water supply approved pursuant to this section.

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19)

The requirements in this section shall apply to all new installations and, where specifically required, to existing structures.

(1) Water Fixtures. Water fixtures shall comply with current requirements of the California Green Building Standards and Department of Water Resources.

(2) Existing Structures. In existing buildings, including replacement water fixtures, shall conform to the above requirements.

(3) Other Requirements.

a. Spas, hot tubs, fountains and other decorative bodies of water shall be equipped with recirculating systems and shall be designed to operate without a continuous supply of water.

b. Vehicle wash facilities shall have approved water reclamation systems which provide for reuse of a minimum of fifty percent of the wash water. Hoses, pipes, and faucets for manual application of water to vehicles at such facilities shall be equipped with positive shut-off valves designed to interrupt the flow of water in the absence of operator applied pressure.

c. Water supply piping shall be installed so that each dwelling unit may be served by a separate water meter.

(4) Paso Robles Groundwater Basin and Nipomo Mesa Water Conservation Area. In addition to the requirements in Subsections a, b and c above, the requirements in subsections (4)a. through (4)d. below shall apply to all new development that uses water from the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin (excluding the Atascadero Sub-basin) and the Nipomo Mesa Water Conservation Area as shown on maps in this subsection.

a. Offset Required. Prior to issuance of a construction permit for a new structure with plumbing fixtures on property that overlies and/or uses water from the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin (excluding the Atascadero Sub-basin) or the Nipomo Mesa Water Conservation Area, the developer of such new structure shall obtain an offset clearance from the department of planning and building verifying that new water use has been offset at a 1:1 ratio. Water savings must come from the same groundwater basin as the proposed new development. Applicants shall meet offset requirements by complying with subsection 2. or 3. below.

1. Applicability: Construction permits for development approved through discretionary permits in the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin (excluding the Atascadero sub-basin) shall instead comply with the offset ratio required in Section 22.94.025 of the Land Use Ordinance.

2. Offset Clearance Process: Applications for an offset clearance shall include evidence that project water use (based on actual water data or by approved assumptions about the water demand for that use) has been offset at a 1:1 ratio through verifiable evidence or through a county approved water conservation program. Water savings must come from the same groundwater basin as the proposed new development.

b. County Approved Water Conservations Programs. Applicants shall meet the offset requirement by purchasing credits from a county approved water conservation program operating in the same groundwater basin as the proposed project or by complying with one of the alternatives in Section 3. Approved programs achieve water savings in existing development and make credits available for purchase. The cost of offset credits is set so as to be equal to the cost of achieving water savings. Programs may include but are not limited to plumbing retrofit programs and turf removal incentive programs.

c. Alternatives. As an alternative to a county approved water conservation program, or in areas where such a program is not available, applicants for new development may meet the offset requirements for their project through one of the following alternatives.

1. Applicant-performed plumbing retrofits. Applicants may meet the water offset requirement for their proposed project by retrofitting existing fixtures in homes within the same groundwater basin as the proposed project. Applicants shall adhere to the following:

i. Retrofit work must be performed and verified by a licensed plumber.

ii. The water savings credits that will result from each retrofitted fixture shall be established by resolution for each geographic area. After retrofit work has been completed and verified, applicants shall submit detailed evidence that enough fixtures have been retrofit to offset the water use of the proposed new development.

Water Conservation Program for Public Facilities. Applicants may choose to fund a water conservation program for public parks, school grounds, or other public facilities in the same groundwater basin as the proposed project. The program to be funded will have been prepared by a California-licensed landscape architect for the county parks department, a school district or another public entity, as applicable. The program shall be reviewed and approved by the owner of the public facility, and shall identify water savings and associated costs of conservation measures such as irrigation system replacement and/or repairs, installation of "smart controllers," removal of turf, replacement of high water using landscape material, and amendments to soils. The water conservation program shall clearly identify the expected water savings from implementation of the program.

Areas Served by a Community Service District. In areas served by a community service district (CSD), the CSD may certify that equivalent water use has been offset through an approved program or project.

Termination. The provisions of this section for the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin (excluding the Atascadero Sub-basin) shall expire on January 1, 2022.

