HomeMy WebLinkAbout936 - Ordinances - Amending Title 19, Article 28 Section 19.28.020 Definitions
Section 19.28.030 City not responsible for damage.
Section 19.28.040 Public sewer; connection to.
Section 19.28.050 Onsite wastewater treatment systems; when used.
Section 19.28.060 Onsite wastewater treatment systems subject to
Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board waste discharge
requirements; City permit required; fee.
Section 19.28.070 General Prohibitions, Violations.
Section 19.28.080 General onsite wastewater treatment systems
applicability standards; OWTS permit required.
Section 19.28.090 OWTS permit application requirements.
Section 19.28.100 OWTS permit fees.
Section 19.28.110 Refusal to issue building permit.
Section 19.28.120 Refusal to issue certification of occupancy.
Section 19.28.130 State contractor's license required for installation or
repair; registration fee.
Section 19.28.140 Construction inspections.
Section 19.28.150 Siting Standards.
Section 19.28.160 Groundwater and Percolation Testing Requirements.
Section 19.28.170 Septic Tank Requirements.
Section 19.28.180 Leach Line System Requirements.
Section 19.28.190 Vertical Seepage Pit System Requirements
Section 19.28.200 Horizontal Seepage Pit Systems.
Section 19.28.210 Alternative onsite wastewater treatment systems; Use
of alternative systems.
Section 19.28.220 Alternate onsite wastewater treatment systems siting
and operational requirements; Variances permissible.
Ordinance No.936 - 2 of 54
Section 19.28.230 Sewer wells; cesspools; seepage pits.
Section 19.28.240 Holding tanks; portable toilets.
Section 19.28.250 OWTS located in proximity to impaired water bodies.
Section 19.28.260 OWTS failures; Corrective actions required.
Section 19.28.270 Substandard systems.
Section 19.28.280 Abandoned onsite wastewater treatment systems.
Section 19.28.290 Abatement.
Section 19.28.300 Notice of violation.
Section 19.28.310 Appeal from denial, revocation or suspension.
ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS
19.28.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards for the approval,
installation, and operation of onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS)
within the City of Rancho Cucamonga, consistent with the appropriate
California Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) standards and
basin plans. The standards are adopted to prevent the creation of health
hazards and nuisance conditions and to protect surface and groundwater
quality. The City has prepared a Local Agency Management Program
(LAMP) for OWTS permitting and regulation throughout the City, and that
program has been approved the California Regional Water Quality Control
Board for the Santa Ana Region.
19.28.020 Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following terms and phrases have the following
meaning:
Above Ground Dispersal System means a covered sand bed elevated
above original ground surface with an effluent leach field located in the sand
bed.
Accessory Structures mean a subordinate habitable building which is
incidental and not attached to the main building or use on the same lot. If
an accessory building is attached to the main building or if the roof is a
continuation of the main building roof, the accessory building shall be
considered an addition to the main building. Includes habitable structures
Ordinance No.936 - 3 of 54
with sanitary sewer plumbing facilities regardless of whether a Building
Permit is required, including, but not limited to, barns, guesthouses, second
dwelling units, garages, storage buildings/sheds, and pool (swimming)
houses/bathrooms.
Basin Plan (or Water Quality Control Plan) means a plan which identifies
surface and ground water bodies within each region's boundaries, and
establishes for each, it's respective beneficial uses, and water quality
objectives. Basin plans are adopted by the Regional Water Quality Control
Board (RWQCB) and State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), and
are approved by the Office of Administrative Law.
Bedrock means the rock, usually solid, which underlies soil or other
unconsolidated, surficial material.
Building Official means the Building Official for the City of Rancho
Cucamonga is the Building and Safety Services Director and is the officer
or other designated authority charged with the administration and
enforcement of the current adopted California Building Code, or a duly
authorized representative.
California Environmental Data Exchange Network (CEDEN) means a
central location to find and share information about California's water
bodies, including streams, lakes, rivers, and coastal oceans.
