Earlier editions: 2026-07
Title 9 — Building Regulations
Santa Maria Municipal Code Ch. 9-32 Plumbing Code
Santa Maria Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Santa Maria
Cite as: Santa Maria Municipal Code Chapter 9-32 · Text as of 2026-10-04
Section 9-32.010. California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition Adopted.¶
The provisions of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, and Appendices A, B, D, E, G, H, I, J, K, and subsequent Editions as adopted by the State of California, Building Standards Commission or successor agency, as published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, is adopted by reference, subject to the additions and amendments set forth in this Chapter.
(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)
Section 9-32.020. Subsection 104.4.3 of Chapter 1 Amended: Expiration.¶
Section 104.4.3 of Chapter 1 of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, is amended in its entirety as follows.
104.4.3 Expiration. Every permit issued shall remain valid for a period of 365 days after issuance. The Building Official is authorized to grant, in writing, one or more extensions of time, for periods not more than 180 days each. The extension shall be requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated.
(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)
Section 9-32.030. Subsection 104.5 of Chapter 1 Amended: Fees.¶
Subsection 104.5 of Section 104 of Chapter 1 of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
104.5 Fees. Permit fees shall be as set forth in the current City of Santa Maria Schedule of Fees and Charges.
104.5.1. Fee adjustments by resolution: Authorized. The fees provided for in this Section shall be established and amended by City Council resolution.
104.5.2 Special Investigation Fees: Whenever any work for which a permit is required by this Code has been commenced without first obtaining said permit, a special investigation shall be made before a permit may be issued for such work. An investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, may be imposed subject to the discretion of the Building Official whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall not exceed the amount of all permit fees required by this Code for the unpermitted work. The payment of such investigation fee shall not exempt any person from compliance with all other provisions of this Code nor from any penalty prescribed by law.
104.5.3 Refunds. The Building Official may authorize refunding of any fee paid hereunder which was erroneously paid or collected. The Building Official may authorize refunding of not more than 80 percent of the permit application fee when an application for a permit is withdrawn or canceled before any plan review is done. The Building Official shall not authorize refunding of any fee paid except on written application filed by the original applicant not later than 180 days after the date of fee payment.
(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)
Section 9-32.040. Subsection 106 of Chapter 1 Amended: Violations and Penalties.¶
Subsections 106.1 and 106.3 of Section 106 of Chapter 1 of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, are amended in their entirety to read as follows:
106.1 Violations. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, demolish, equip, use, or maintain any plumbing in the City, or cause or permit the same to be done in violation of this Code.
106.3 Penalties. Any person, firm, or corporation violating any provision of this Code shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine and/ or imprisonment as set forth in Title 1, Chapter 6 of the Santa Maria Municipal Code. Furthermore, each separate day or any portion thereof, during which any violation of this Code occurs or continues, shall be deemed to constitute a separate offense.
(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)
Section 9-32.050. Subsections 107.3 and 107.4 of Chapter 1 Added: Appeal Hearing Fee…¶
Section 107 of Chapter 1 of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by adding new Subsections 107.3 and 107.4 to read as follows:
107.3 Appeal Hearing Fee. A fee as provided in the current City of Santa Maria Schedule of Fees and Charges shall accompany an application for a hearing before the Board of Appeals.
107.4 Special Purpose Members. For the purpose of appeals to the standards of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations affecting accommodations for persons with disabilities, two (2) persons shall be added who shall have a disability as defined in Section 202, California Building Code, 2025 Edition.
(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)
Section 9-32.060. Subsection 108 of Chapter 1 Amended: Authorized Installer.¶
Chapter 1 of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by adding new Section 108 to read as follows:
108.1 Authorized Installer. Only authorized installers, as provided for in this Section, may install replacement water heaters in the City of Santa Maria without obtaining a permit by affixing a City of Santa Maria installation sticker on each replacement water heater.
Exceptions:
| A. | Any water heater installed in a new location requires a plumbing permit. |
|---|---|
| B. | Replacement water heaters must have the same or lesser input BTU ratings than the original water heater if gas fired to qualify for the sticker program. |
| C. | Replacement water heaters must have the same or lesser wattage as the original water heater if electric to qualify for the sticker program. |
108.2 Plumbing Contractor. Any plumbing contractor holding both a valid C-36 Contractor's License in the State of California and a valid City business license for such contracting may apply for authorized installer status.