(5) Water Meter Installation and Reading. All new or existing wells that serve new development that overlie or use water from the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin (excluding the Atascadero Sub-basin) or the Nipomo Mesa Water Conservation Area must have a well meter installed. The meter shall be used to measure all groundwater used from that well.

(6) Meter installation must be verified by the county public works department prior to building permit issuance. The configuration of the installation shall conform to the water well metering standards and installation guidelines set forth by the department of public works and incorporated into the public improvement standards.

(7) Property owners or responsible party designated by the property owner must read the water meter and record the water usage on or near the first day of the month. These records must be maintained by the property owner or responsible party and may be subject to inspection only by code enforcement pursuant to a violation investigation.

[Figure: Figure 7-1 — Nipomo Mesa Water Conservation Area]

Figure 7-1 — Nipomo Mesa Water Conservation Area

(8) Los Osos Groundwater Basin: In addition to the requirements in sections a, b and c above, the requirements in subsections (8)a. through (8)n. below shall apply to all new development that uses water from the Los Osos Groundwater Basin shown in Figure 7-2.

[Figure: Map created November 2023.   Figure 7-2—Los Osos Groundwater Basin Plan Area]

Map created November 2023.

Figure 7-2—Los Osos Groundwater Basin Plan Area

a. The developer of any new structure that uses water from the Los Osos Groundwater Basin shall install plumbing fixtures that meet the following requirements:

1. Toilets rated at no more than an effective flush rate of 1.0 gallon per flush (allowing for the installation of dual flush models);

2. Showerheads rated at no more than 1.5 gallons per minute;

3. Bathroom sink aerators with a volume of no more than 1.0 gallons per minute;

4. Hot water circulation systems for master bathrooms and kitchens if the furthest plumbing fixture unit in these rooms is greater than twenty pipe-feet from the hot water heater;

5. Commercial structures shall use urinals rated at no more than 0.5 gallons per flush;

6. New residences shall be plumbed for grey-water systems pursuant to Chapter 16 of the Uniform Plumbing Code.

b. Prior to issuance of a construction permit for a new structure with plumbing fixtures that uses water from the Los Osos Groundwater Basin, the developer of such new structure shall retrofit plumbing fixtures in existing structures within the Los Osos Groundwater Basin, as shown in Figure 7-2. The number and type of plumbing fixtures to be installed shall be as required in the total retrofit water savings required for certificate (gallons per day, or gpd) table which shall be maintained by and kept on file with the department of planning and building (department). The table indicates the flow values of existing fixtures which may be retrofitted and the corresponding flow requirements for each newly constructed or remodeled structure. A package of proposed retrofits and water conservation requirements must add up to no less than the minimum requirements established in the total retrofit water savings required for certificate (gallons per day, or gpd) table.

1. The total amount of water savings or the "offset" amount required for building permit issuance of a new structure is determined per dwelling type and water source and is maintained by and kept on file with the department. Applicants for new structures shall refer to the department staff for the most current water savings requirements.

2. If a new structure is not a dwelling unit, the method of and total amount of water savings required through offsetting shall be determined in the development plan or building permit process through coordination with department staff.

3. To achieve water savings and receive a certificate for permit issuance, developers may retrofit existing toilets, showerheads, and clothes washers and/or install demand-initiated hot water recirculation systems. Refer to the department staff for eligible fixture replacements.

4. The total water savings requirement for development of a new structure may be met through the sum of total water savings by retrofit of any multiple types of fixtures referenced in subsection (b)(3), or through other projects as authorized by the department director.

5. The total retrofit water savings required for certificate (gallons per day, or gpd) and the average water savings per fixture type shall be updated by the department director every three calendar years based on the best available residential end use studies, consumption data average use rates, and monitoring data provided by Los Osos water purveyors, using the methodology established in the Los Osos Water Offset Study published on June 30, 2023 and managed by the department. The published study is kept on file with the department.