CCR means California Code of Regulation (CCR, Cal. Code Regs.) is the
codification of the general and permanent rules and regulations (sometimes
called administrative law) announced in the California Regulatory Notice
Register by California state agencies.
Cesspool means an excavation in the ground receiving domestic
wastewater, designed to retain the organic matter and solids, while allowing
the liquids to seep into the soil.
Clay is used to describe a soil particle, or type of soil texture: (i) As a soil:
Particle — clay consists of individual rock or mineral particles having
diameters of <0.002 millimeters (mm); (ii) As a texture — clay is a soil
material that is comprised of 40%, or more, clay particles, not more than
45% sand, and not more than 40% silt particles using the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) soil classification system.
Cobbles mean rock fragments measuring 76 mm (3 inches) or larger, using
the USDA soil classification systems.
Director means the Director of the Rancho Cucamonga Building and Safety
Services Department.
Ordinance No.936 - 4 of 54
Dispersal System means a type of system for final wastewater treatment
and subsurface discharge, which may include a leach field, seepage pit,
mound, subsurface drip field, or evapotranspiration and infiltration bed.
Domestic Wastewater means Wastewater with a measured strength less
than high strength wastewater, which is discharged from plumbing fixtures,
appliances and other household devices.
Domestic Well means a groundwater well that provides water for human
consumption and is not regulated by the SWRCB.
Effluent means sewage, water, or other liquid (partially or completely
treated, or in its natural state), flowing out of a septic tank, aerobic treatment
unit, dispersal system, or other OWTS component.
Electronic Deliverable Format (EDF) means the data standard adopted by
the SWRCB for submittal of groundwater quality monitoring data to the
State Water Board's Internet-accessible database system, Geotracker.
Existing OWTS means an OWTS that was constructed, operating, and
issued a permit prior to the effective date of the LAMP.
Grease Interceptor means a passive interceptor with a rate of flow
exceeding 50 gallons-per-minute located outside a building and used for
separating and collecting grease from wastewater.
Groundwater means water below the land surface that is at, or above,
atmospheric pressure.
High Strength Wastewater means Wastewater, prior to septic tank or other
form of OWTS treatment component, having: (i) A 30-day average
concentration of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) greater than 300
milligrams per liter (mg/L), and/or (ii) Total Suspended Solids (TSS) greater
than 330 mg/L, and/or (iii) A Fats, Oil, and Grease (FOG) concentration
greater than 100mg/L.
Impaired Water Bodies/303(d) List means surface water bodies, or
segments thereof, identified on the Section 303(d) list pursuant to the
Federal Clean Water Act, approved by the SWRCB, and the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO)
means an association that assists individual jurisdictions, both in the United
States and abroad, to meet their specific needs by coordinating the
development and adaptation of plumbing, mechanical, swimming pools,
and solar energy codes.
Ordinance No.936 - 5 of 54
Local Agency means any subdivision of state government responsible for
permitting, installation, and regulation of OWTS within its jurisdictional
boundaries; typically a county, city, or special district.
Local Agency Management Program (LAMP) means a program for the
siting, design, operation and maintenance of OWTS, developed by a local
agency, and approved by the RWQCB as an alternate method to achieve
the same policy purpose as that of OWTS policy.
Major Repair means a repair for an OWTS dispersal system due to
surfacing wastewater effluent from the dispersal field and/or wastewater
backed up into plumbing fixtures because the dispersal system is not able
to percolate the design flow of wastewater associated with the structure
served, or for a septic tank as a result of compartment baffle failure, or tank
structural integrity; failure such that either wastewater is exfiltrating, or
groundwater is infiltrating.
Mottling means a soil condition that: (i) Results from oxidizing or reducing
minerals due to soil moisture changes from saturated to unsaturated over
time, and/or (ii) Is characterized by spots or blotches of different colors or,
shades of color (grays and reds), interspersed within the dominant color as
described by the USDA soil classification system, and/or (iii) May indicate
historic seasonal high ground water levels.
