San Luis Obispo Municipal Code Art. IX Sewer Connection

Before a permit shall be issued for a sewer connection in any area now outside the city limits which shall hereafter be annexed to the city, the owner or applicant shall pay to the city for such privilege a sum of money to be the property’s share of the cost of the existing sewerage facilities of the city to be used by the property. (Ord. 1598 § 1, 2014)

The sum of the fee described in Section 13.08.330 shall be the equivalent of the cost to similar properties then within the city which have paid for the facilities so to be used. (Ord. 1734 § 8, 2024; Ord. 1598 § 1, 2014)

The sum of the fee described in Section 13.08.330 shall not include any amounts from which bonds of the city are then outstanding and to which the property shall become subject upon annexation. (Ord. 1734 § 8, 2024; Ord. 1598 § 1, 2014)

A. Sewer mains may be extended by developers or other interested parties that would benefit by their extension, at their cost, provided the improvements are designed to current city standards and policy and are approved by the director of public works and director of utilities.

B. The owner or developer who installs improvements which abut property other than that being developed, or in a greater size or capacity than that required for the development of the property under consideration, may be eligible for reimbursement as provided in Section 16.20.110. (Ord. 1734 § 8, 2024; Ord. 1598 § 1, 2014)

A. Payment of Costs Prior to Sewer Connection Permit Issuance. Before a permit shall be issued for a sewer connection in any areas within the city, which property shall use any existing city sewerage facilities which were constructed by a developer under a reimbursement agreement for which such property shall not have made full payment of its share of the cost thereof, the owner or applicant shall pay to the city a sum of money for such privilege in the same manner as provided in this chapter.

B. Installation of Water Meters on Private Wells Serving Properties for Determining Sewer Service Charges. All properties where private well water is used and associated wastewater is discharged to the existing sewer system shall install a water meter on the well in order to determine the appropriate sewer charges. Installation of the water meter shall be at the private owner’s expense in accordance with the standards established by the city engineer. Water meters on private wells shall be owned by the city, consistent with Section 13.04.130, and property owners shall enter into a private well metering agreement with the city for meter reading.

C. Existing on-site septic tanks and/or leach fields may continue serving existing structures. Where city sewer service is available, use of existing private waste disposal systems (septic systems, leach fields, etc.) to serve new development (meaning projects that add plumbing fixture units) will not be permitted. In the event of abandonment or failure of the existing septic tank and/or leach field, owner shall comply with applicable state and county regulations regarding septic system abandonment and immediately connect to the city’s sewer system. Where city sewer facilities are not available within two hundred feet of the parcel as defined in the Plumbing Code 713.4, the owner may be allowed to repair or replace the failed septic system at the discretion of the utilities director and consistent with county requirements. (Ord. 1704 § 13, 2021; Ord. 1598 § 1, 2014)

A. All sewer mains whether built on public streets or in public easements shall be designed by a registered engineer and shall conform to the uniform design standards adopted by the city.

B. Except in public roadways, public easements, or at the discretion of the utilities director, where sewer infrastructure is proposed in private streets, yards, parking lots, drive aisles, etc., sewer infrastructure shall be privately owned and privately maintained consistent with Section 13.08.395.

C. Orderly construction and/or replacement of the city’s wastewater collection system infrastructure shall occur with proposed development or redevelopment of a parcel within the city limits. Wastewater collection system infrastructure shall be designed and constructed consistent with the city’s standard specifications and engineering standards and uniform design criteria and the applicable wastewater collection system planning documents and policies. In lieu of construction/installation of sewer mains within the city limits, a surety approved by the city may be provided at the discretion of the utilities director in conformance with city bonding requirements.

D. Rain harvesting systems using an emergency overflow into the sewer must not include drainage from roof gutters or storm capture devices. (Ord. 1704 § 14, 2021; Ord. 1598 § 1, 2014)

A. Drainage Piping Serving Fixtures. Drainage piping serving fixtures, the flood level rims of which are located below the elevation of the curb or property line, at the point where the building sewer crosses under the curb or property line, and above the crown level of the main sewer, shall drain by gravity into the main sewer, and shall be protected from backflow of sewage by installing a backwater valve that is compliant with the CPC, and each such backwater valve shall be installed only in that branch or section of the drainage system which receives the discharge from fixtures located below the elevation of the curb or property line. If the drainage piping is lower than the next upstream manhole, the property owner must install a backwater valve. It is the property owner’s responsibility to determine whether a backwater valve is required.