108.3 Revocation or Suspension Procedure. The Building Official may suspend or revoke a plumbing contractor's authorized installer status for one or more of the following grounds:
| (1) | Failure to perform by allowing a substandard installation of a water heater twice within the same twelve (12) month period. |
|---|---|
| (2) | Failure to submit a monthly report on installations including the name, telephone number, and address of the owner, installation sticker number, date, location, and names of the installing plumber and authorized installer. |
| (3) | Failure to have the employee installer properly trained as an authorized installer. |
| (4) | Failure to correct a substandard installation after receiving a notice of non-compliance from the City of Santa Maria. |
| (5) | Suspension, revocation, or placing of the C-36 Plumbing Contractor's License on "inactive" status by the State Contractor's License Board. |
| (6) | The revocation or suspension shall take effect fourteen (14) days after the notice of revocation or suspension is given to the authorized installer by regular U.S. Mail. |
108.4 Hearing or Denial, Revocation or Suspension. If a plumbing contractor's authorized installer status is denied, revoked, or suspended, an applicant may within fourteen (14) days after the notice of denial, revocation or suspension is given, request a hearing before the Building Official. The Building Official shall fix a time and place for the hearing and shall notify the applicant. At the hearing, the Building Official shall hear and receive evidence to determine whether the denial, revocation, or suspension of authorized installer status should be sustained or reversed. The Building Official shall give the applicant notice of the decision within twenty (20) days after the hearing is closed.
108.5 Appeal. If the Building Official does not reverse the action, a person aggrieved by the denial, revocation, or suspension may appeal the action to the Board of Appeals. A written notice of appeal concisely stating the facts of the case and the grounds of appeal shall be filed with the Board of Appeals within fourteen (14) days after the notice of the action appealed from is given. The Board of Appeals shall have the appeal set for hearing and shall give the appellant notice of the time and place of the hearing. The decision of the Board of Appeals made after the appellant has had an opportunity to be heard is final. The Board of Appeals shall give the appellant notice of its decision within fourteen (14) days after the close of the hearing.
108.6 Fee. The fee for each City of Santa Maria authorized installation sticker shall be as set forth in the current City of Santa Maria Schedule of Fees and Charges.
108.7 Fee Adjustments by resolution: Authorized. The fee provided for in this Section shall be established and amended by City Council resolution.
(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)
Section 9-32.070. Sections 109 of Chapter 1 Added: Qualification for Permits.¶
Chapter 1 of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by adding new Section 109 to read as follows:
109.0 Qualification for Permits
109.1 To Whom Permits May be Issued. No permit shall be issued to any person or firm to do or cause to be done any plumbing work regulated by this Code, except to such person or firm holding both a valid contractor's license issued by the State enabling the performance of such work and a valid City business license to engage in the business of such contracting work in the City.
Exception: Any plumbing permits required by the Code may be issued to any person to do any plumbing work regulated by the Code in a single-family dwelling used exclusively for living purposes, including the usual accessory buildings in connection therewith, provided such person is the owner of such dwelling and that the same is occupied by said owner, or that said owner intends to personally occupy such dwelling; and provided further that said owner shall personally purchase all materials and perform all labor in connection with this work.
(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)
Section 9-32.080. Subsection 422.3.1 Added: Motor Fuel-Dispensing Facilities.¶
Subsection 422.3 of Section 422 of Chapter 4 of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by adding the following subsection 422.3.1 to read as follows:
422.3.1 Motor fuel-dispensing facility. In every motor fuel-dispensing facility, separate restroom facilities for each sex shall be provided and maintained for the public and shall be accessible for persons with disabilities. These restroom facilities shall be maintained in a working, clean, and sanitary manner stocked with sufficient towels, soap, toilet paper, and toilet covers and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. In addition, air and water shall be provided as per the State of California Business and Professions Code Section 13651.
(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)
Section 9-32.090. Section 422.4.2 Added: Required Public Toilet Facilities.¶
Subsection 422.4 of Section 422 of Chapter 4 of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by adding the following subsection 422.4.2 to read as follows:
422.4.2 Required Public Toilet Facilities. Customers and patrons shall be provided with public toilet facilities in structures and tenant spaces intended for public utilization. The accessible route to public facilities shall not pass through kitchens, storage rooms, closets, or similar spaces.