6. The department shall maintain a list of addresses of homes that provide a source of total water savings through the retrofit of existing plumbing fixtures as well as the flow ratings of the new plumbing fixtures.

c. If a new structure will receive water service from a Los Osos water purveyor, the total water savings (i.e., retrofit of plumbing fixtures in existing structures and/or hot water recirculation system installation) must occur within the service boundary of the same Los Osos water purveyor to receive a water conservation certificate.

d. Any addition of one hundred twenty square feet or more to an existing structure or any remodel of an existing structure that uses water from the Los Osos Groundwater Basin shall require the replacement of plumbing fixtures in the entire structure with the following types of plumbing fixtures:

1. Toilets rated at no more than an effective flush rate of 1.0 gallon per flush (allowing for the installation of dual flush models);

a. Existing toilets in the existing structure that are rated at an effective flush rate of 1.28 gallons per flush do not need to be retrofitted to 1.0 gallons per flush.

2. Showerheads rated at no more than 1.5 gallons per minute;

3. Bathroom sink aerators with a volume of no more than 1.0 gallons per minute;

4. All urinals in commercial structures shall be replaced with urinals rated at no more than 0.5 gallons per flush.

e. The planning director (or designee) is authorized to make determinations for fixtures or projects not specifically designated in the total retrofit water savings required for certificate (gallons per day, or gpd) table, which is maintained by and kept on file with the department.

1. All average plumbing fixture use rates referenced in the total water savings tables for each fixture type, referenced in subsections (k) through (n) of this chapter, originate from the methodology used in the Los Osos Water Offset Study, published on June 30, 2023 and kept on file by the department.

f. The total retrofit water savings required for certificate (gallons per day, or gpd) shall be amended by the planning director every five calendar years based on the best available residential end use studies and consumption data average use rates.

g. Owners of existing structures that are retrofitted under this program shall agree to allow their water purveyors to release water use figures to the department in order to gauge the effectiveness of the program, to the extent allowed by California Law.

h. Upon retrofitting of the required number of fixtures, the developer shall submit evidence of the completed retrofits to the department. This evidence shall consist of a retrofit verification declaration completed and executed by a licensed plumber and/or contractor. The retrofit verification declaration shall be assigned to and used for development of a specific property or properties or land use permit and shall not be transferred to another parcel.

i. The department of planning and building shall conduct post-installation inspections of participating properties at random to verify that fixtures installed for the purpose of offsetting water demand have been maintained.

j. Upon submittal to the department of a completed and executed retrofit verification declaration accompanied by the required fee, the developer shall be issued a water conservation certificate from the department. The water conservation certificate shall be assigned to and used for development of a specific property or properties or land use permit and shall not be transferred to another parcel.

k. The department may conduct a pilot program, at the discretion of the director, which allows total water savings for the offset of a new structure to be sourced from outdoor water conservation measures. The pilot program shall include pre- and post-landscape change inspections, require the installation of water-efficient irrigation technologies, and include an ongoing monitoring component to confirm water savings over time. The discretion of the director will be exercised to determine if an applicant's participation in a pilot program complies with the total water savings required to secure a retrofit certificate. An applicant's participation in the pilot program does not guarantee a water conservation certificate for achieving total water savings.

l. Retrofit of toilet(s) for offset requirements:

1. New toilet(s) shall be rated at no more than an effective flush rate of 1.0 gallon per flush.

2. New eligible toilet(s) may be dual flush models, so long as the effective flush rate is no more than 1.0 gallon per flush.

m. Retrofit of showerhead(s) for offset requirements:

1. New showerhead(s) shall be rated at no more than 1.5 gallons per minute.

n. Retrofit of clothes washer(s) for offset requirements:

1. Existing clothes washers may not be Energy Star Efficient.

o. Installation of hot water recirculation system(s) may be used to satisfy offset requirements using the method on file with the department.

1. Hot water recirculation systems shall be demand-initiated and have a calculated hot water volume of 0.5 gallon maximum between the hot water source and each fixture.

2. Plumbing systems can minimize water use by reducing the distance between the hot water source and each plumbing fixture that uses hot water. Hot water recirculation systems are only appropriate for certain plumbing layouts with large distances between the hot water source and hot water fixtures. At the time of submittal of a water savings verification application, the applicant shall submit a fixture diagram, list of pipe diameter and length measurements, and printouts of the calculator for the before-and-after configurations prepared by a licensed plumber.

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3398, § 2, 11-5-19; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19; Ord. No. 3506, § III, 2-27-24)