B. Director Empowered to Stop Overflow. The city is not liable for damage caused by or resulting from a property owner’s failure to install and maintain a CPC-compliant backwater valve. If the property owner fails to install and maintain a backwater valve to be free of obstruction and function as designed, when required under this section, the director may order and require the plumbing fixture to be disconnected and removed and the outlet plugged or capped. In the event that the property owner fails to disconnect and plug or cap the sewer connection within ten days after written notice by the director, then the director shall arrange for such disconnection and capping, the cost of which may be collected by court action or may be declared to be a lien by action of the council after public hearing and notice of the property owner and shall be added to and collected as part of the tax roll.

C. Alternate Right to Terminate Water Service. Failure to comply with this section shall be considered an unauthorized action by the property owner. As an alternate to the procedure set forth in subsection B of this section, if the property owner fails to install and maintain a backwater valve in good working condition when requested under this chapter, the director may order and require termination of water service to the parcel and all structures connected to the sewer outlet subject to overflow. The water service shall not be reinstated until the maintenance or installation of the backwater trap or backwater valve has been approved by the director.

D. Maintenance of House Sewer Connections. Maintenance of house sewer connections shall comply with Section 13.08.395(B). (Ord. 1734 § 8, 2024; Ord. 1704 § 15, 2021; Ord. 1665 § 2, 2019; Ord. 1598 § 1, 2014)

A. Purpose. Inflow and infiltration (I/I) is a serious problem for the city in that during wet weather events, a significant amount of water is introduced into the city’s wastewater collection system from breaches in the public and private sewer pipeline system. Studies have shown that private sewer laterals are a significant source of I/I for the city. The city has determined that it is in the interest of the public’s health, safety, and welfare to address I/I contributed by private sewer laterals and, as such, it is a city priority to require the inspection of private sewer laterals.

B. Ownership, Maintenance, and Repair.

1. The entire lateral, from the building connection up to and including the “wye” connection or other tie-in to the city-owned sewer main, shall fall within the owner’s responsibility for installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement.

2. Each property owner shall be responsible for maintenance and repair of their private sewer lateral in compliance with this section in a safe and sanitary condition, including:

a. Private sewer laterals shall be free of displaced joints, breaks, offsets, structural defects, damage, open joints, missing portions of pipe, root intrusion, cracks, leaks, sediment deposits, bellies in the pipe or any other similar conditions, defects or obstructions likely to cause or contribute to blockage of the private sewer lateral or the public sewer.

b. Private sewer laterals shall be equipped with cleanouts.

c. Private sewer laterals shall not be constructed, either in whole or in part, of “Orangeburg pipe.”

d. As described in Section 13.08.030(A), it is unlawful for any individual to connect the following to a private sewer lateral: storm drains, roof drains, yard drains, surface or subsurface drainage, groundwater, or other non-sewage pipes or drains.

3. If a property owner fails to maintain the abovementioned wastewater facilities in a safe and sanitary condition, the director may order and require termination of water service to the parcel and all structures connected to the sewer outlet subject to these conditions. The water service shall not be reinstated until the maintenance or installation of appropriate wastewater disposal facilities has been approved by the director.

4. Before granting any permit authorizing construction of a private sewer lateral or private sewer main serving multiple properties, the city shall require a private easement setting forth responsibilities for each parcel served (including responsibility for maintenance, inspection, and improvement of the shared sewer lateral).

