San Marino Municipal Code Art. 06 Connection to Public Sewers

Whenever the director of public works shall declare a sewer line available for connection, no person shall construct or enlarge or pump out a new or existing cesspool with regard to any property in the city; provided, however, that any person dissatisfied with such director's decision or failure to decide thereon may request a decision thereon by the city council. In the event the decision of such director or council finds the availability of a sewer line, then such person shall forthwith connect to such available sewer line. (1954 Code §19.42; amd. 1994 Code)

Any person who desires to or is obliged to connect to any sewer installed at city in any place in the city shall pay a sewer connection charge to the city as set by city council resolution. (Ord. 0-07-1191, 10-10-2007)

A. To the extent any property is connected to the City’s sewer collection system, the property owner shall pay to the City the sewer service charge in the amount established by City Council Resolution. The Public Works Director shall determine which properties are connected to the City’s sewer collection system. The amount of the sewer service charge shall be set in an amount that does not exceed the City’s proportionate cost of providing sewer services to the person required to pay the fee, in accordance with all legal requirements including California Constitution Article XIII D Section 6.

B. The City Council may adopt a resolution annually to authorize placing the sewer service charges on the Los Angeles County property tax rolls for collection, in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 5473. For any property owner who does not receive a bill from the City for payment of the annual sewer service charge on the property tax rolls, the sewer service charge shall be due and payable within thirty days of written notice of the bill from the City.

C. Any property owner who claims that a sewer service charge bill was not calculated or imposed by the City in accordance with this section may file with the Public Works Director a written request to adjust the charge. The request must be received by the Director no later than ninety days after the property owner receives the bill. The Director is authorized to adjust the charge only to the extent the Director determines necessary to conform to the requirements of this section. The director shall provide the property owner a written response to the request for adjustment within thirty (30) days.

D. Any property owner who challenges a written determination from the Public Works Director under paragraph C of this section may contest the determination by filing with the City Clerk a written request for an administrative hearing. Any such written request must:

1. Be received by the City Clerk no later than thirty (30) days from receipt of a written response under paragraph C of this section; and

2. Include a payment of the charge under protest, unless the property owner obtains an advance hardship waiver deposit in accordance with section 01.06.15 of this code; and

3. Include a copy of the written request for adjustment and written response provided under paragraph C of this section, as well as the information and documents on which the property owner will rely to establish the charge was not imposed in accordance with this ordinance or other legal requirements; and

4. Include any other supplemental information reasonably requested by the City Clerk to implement the requested hearing.

E. Any administrative hearing held under this section shall be conducted in accordance with sections 01.06.10 through 01.06.15 of this code.

F. Any failure to pay a sewer service charge in accordance with this section shall be a violation subject to enforcement in accordance with Chapter I, Article 04 of this code. For any sewer service charge that is placed on the Los Angeles County property tax rolls, any failure to pay that sewer service charge in accordance with this section shall also be subject to the penalties and interest imposed by Los Angeles County in accordance with California Health and Safety Code Sections 5470 through 5474.10 (Chapter 6 of Part 3 of Division 5 of the Health and Safety Code). (Ord. O-25-1420, 9-10-2025)