Ventura Municipal Code Ch. 22.110 Water Connections

Before water is supplied to any person or for any premises from the mains of the department, the owner thereof shall make application for service and shall specify the property and premises to be served by the service connection and only the property and premises so specified shall receive water through such service connection. (Code 1971, § 4541; Ord. No. 2012-014, § 4, 6-4-12)

The charge for a new or modified service connection shall be as specified in Appendix A. In addition to the service connection fees and/or charges, the applicant shall pay the required service lateral and meter fees and/or charges as specified in Appendix A. Prior to said service connection and issuance of a building permit, applicant shall pay for and have constructed a water main, as set forth in Chapter 22.120. The service connection fee and/or charges shall be paid at the time of the issuance of a building permit. If no building has had final inspection within one year of payment of said service connection fee then an additional payment of the difference between the paid service connection fee and the current service connection fee at the time of the final building permit acceptance shall be paid. (Code 1971, § 4542; Ord. No. 2012-014, § 5, 6-4-12)

When the applicant has complied with all the requirements of this division relating to application for service and/or meter, and has paid all charges and fees incurred, the department shall cause the property to be connected with the water mains of the city. (Code 1971, § 4543; Ord. No. 2012-014, § 6, 6-4-12)

When property provided with a service connection is subdivided, the existing service connection and meter shall be considered as belonging to the lot or parcel of land which is nearest to its location. A new service connection and meter and associated fees shall be paid for service to each new lot or parcel of land. (Code 1971, § 4544; Ord. No. 2012-014, § 7, 6-4-12)

A. Purpose. A temporary service connection may be installed for construction purposes, temporary connections or any other special use where it is not practicable or reasonable under the circumstances to install a permanent service connection.

B. Deposit. Upon application for a temporary service connection, a deposit shall be made in the amount of the regular charge for a permanent service connection.

C. Charges. When a temporary service connection is terminated and disconnected, the cost of equipment, installation and disconnection shall be totaled, the salvage value of the material recovered deducted therefrom and the balance remaining of the original deposit shall be refunded. Should the total cost exceed the amount of the deposit, the applicant shall be billed for such excess. (Code 1971, § 4545)

A. The city will provide water service to land uses on property located outside of the incorporated territory of the city meeting any one of the following four criteria:

1. The use is a single-family dwelling unit or a second unit built or to be built on a lot of record in existence on the date an application for water service is filed with the city; provided, that the use can be supplied with city water service without extending the city’s water distribution mains.

2. The use is a low water consuming commercial or industrial use; provided, that:

a. The use meets the zoning and land use requirements of the county of Ventura;

b. The use does not require a land division of five or more parcels regardless of whether the land division is accomplished by a subdivision map or parcel map;

c. The use does not conflict with the city’s land use, open space, phasing, hillside, floodplain, or other related land use policies, and does not include irrigated agricultural cultivation; and

d. The use does not require extending the city’s water distribution mains and does not require a water meter larger than three-fourths inch.

3. The use is any residential, commercial or industrial use located on property within the North Avenue community or the Saticoy community, as defined and delineated in the city’s general plan and the city’s other land use plans and policies as may be amended from time to time; provided, that:

a. The use meets the zoning and land use requirements of the county of Ventura; and

b. The use meets all appropriate policies of the city’s general plan, including zoning and subdivision requirements.

B. The use is any residential, commercial or industrial use located on property within the boundaries of the Saticoy Country Club area as described and delineated in recorded tract maps 1619, 1900, 4061 and 4236.

C. Water service will be provided to a land use located on property outside of the incorporated territory of the city that meets one of the criteria set forth in subsection A of this section, only if the owner of such property also complies with all of the following conditions:

1. Constructs and installs, or causes the construction and installation of, any public improvements and facilities necessary to provide water service to the property;

2. Complies with the provision of Section 912 of the Uniform Plumbing Code relating to water saving devices;

3. Enters into an agreement recorded against the property that:

a. Sets forth the terms and conditions under which water service is being provided to the property; and

b. Includes the property owner’s waiver of any right to protest annexation of the property to the incorporated territory of the city, except in those cases where the property is located within the boundaries of the Saticoy Country Club;

c. The city manager may exempt property owned by the county of Ventura from the requirement of entering into an extraterritorial water service agreement when it is independently determined by city staff that any modifications to the water system required to serve the county’s property would not have a significant impact on the city’s water system, water supply or the environment; and when such service does not constitute new or extended services within the meaning of Government Code Section 56133. All other requirements of this section and chapter shall apply. Any such exemption shall expire and be of no further force and effect when and if the county of Ventura sells, leases or otherwise ceases possession of the property;

4. Reimburses the city for all costs and expenses, including city staff costs, incurred in connection with proceedings before the Ventura local agency formation commission that are required to obtain commission approval to the extension of water service to the property; and

5. Also reimburses the city for all costs and expenses, including city staff costs, incurred in connection with proceedings before the Ventura local agency formation commission that are required to annex the property to the incorporated territory of the city in those cases where the property is contiguous to the incorporated boundaries of the city.

D. Any determination by the Ventura water general manager regarding the application of this section may be appealed in writing to the city manager within 15 calendar days of the electronic or paper mailing of the general manager’s determination. The written request for appeal consideration shall include: a description of the reason for the appeal; evidence supporting the appeal; and a suggestion for resolution of the dispute, if any. The appeal of the general manager’s determination shall be heard and considered by the city manager at a time and place set by the city manager within 60 calendar days from the city manager’s receipt of an appeal, but no public hearing is required. The city manager shall provide the applicant notice of the time and place for the appeal hearing at the email and/or physical mailing address listed in the appeal filed by the applicant. The city manager may, in their discretion, affirm, reverse, or modify the determination accordingly. The city manager’s decision shall be final. (Ord. No. 2001-12, § 1, 7-2-01; Ord. No. 2004-006, § 1, 4-5-04; Ord. No. 2011-014, § 2, 12-5-11; Ord. No. 2024-003, § 1, 5-7-24)

Contractors or any person desiring to use water in construction work where connections must be made with city fire hydrants shall pay the charges and obtain a written permit from the superintendent before connecting with any such fire hydrant or using water therefrom. (Code 1971, § 4546)

All water for subgrading, streets, sewer testing, concrete work, and other construction-related water use shall be drawn through a hydrant meter. The charge for setting and removing a hydrant meter shall be as specified in Appendix A. A daily rental charge for each hydrant meter will be applied as specified in Appendix A. A deposit for each hydrant meter requested will be required as specified in Appendix A. Such deposit will be refunded upon payment of all bills, removal of the hydrant meter and return of the meter in good condition. If payment is not received for services, the deposit will be applied to any outstanding charges. (Code 1971, § 4547; Ord. No. 2012-014, § 8, 6-4-12)