(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)
Section 9-32.100. Section 422.4.3 Added: Pay Facilities.¶
Subsection 422.4 of Section 422 of Chapter 4 of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by adding the following subsection 422.4.3 to read as follows:
422.4.3 Pay Facilities. Where pay facilities are installed, such facilities shall be in excess of the required minimum facilities. Required facilities shall be free of charge.
(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)
Section 9-32.110. Section 423 Added: Car Washes.¶
Chapter 4 to the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, is amended to add new Section 423.0 to read as follows:
423.0 Car Washes. All commercial car wash facilities, including self-wash, shall have water recycling systems and the design installations of these systems shall comply with Section 10950 through 10953 of the California Health and Safety Code and be approved by the administrative authority.
(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)
Section 9-32.120. Table 442.1 Amended: Minimum Number of Required Fixtures.¶
Table 422.1 of Chapter 4 of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by adding Footnote 8 referring to Residential occupancy clothes washer standpipes to read as follows:
(8) Clothes washer standpipes - A minimum of one (1) automatic washer standpipe for each single-family dwelling or a minimum ratio of one (1) automatic washer standpipe for each seven (7) apartment house dwelling units or fraction thereof, with not less than two(2) standpipes for apartment houses having five (5) or more dwelling units. Kitchen sinks - one (1) for each dwelling or apartment unit.
(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)
Section 9-32.130. Subsections 604.1 and 604.3. Amended: Pipe Tube and Fittings, Copper…¶
Subsections 604.1 and 604.3 of Section 604 of Chapter 6 of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by adding a new last sentence, to read as follows:
"No galvanized, Type 'M' or Type 'L' copper water piping shall be installed within any concrete slab or in the ground under a concrete slab within a building. The use of Type "M" copper water piping shall be prohibited in buildings."
(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)
Section 9-32.140. Subsection 610.8. Amended: Water Pipe Size.¶
Subsection 610.8 of Section 608 of Chapter 6 of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by replacing the last sentence, to read as follows:
"Regardless of the water meter size, the minimum size of any water supply piping from the meter to the building or equipment served shall be a minimum of one inch (1") diameter trade size piping."
(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)
Section 9-32.150. Subsection 611.5 Added: Water Softener.¶
Section 611 of Chapter 6 of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by adding new Subsections 611.5 and 611.5.1 to read as follows:
611.5 All water softeners as defined in City of Santa Maria Municipal Code, Section 8-12.104(91), shall be installed and conform to generally recognized plumbing and sanitary standards or other standards deemed equal technology and accepted by the administrative authority and shall be consistent with this Code. After the effective date of this amendment, only the following water softeners may be installed on structures utilized for non-residential purposes:
| (1) | Canister-type units which are centrally regenerated; or |
|---|---|
| (2) | Water softeners with demand control systems as defined in the City of Santa Maria Municipal Code, Section 8-12.104(91) & (92); or |
| (3) | Such other water softeners, as determined by the administrative authority, which by objective testing and results will not discharge brine waste with a total dissolved solids concentration or frequency of discharge that exceeds the equivalent produced by the treatment process provided by demand control water softeners as defined by the City of Santa Maria Municipal Code, Section 8.12.104(91) & (92). |
| Upon receipt of determinations and orders issued to the administrative authority by the Director of Public Works pursuant to the City of Santa Maria Municipal Code, Section 8-12.410 , the following limitations shall apply: | |
| (1) | It shall be unlawful after the effective date of an order issued by the Director of Public Works pursuant to the City of Santa Maria Municipal Code, Section 8-12.410(c) to install on any structure an on-site regeneration water softener as defined in Santa Maria Municipal Code, Section 8-12.104(91); and/ |
| (2) | It shall also be unlawful after the effective date of an order issued by the Director of Public Works pursuant to the City of Santa Maria Municipal Code Section 8-12.410(c) to operate or maintain an on-site regeneration water softener after January 1, 2007. |
611.5.1 All users who install a water softener in new residential construction shall install plumbing so that only water feeding the hot water system is softened.
EXCEPTION: Canister type units that are centrally regenerated may be connected to both the hot and cold water distribution systems, excluding hose bibs and irrigation systems.
(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)
Section 9-32.160. Appendix Section H501.13 Amended: Septic Tanks.¶
Section H501.13 of Appendix H of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by replacing number (2) to read as follows:
"Steel tanks are prohibited."
(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)
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