C. Inspection of Existing Private Sewer Laterals.

1. Except as set forth in subsection (C)(2) of this section, after January 1, 2020, all private sewer laterals connected to the city’s sewer system shall be inspected per subsection F of this section at the property owner’s sole expense, when any of the following events occur:

a. Whenever the city has issued a notice of violation following a sanitary sewer overflow event from a property’s private sewer lateral.

b. Upon submittal of a building permit for the addition of a bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen in a residential structure or the addition of nonresidential space or an additional plumbing fixture unit in nonresidential structures.

c. A change of the use of the structure from: (i) residential to nonresidential use; (ii) to a nonresidential use that will result in a higher flow than the previous nonresidential use; or (iii) to a nonresidential use where the structure served has been vacant or unoccupied for more than three years.

d. Increase in size of the domestic water meter serving the property or adding a new domestic water meter.

e. Whenever property located in the city and containing one or more structures which are served by a private sewer lateral or laterals is subdivided. The inspection shall occur prior to recordation of the final map.

f. Within thirty days of notification by the city that “smoke testing” or closed-circuit television (CCTV) sewer main inspection indicates the presence of inflow or infiltration from private property that impacts the operation of the public wastewater collection system.

g. Upon any change in ownership of real property within the city, which shall be implemented as follows:

i. “Change in ownership” shall have the meaning set forth in California Revenue and Taxation Code Sections 60 and 61. A change in ownership shall not include those transactions as set forth in California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 62.

ii. Before close of escrow for any change in ownership of real property within the city, the seller(s) of such property shall disclose to the buyer(s) the results of the private sewer lateral inspection as set forth in subsection F of this section.

h. For events identified in subsections (C)(1)(a) through (C)(1)(g) of this section, repair or replacement shall be made pursuant to subsection G of this section.

i. For events identified in subsection (C)(1)(g) of this section, repair or replacement requirements pursuant to subsection G of this section shall not be effective until January 1, 2027.

2. Exceptions. An inspection required pursuant to subsection (C)(1) of this section shall not be required in the following circumstances:

a. New Construction or Prior Replacement of Lateral. If the owner(s) (or the owner’s predecessor-in-interest) has originally installed or has replaced the private sewer lateral within the twenty years prior to the date the inspection would otherwise be required.

b. Prior Inspection of a Lateral. If the owner(s) (or the owner’s predecessor-in-interest) has completed an inspection of the sewer lateral in accordance with the inspection requirements of subsection F of this section within the past five years.

c. The private sewer lateral is located within a common interest development system that is not owned and operated by the city, which is regulated under subsection D of this section and serves more than two separate units or properties within the common interest development.

The owner shall bear the burden of proving that the inspection requirements of subsection (C)(1) of this section do not apply. The owner shall provide proof of any prior replacement, inspection or repair of a private sewer lateral in the form of a validly issued permit or other documentation that ensures such prior replacement, repair or inspection of a private sewer lateral occurred pursuant to the exceptions above. The form and content of the document or proof must be deemed sufficient by the city’s utilities director.

D. Private Sewer Laterals Within Common Interest Developments.

1. For purposes of this section, the term “common interest development” shall include any community apartment project, condominium project, planned development, or stock cooperative.

2. Private sewer laterals located within a common interest development shall be inspected pursuant to the requirements of subsection F of this section as follows:

a. Whenever the city has issued a notice of violation following a sanitary sewer overflow event from a common interest development’s private sewer lateral.

b. Increase in size of the water meter serving the common interest development.

3. Exceptions. An inspection required pursuant to subsection (D)(2) of this section shall not be required in the following circumstances:

a. Prior Replacement of Lateral. If the private sewer lateral serving the common interest development in its entirety was installed or replaced within the twenty years prior to the date the inspection would otherwise be required.

b. Prior Inspection or Repair of a Lateral. If the private sewer lateral serving the common interest development in its entirety was inspected in accordance with the inspection requirements of subsection F of this section within the five years prior to the date the inspection would otherwise be required.

E. Inspection of Shared Private Sewer Laterals. Each property owner served by a shared private sewer lateral shall be responsible for compliance with subsection B of this section and shall be subject to the inspection requirements identified in subsection C of this section. For purposes of this subsection E, a “shared private sewer lateral” shall mean laterals serving more than one property that are not part of a common interest development.