Mound System means an above ground dispersal system, having
subsurface discharge, used to enhance soil treatment, dispersal, and
absorption of effluent discharged from an OWTS treatment unit (e.g., septic
tank).
National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International means a not for profit,
non-governmental organization which develops health and safety
standards, and performs product certification.
New Development means a proposed tract, parcel, industrial, or
commercial development which has not been granted one or more of the
following, on or prior to approval of the LAMP: (i) Approval, or conditional
approval, of a tentative parcel or tract map by the City of Rancho
Cucamonga, and/or (ii) A conditional use permit, and/or (iii) Approval, or
conditional approval, from the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning
Department, and/or Building and Safety Services Department.
New OWTS means an OWTS permitted after the effective date of this
LAMP.
Notice of Condition means a site specific document that is provided to the
customer by Building and Safety Services. It is the owner's responsibility to
ensure the document is recorded with the County Recorder's office.
Ordinance No.936 - 6 of 54
OWTS means onsite wastewater treatment systems that use subsurface
disposal, including: individual; community collection and disposal; and
alternative collection and disposal systems. This is also referred to as a
Private Sewage Disposal System in the current adopted California
Plumbing Code and may also be referred to in general vernacular by the
public as a "septic system". The definition of OWTS does not include
"graywater" systems pursuant to California Health and Safety Code, Section
17922.12.
Percolation Test means a method of testing water absorption of the soil by
using clean water to determine the dispersal system design.
Permit means a document issued by a local agency that allows the
installation, use, and/or monitoring of an OWTS.
Projected Flows mean wastewater flows into the OWTS determined in
accordance with any of the applicable methods for determining average
daily flow in the California Plumbing Code.
Public Water System means a system for the provision of water for human
consumption, through pipes or other constructed conveyances, that has 15
or more service connections (or regularly serves at least 25 individuals
daily), at least 60 days out of the year. Per California Health and Safety
Code Section 116275(h), a public water system includes any: (i) Collection,
treatment storage, and distribution facilities under control of the operator of
the system that are used primarily in connection with the system; (ii)
Collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under the control of the
operator that are used primarily in connection with the system; (iii) Water
system that treats water on behalf of one or more public water systems for
the purpose of rendering it safe for human consumption.
Public Water Well means a ground water well serving a public water system.
Qualified Professional means an individual licensed, or certified by a State
of California agency, to design OWTS and practice as a professional for
other associated reports, as allowed under their license or registration.
Qualified Professionals include the following: (i) Professional Civil
Engineers; (ii) Certified Engineering Geologists; (iii) Registered
Environmental Health Specialists (REHSs); (iv) Registered Geologists; and
(v) Geotechnical Engineers.
Replacement OWTS means an OWTS that, after the effective date of this
LAMP, has its treatment capacity expanded or its dispersal system replaced
or added onto.
Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) means a regional water
board that regulates wastewater discharges to surface water (rivers, ocean,
etc.) and to groundwater (via land). It also regulates storm water discharges
Ordinance No.936 - 7 of 54
from construction, industrial, and municipal activities; discharges from
irrigated agriculture; dredge and several other activities with practices that
could degrade water quality.
Sand means a soil particle or type of soil texture. As a: (i) Soil particle —
and consists of individual rock, or mineral particles, having diameters
ranging from 0.05 to 2.0mm; and (ii) Soil texture — Sand is soil that is
comprised of 85% or more sand particles, with the percentage of silt plus
1.5 times the percentage of clay particles comprising less than 15%.
Seepage Pit, Outside Perimeter means a drilled or dug excavation five (5)
to seven (7) feet in diameter with a liner. It is also gravel filled (between the
liner and the soil) and receives effluent discharge for dispersal from a septic
tank or other OWTS treatment unit.
