Thousand Oaks Municipal Code Art. 4 Connection Rules

Installation of a service lateral to any property and for any connection to the public wastewater system shall only follow receipt and approval of the application (permit) and payment of all applicable fees.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

The application for wastewater service shall:

(a) Include the name and address of the owner;

(b) Include an agreement by the applicant to abide by all laws, policies and regulations relating to the wastewater system.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

(a) If wastewater service to a premises is being used, the person in possession or person taking possession shall make a proper application to the City for such service.

(b) If wastewater service is used without having made application, the owner will be held liable for all charges for the wastewater service received for the length of time service was provided to the property subject to limitations by other governmental codes.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

(a) All tract, land division, residential, commercial, industrial and public building projects shall connect to the public wastewater system unless an exemption is specifically granted by the Public Works Director. Exceptions for certain condominiums are cited in Section 10-1.303.

(b) Single-family residences or those buildings previously not connected nor granted a deferral to connect to the public wastewater system shall be required to connect if any one of the following applies:

(1) If any part of the parcel of property is within three hundred (300') feet from an accessible wastewater line, all buildings on the parcel shall be required to connect and any existing onsite private septic system shall be abandoned;

(2) Within sixty (60) days after the City Council or the Public Health Department or Public Health Officer declares a private disposal facility to be a public nuisance. Included in this requirement shall be any cesspool or septic tank which requires pumping in excess of three (3) times in any twelve (12) month period or which has rising or overflowing wastewater which could cause contamination in the groundwater or on the surface. The private disposal facility shall then be removed or rendered inoperative and nuisance-free in accordance with the requirements of the Ventura County Environmental Health Department, the Plumbing Code, City of Thousand Oaks Community Development Department and/or any other applicable law;

(3) Upon the sale or transfer of the property. Exceptions to rule (1) above may be granted by the Public Works Director or the City Council under special circumstances with such waivers being subject to (2) and (3) as well as any other conditions deemed necessary. As a condition for granting an exception for connection of a property or building to the public wastewater system, the Public Works Department will require the applicant to sign an agreement or other similar document specifying a future date and/or conditions for connecting to the system. Such agreement or document shall be recorded upon the property title at the Office of the Ventura County Recorder to provide proactive title notification of this obligation to future purchasers of the property.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

An independent service lateral shall be provided for each property, lot, parcel, dwelling unit or other individual unit of ownership receiving service even though the building may have common walls of construction. Exceptions for certain condominiums are cited in Section 10-1.303.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

The Wastewater Department reserves the right to determine the size and location of the service lateral in relation to the boundaries and facilities of the property to be served. Where possible, the wastewater building lateral to the property line shall not be laid until the service lateral is installed. In the event the building lateral is put in place prior to the time the service lateral is installed, and its location does not correspond with that of the service lateral, the customer shall bear the additional cost and obligation of properly connecting the building lateral to the service lateral.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

The installation, maintenance, repair or replacement of service laterals and other facilities beyond the City's public main shall be solely the complete responsibility of the property owner or property owners association. The City's responsibility shall cease at the public main and beyond that point the customer shall by their application for wastewater service agree to defend, hold the City harmless and indemnify the City in the event of judgment, including reasonable attorney's fee, for any and all claims of damage or liability to persons or property arising occurring beyond that point.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

(a) The costs and obligations for connection of a service lateral and for making a connection to the public wastewater system including administration and inspection fees shall be borne by the property owner.

(b) The City may install wastewater service laterals where the Public Works Director finds that it would be in the best interest of the City and property owners. However, normally, the Wastewater Department will allow the installation of a service lateral by a private contractor wherein the installation shall be made in accordance with the City's Wastewater Design and Construction Standards. The Public Works Department shall inspect and approve the connection of the lateral to the wastewater main line and the Community Development Department shall inspect and approve the service lateral connection to the building lateral prior to the backfill of such lateral installation.

(c) The Public Works Department shall be notified at least twenty-four (24) business hours in advance of any connection to the wastewater system so that inspections by the Public Works Department and the Community Development Department may be conducted.

(d) All service lateral installations within the public right-of-way shall be done in strict accordance within the requirements, as applicable, of the City's Public Works Department including, but not limited to, those requirements as set forth in an Encroachment Permit.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

Such connections shall not be made final until the wastewater system constructed by the private contractor has been accepted by the City, all connections and administrative charges and fees have been paid, and the system has been offered for dedication to the City, where applicable.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

All changes to the Public Works Department's wastewater system including changing the size of the service lateral, relocating of any facilities, raising or lowering any facilities, etc., must be done with approval of the Public Works Department and payment of applicable fees.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

The Public Works Department shall not be obligated to extend wastewater services to those areas beyond existing City mains and/or off the public rights-of-way.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

As a condition precedent to receiving wastewater services for each subdivision or parcel of land, the owner shall furnish, install and offer for dedication to the City all necessary local system improvements as required by the Public Works Department, designed and constructed according to the Wastewater Design and Construction Standards and subject to approval and acceptance by the City. Unless otherwise approved by the Public Works Director, no occupancy of newly completed tracts or projects shall be permitted until the City accepts such dedication and the developer has satisfied all other applicable portions of this Code.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

City Council acceptance of wastewater facilities shall only follow completion of the physical improvements as well as administrative items as required by the Wastewater Design and Construction Standards, Municipal Code, or as deemed necessary by the Public Works Director. Acceptance of wastewater facilities may be delayed until substantial use is either present or anticipated as evidenced by the construction of buildings/houses and occupancy of those units. Acceptance may be delayed until at least seventy-five (75%) percent of the buildings/houses are under construction or at least fifty (50%) percent of the buildings/houses are occupied.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)