F. Inspection Requirements.

1. Property owners must submit documentation of the sewer lateral inspection to the city prior to the close of escrow. Testing may be accomplished by either a water exfiltration test, an air test, or closed-circuit video recording observation. Installation of cleanouts and removal of existing P-traps may be necessary to accomplish the video inspection. If a closed-circuit video recording observation is selected as the method of inspection, then the video shall meet the following requirements:

a. Shall be in digital format.

b. Shall be in color (black and white or otherwise unclear video will not be accepted).

c. Shall show the address of the lateral.

d. Shall show the date the video was taken.

e. Shall inspect the entire lateral from the house connection to the city-owned sewer main.

f. Shall have a running foot or time marker clearly visible on the screen.

g. Where joints are present, shall briefly stop the camera at each to clearly indicate their integrity.

h. Shall have the telephone number for the point of contact for the company providing the inspection.

i. A map shall be provided with the video inspection to clearly show the lateral location including the cleanout or access point at the house connection used to insert the camera into the lateral and the wye connection to the city-owned sewer main.

2. The lateral inspection and lateral inspection report shall be prepared and signed by a contractor, plumber, or a person experienced in lateral inspections who shall declare that the report is true and correct. At a minimum, the inspection report shall include the information in Exhibit A:

EXHIBIT A: PRIVATE SEWER LATERAL INSPECTION REPORT Property Address (or Addresses):__________________________________________________________________

3. A contractor, plumber, or a person experienced in lateral inspections who prepares a false lateral inspection report shall be subject to punishment under Article XII of this chapter in addition to any other legal remedies or punishment provided by law.

4. Verification. The city reserves the right to verify the sewer lateral inspection results prior to being accepted.

G. Sewer Lateral Repair or Replacement Requirements. Upon receipt of the private sewer lateral inspection report pursuant to this chapter, the city shall review the private sewer lateral inspection and lateral inspection report to verify the plumber/contractor findings and provide the owner with a determination on whether the lateral meets the criteria described in subsection B of this section. If the private sewer lateral is not in compliance with subsection B of this section, then it shall be repaired or replaced to conform to such standards within one hundred eighty days of the city’s determination. If an inspection of a noncompliant lateral was conditioned due to a sanitary sewer overflow or from findings of infiltration and intrusion, or a lateral with defects having not met the required pipe material requirements, it must be completely replaced rather than repaired. No person shall repair or replace a sewer lateral without first obtaining a permit from the city.

H. Punishment for Violation of This Chapter. Violations of this article shall be punishable pursuant to the remedies identified in Article XII of this chapter. It is considered a violation for any property owner to have a sewer lateral system that does not comply with subsection B of this section, unless the repair or replacement of such system is being pursued in good faith. The city may withhold building permits or other discretionary approvals for a property with a private sewer lateral that is determined to be not in compliance with subsection B of this section until the private sewer lateral is brought into compliance with city standards. Final building approval will be conditioned upon repair or replacement of any noncompliant lateral systems to the satisfaction of the director.

I. Rebate Programs. The city may establish by resolution one or more programs to assist owners with the replacement of private sewer laterals.

J. Fees. The city council may from time to time establish, by resolution, fees for issuing permits, reviewing inspection reports and other activities of the city performed pursuant to this chapter. (Ord. 1756 § 2, 2026; Ord. 1734 § 8, 2024; Ord. 1704 §§ 16—18, 2021; Ord. 1665 § 3, 2019)

A. Discretionary Review. As contemplated and consistent with the city’s wastewater collection system infrastructure renewal strategy, current and as may be amended, the city reserves the right to conduct discretionary review of development, subdivision, and land use entitlements that contribute wastewater flow to the municipal wastewater collection system. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the city from imposing conditions of approval for wastewater flow capacity offsets deemed proportional, reasonable, and necessary to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare and ensure compliance with this chapter and all applicable city regulations and policies.

1. Major development review entitlements and general plan and zoning amendments citywide and moderate development review projects within wastewater system capacity constrained areas shall be subject to engineering analysis, such as wastewater flow estimates and wastewater flow modeling provided by the applicant with the entitlement application to determine available sewer system capacity and the project’s effect on the municipal wastewater collection system. Subdivision and use permit entitlements resulting in the range of development as identified in the major and moderate development review tiers shall be subject to this requirement.

2. The results of the engineering analysis and flow modeling shall determine associated conditions of approval, which may include but not be limited to public or private sewer improvements, such as upsizing sewer mains, and/or replacing private sewer laterals to offset capacity deficiencies. (Ord. 1756 § 3, 2026; Ord. 1734 § 8, 2024; Ord. 1704 § 19, 2021; Ord. 1665 § 3, 2019)