Seepage Pit Cap means a cover placed on the top of the seepage pit liner.
Septage means septic tank sludge, in particular the partially treated sludge
stored in a septic tank or (less commonly) in a pit latrine. It is one type of
fecal sludge. Septage is a by-product from the pretreatment of household
wastewater in a septic tank where it accumulates over time.
Septic Tank means a watertight, covered, receptacle designed for primary
treatment of wastewater and constructed to: (i) Receive wastewater
discharged from a building; (ii) Separate settleable and floating solids from
liquid; (iii) Digest organic matter using anaerobic bacterial action; (iv) Store
digested solids, and/or (v) Clarify wastewater for further treatment with final
subsurface discharge.
Service Provider means a person capable of operating, monitoring and
maintaining an OWTS in accordance with this chapter.
Silt means a soil particle or type of soil texture. As a: (i) Soil particle — Silt
consists of individual rock, or mineral particles, having diameters ranging
from 0.05 to 0.002mm; (ii) Soil texture — Silt is soil that is comprised of
approximately 80% or more silt particles, and not more than 12% clay
particles using the USDA soil classification system.
Site means the location of the OWTS and/or a reserve dispersal area,
capable of disposing 100% of the design flow from all the sources the
OWTS is intended to serve.
Site Evaluation means an assessment of the characteristics of the site,
sufficient to determine its suitability for an OWTS that meets the
requirements of this LAMP.
Soil means the naturally occurring body of porous mineral and organic
materials on the land surface, which is composed of: (i) Unconsolidated
Ordinance No.936 - 8 of 54
materials, including sand, silt, and clay sized particles; (ii) Varying amounts
of larger fragments and organic matter; (iii) Earthen material with particles
smaller than 0.08 inches (2mm) in size.
Soil Texture means the soil class that describes the relative amount of sand,
clay, silt, and combinations thereof.
State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) means the five member
State Water Board, which develops statewide water protection plans and
establishes water quality standards.
Supplemental Treatment means any OWTS, or component thereof, which
performs additional wastewater treatment so the effluent meets
performance requirements prior to the discharge of effluent into the
dispersal field. This excludes septic and/or dosing tanks.
Structure means a new separate stand-alone building which is separate
from the main structure and does not have a common roof line with the main
structure and which requires a plumbing permit.
Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) means a unifying
program created to fulfill the Legislature's mandate for the coordination of
all water quality monitoring conducted by the State and RWQCBs. It is
managed by a roundtable of monitoring coordinators from the SWRCB and
nine RWQCBs.
Telemetric means the ability to automatically measure and transmit OWTS
data by wire, radio, or other means.
Total Coliform means a group of bacteria consisting of several genera
belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae, which includes Escherichia coli
(E. coli) bacteria.
Tract means the development of more than one (1) lot or parcel, and/or
more than one (1) structure discharging sewage wastes.
USDA means the United States Department of Agriculture which provides
leadership regarding food, agriculture, natural resources, and related
issues.
Waste Discharge Requirement means a permit issued for operation and
discharge of waste pursuant to California Water Code Section 13260.
19.28.030 City not responsible for damage.
The city is not liable or responsible for damage resulting from the defective
construction of any OWTS as herein provided, nor will the city or any official
Ordinance No.936 - 9 of 54
or employee thereof be liable or responsible by reason of any inspection
authorized hereunder.
19.28.040 Public sewer; connection to.
A. Every property where there is proposed a residence, place of
business, or other building or place which people occupy, or where persons
congregate, reside, or are employed, and which abuts a street or alley
located within an established sewer service district and outside such
districts where required by the RWQCB, or which property line is within 200
feet of an approved available sanitary sewer, must be connected to the
sanitary sewer in the most direct manner possible, provided a right-of-way
and any necessary approval from the sewer service provider is first
obtained.
