Visalia Municipal Code Art. 3 Use of Public Sewers Required

It is unlawful for any person to place, deposit, or permit to be deposited in any unsanitary manner, upon public or private property within the city, or in an area under jurisdiction of said city, any human or animal excrement, garbage or other objectionable waste. (Ord. 2006-02 (part), 2006: Prior code § 4200)

It is unlawful to discharge to any natural outlet or watercourse any sewage, industrial wastes, or other polluted waters, except where suitable treatment has been provided in accordance with provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 2006-02 (part), 2006: Prior code § 4201)

Except as provided in this chapter, it is unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool, seepage pit or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage. (Ord. 2006-02 (part), 2006: Prior code § 4202)

No building, industrial facility or other structure shall be occupied until the owner of the premises has complied with this chapter. (Ord. 2006-02 (part), 2006: Prior code § 4203)

Whether or not public sewers exist or are installed in public streets or rights-of-way abutting annexed and developed properties, existing acceptable private sewerage disposal systems may continue to be maintained and used by the property owners for service of the dwellings and structures existing at the time of adoption of this chapter only, except as hereinafter restricted or excepted. Acceptable private sewerage disposal systems include adequate earth-covered underground septic tanks, cesspools, leach lines and wells, and/or combinations thereof. Determination of the acceptability of a private system shall be the responsibility of the city. (Ord. 2006-02 (part), 2006: Prior code § 4204)

A. Dwellings or structures connected to or utilizing privies, privy vaults, open cesspools, or similar unacceptable private sewerage disposal systems shall, immediately upon annexation to the city, be connected to an available public sewerage system.

B. Whenever it is determined that an existing adequate private sewerage disposal system is in need of major repairs to ensure continuation of the proper operation of that system, the dwelling or structure served must be connected to an available public sewerage system within sixty (60) days. Major repairs does not include such items as septic tank pumping and usual maintenance functions.

C. Whenever state or county health authorities, or the city, declare an individual private disposal system, or the systems in the area, to be a health hazard or to be creating a public nuisance, the use of such system, or systems, shall be discontinued within the period of time specified by the city and connection(s) to public sewer made forthwith.

D. Whenever an area, under the authority of the special assessment acts of the state of California is assessed for sewer construction, all benefitted property owners may be required by the city council to connect to the public sewer system, where in the opinion of the council the conditions described in subsection (c) of this section exist or are incipient.

E. Where main sewers are installed, for the public welfare and at public expense, the city council may require abutting property owners to connect thereto within a period of time specified by the council. (Ord. 2006-02 (part), 2006: Prior code § 4205)