Sonoma County Municipal Code § 24-44 Same—Application

The purpose of this article is to implement the requirements of Division 104, Part 13, Chapter 4, Article 1 of the California Health and Safety Code, and this article shall be enforced by the health officer or health officer's designee.

(Ord. No. 6438, § III(Exh. A), 6-12-2023)

No person shall engage in the business of cleaning cesspools, septic tanks, privies, and vaults and the removal of the contents thereof within the unincorporated areas of the county without first having obtained from the health department of the county a permit to do so as herein provided by this article.

The term "engaging in the business of cleaning cesspools, septic tanks, privies, and vaults and the removal of the contents thereof" as used in this article shall include but not be limited to any person who goes about from place to place with apparatus or equipment designed for cleaning cesspools, septic tanks, privies, composting toilets, and vaults, or who shall have an established place of business for such purpose and who shall make a charge for such services.

(Ord. No. 6438, § III(Exh. A), 6-12-2023)

All persons who desire to engage in the business of cleaning cesspools, septic tanks, privies, and vaults and the removal of the contents thereof within the county shall file with the health department of the county a written application for a permit to do so. The health officer, or designee, must act on the application within thirty (30) days.

(Ord. No. 6438, § III(Exh. A), 6-12-2023)

The health department of the county shall, upon receiving an application for a permit as provided for by Section 24-43 to investigate the kind and type of apparatus and equipment he or she intends to use in cleaning cesspools, septic tanks, privies, and vaults, the method of cleaning cesspools, septic tanks, privies, and vaults and the place or places to which the contents of any cesspool, septic tank, privy, or vault may be removed. If the health department is satisfied from such investigation, it shall issue a permit to the applicant upon the payment of a fee as established by resolution of the board of supervisors, and the giving of a personal or surety bond in the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) conditioned for the faithful performance of all duties enjoined by this article or the health department of the county. Permits issued pursuant to this article are not transferable.

(Ord. No. 6438, § III(Exh. A), 6-12-2023)

Any permit issued pursuant to this article shall be valid for a period of one (1) year from the date of issuance unless thereafter revoked by order of the health department of the county as specified by this article, and any permit issued pursuant to this article may be renewed from year to year upon the filing of a written application, the payment of the fee and the giving of the faithful performance bond as provided for in Section 24-45.

(Ord. No. 6438, § III(Exh. A), 6-12-2023)

Every person who obtains a permit as provided for in this article shall be subject to the rules and orders of the health department of the county in the following matters:

(a) The manner of cleaning any cesspool, septic tank, privy, vault, or composting toilet.

(b) The removal of the contents thereof and the place to which such contents are moved.

If any person shall refuse to obey and carry out the rules and orders of the health department in the manner herein specified, such refusal to obey and carry out such orders and rules shall be grounds for the revocation of the permit referred to and provided for in this article. Any revocation shall be made with ten (10) days notice, and such notice shall be served by registered mail or in person at the latest place of residence or of business reported by the permittee.

(Ord. No. 6438, § III(Exh. A), 6-12-2023)

In the event that the holder of a permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this article violates any of the provisions of this article or any rules or orders of the health department of the county, such violation shall permit the county at its option to resort to the faithful performance bond for the payment of a penalty in the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

(Ord. No. 6438, § III(Exh. A), 6-12-2023)