B. On property where an OWTS exists, and where such property abuts
a street or alley located within an established sewer service district and
outside such districts where required by the RWQCB, or which property line
is within 200 feet of an approved available sanitary sewer, connection to the
available sanitary sewer will be required at the time of system failure or
when the building is remodeled, increased in square footage or altered in a
manner as to change uninhabitable space into habitable space provided
any necessary approval from the appropriate sewer authority is first
obtained.
C. The 200 foot connection requirement in subsections A and B above
shall increase by 100 feet for each additional dwelling unit for any
development in excess of a single family dwelling. For example, a 10 unit
development will be required to connect to an available sanitary sewer if the
sanitary sewer is within 1,100 feet [200 + (9 x 100 feet) = 1,100 feet] of the
proposed development.
19.28.050 Onsite wastewater treatment systems; when used.
A. Every residence, place of business, or other building, or place where
persons congregate, reside, or are employed, and which cannot be
connected to a sanitary sewer, must be provided with a water flush
toilet connected to an approved OWTS.
B. Every building, structure, or appurtenance that contains one or more
waste producing fixtures such as toilets, sinks, showers or bathtubs,
clothes washing machines, dish washing machines, animal wash
pads, floor drains or other fixture or fittings intended to drain organic
or inorganic waste material must be connected to an approved
OWTS that meets the requirements of this chapter.
C. Subject to local zoning restrictions and planning approval, multiple
buildings on the same parcel, such as a main house and detached
Ordinance No.936 - 10 of 54
living unit or two or more agricultural housing units, may be served
by a common OWTS located on that parcel, provided the OWTS is
determined to have sufficient treatment and dispersal capacity for the
expected wastewater flow from all buildings or facilities connected to
the OWTS.
19.28.060 Onsite wastewater treatment systems subject to Santa Ana
Regional Water Quality Control Board waste discharge
requirements; City permit required; fee.
A. Review and approval by the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control
Board is required for OWTS in cases where: (a) the peak wastewater flow
handled by the OWTS is more than 10,000 gallons per day; (b) the OWTS
is a categorized as a community system, which serves multiple discharges
under separate ownership; (c) OWTS receiving high strength wastewater,
unless the waste stream: (i) is from a commercial food service facility with
BOD less than 900 mg/L and (ii) has a properly functioning oil/grease
interceptor; (d) wastewater treatment plants of any kind or size; or (e) the
Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board has otherwise determined
that their review and approval is necessary and appropriate for water quality
protection. OWTS that are subject to the requirements and approval of the
Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board are also required to obtain
approval of the Director in accordance with the following:
1. The proposed system must be designed to accommodate the waste
discharge consistent with the requirements of the Santa Ana
Regional Water Quality Control Board.
2. The Director will require engineered sewerage plans to be submitted
by a registered civil engineer or a registered environmental health
specialist with experience in OWTS design before issuing a permit.
3. A registered civil engineer, professional geologist or a registered
environmental health specialist will be required to inspect the
construction of the OWTS and, upon completion, to submit a letter of
certification to the Director verifying the proper installation and
operation of the OWTS;
4. Site evaluations, plan submittals, design and construction details,
inspection, and operation and maintenance shall be consistent with
guidelines and procedures prescribed by this chapter.
5. The applicant must obtain a permit(s) from the Director and pay a
permit fee(s) in an amount established by resolution of the city council.
Obtaining a land use permit of approval is not a substitute for an
Ordinance No.936 - 11 of 54
OWTS permit issued by the Building and Safety Services
Department, nor does it guarantee issuance of an OWTS permit.
19.28.070 General Prohibitions, Violations.
A. No person may construct, add to, repair, alter or maintain any OWTS,
sewer pipes or conduits, or any other conduits for the treatment or
discharge of sewage, impure waters, or any matter or substance
offensive, injurious, or dangerous to health so as to cause any of the
following to occur:
1. Sewage, impure waters, or any matter or substance offensive,
injurious, or dangerous to health to empty, flow, seep, or drain
onto the surface of any land.
2. Sewage, impure waters, or any matter or substance offensive,
injurious, or dangerous to health to empty, flow, seep, drain
into, or affect any well, spring, stream, river, lake, or other
waters.
3. Result in any condition which, in the opinion of the director, is
unsafe or dangerous, or creates a nuisance.
B. A violation of this section is hereby declared a public nuisance.
19.28.080 General onsite wastewater treatment systems applicability
standards; OWTS permit required.
When a community sanitary sewer is not available and the property
improvement will generate wastewater, the property owner must obtain an
OWTS Permit from the City of Rancho Cucamonga Building and Safety
Services Department. Any person, association, partnership or corporation
desiring an OWTS Permit shall make an application to the City of Rancho
Cucamonga Building and Safety Services Department on a form provided
by the City. In addition to any requirements outlined in this chapter 19.28,
a lot will be deemed to support onsite wastewater disposal if the OWTS
permit applicant demonstrates the following:
A. Soils are conducive to onsite wastewater disposal;
B. A sanitary sewer is not available within 200 feet of the lot; an
additional 100 feet shall be added per each dwelling unit proposed
thereafter;
C. Enough area is available to install an OWTS that meets property
setbacks. For new construction, 100% expansion area must be
available;
Ordinance No.936 - 12 of 54
D. OWTS will not impact ground or surface water quality;
E. OWTS is appropriately sized to serve the intended land use; and
F. For new industrial or commercial development projects utilizing
septic tank-subsurface disposal systems, the wastewater flow for
each one-half acre gross area of land may not exceed that from a
three-bedroom, two-bathroom single family-dwelling unit. For
determining compliance with this criterion, a flow rate of 300 gallons
per day shall be considered as the flow equivalent to that from a
three-bedroom, two-bedroom single-family dwelling unit. Exemptions
will not be granted for industrial or commercial parcels less than
gross one-half acre in size.
19.28.090 OWTS permit application requirements.
The OWTS permit application shall be submitted on a form provided by the
City. In accordance with the requirements of the OWTS permit application,
the OWTS permit applicant must prepare and submit the following
supplemental documents: (i) a percolation test, (ii) a proposed layout
design, (iii) a grading plan, (iv) a building plan, (v) access to a potable water
supply, (vi) and all preliminary plans required for all necessary grading and
building permits. These supplemental documents shall be prepared as
follows:
A. Percolation Test Required. A percolation test is required when
grading or other soil disturbance has occurred in the proposed
OWTS location or if the applicant desires not to use the City's
standard percolation rates. The applicant shall submit a percolation
test report and design as performed by a registered civil engineer,
registered geologist licensed by the State of California Board of
Professional Engineers. All percolation testing shall be performed in
accordance with Section 9.28.160.
B. Layout Design Required. With percolation test data and other data in
hand, the applicant must develop and submit a Layout Design for the
proposed building project and specific OWTS, for review by the City
of Rancho Cucamonga Building and Safety Services Department.
All OWTS layout design proposals shall demonstrate a one hundred
(100%) percent reserve area for the active OWTS. The Layout
Design must take percolation test data into account. In some cases,
additional testing will include depth to groundwater measurements
during a normal average rainfall year.
In the alternative, the applicant may use the depth to ground water
value used by the County of San Bernardino Stormwater Facility
Mapping Tool. In some cases, the City of Rancho Cucamonga
Ordinance No.936 - 13 of 54
Building and Safety may conclude that a conventional or alternative
OWTS cannot be safely used on the lot. Due to the potential for
delays or disapproval, City of Rancho Cucamonga Building and
Safety recommends that applicants submit a Layout Design and
obtain an approval before incurring costs for detailed building plans
and architectural fees. The approved Layout Design will state
whether a field check of completed grading by the City of Rancho
Cucamonga Building and Safety Services is required. The Layout
Design Approval shall expire after one year from the date of
issuance.
1. A layout design drawing of the proposed building construction
and OWTS is required. This drawing should be prepared
using standard engineer's scale on 8.5" x 11" or 11" x 17"
minimum size paper. The basis for the OWTS design will be
from percolation testing data and/or conditions of approval
from a recorded subdivision map, parcel map, boundary
adjustment, or certificate of compliance. The size of the
OWTS is a function of the anticipated peak sewage flow
based on the number of bedrooms, dwellings or use, and the
percolation rate of the soil on the site.
2. The layout design must include the property drawn to the
following minimum scales: (i) Single Family Home or Small
Commercial Properties — 1 inch = 30 feet; (ii) Parcel Map,
Subdivisions, Large Commercial Properties - 1 inch = 40 feet
and must also show the proposed system, and 100%
expansion area, including existing and potential structures,
wells, streams, contours, significant vegetation (including
trees), rock outcroppings, the location of all borings/tests, and
the proposed house pad.
3. The proposed dwelling or development site must be located
so the initial subsurface sewage disposal system (and the
required 100% expansion area) functions by gravity flow,
unless otherwise approved. When leach lines or pits serve a
common system for two or more units, add 30% more square
footage to the total absorption area, if approved by the
Planning Department and Building and Safety Services
Department.
4. The Layout Design shall contain the following information: (i)
Site Address; (ii) Owner's Name, mailing address, and phone
number; Consultant's/Contractor's name, mailing address,
and phone number; (iii) Type of proposed construction
residential vs. commercial); (iv) Number of existing or
proposed bedrooms; (v) Purpose of project (e.g. new
Ordinance No.936 - 14 of 54
dwelling, new structure, guesthouse, an addition, etc.); (vi)
Specify scope of work; (vii) Vicinity Map, Scale, North arrow,
Thomas Bros. Map coordinates; Property Lines and lot
dimensions; (viii) Percent slope and direction of fall; (ix)
Proposed OWTS design detail; (x) All known, recorded
easements on or within 20 feet of lot boundaries (open-space,
utility, road, waterline, etc.); (xi) Source of potable water;
Location of all public waterlines on or within 20 feet of
property; (xii) Location of all wells on or within 200 feet of
property; and (xiii) Any soils testing information, such as deep
boring or percolation test, plotted on the design.
5. In preparing a layout design, the following setback
requirements shall establish minimum spacing requirements
from a component to the OWTS and to structures, property
lines, easements, watercourses, wells, or grading:
Table 19.28.090.B.3. OWTS Setback Requirements.
System Component Setback Minimum Distance
Septic Tank Structure 5 feet
Septic Tank Property Line, including the 5 feet
street/public right-of-way
Septic Tank Water Well 100 feet
Septic Tank Leach Lines 5 feet
Septic Tank Seepage Pits 5 feet
Leach Lines Structure 8 feet
Leach Lines Property Line, including the 5 feet
street/public right-of-way
Leach Lines Water Well 1001 feet
Leach Lines Leach Lines 10 feet center to center
distance (See Table
19.28.090.6.3, Note 6)
Leach Lines Seepage Pits 5 feet
Leach Lines Water Mains (Public) 25 feet or 10 feet from the
edge of easement
Ordinance No.936 - 15 of 54
Leach Lines Drainage Course 50 feet from centerline or
top of bank7
Leach Lines Flowing Stream/Creek 100 feet from spillway
elevation
Leach Lines Pond or Lake 100 feet from the high
water line
Leach Lines Water Supply Reservoir 200 to 400 feet from the
high water line2
Leach Lines Aqueduct 5:1 setback to pipeline3
Leach Lines Road Easements/ Right-of- 5 feet from the edge of
way ultimate easement width4
Leach Lines Cut Slopes 5:1 setback from top of cut
slopes
Leach Lines Private Utility Trenches 56 feet
Leach Lines Ground Water 5 (vertical) feet
Seepage Pits Structure 8 feet
Seepage Pits Property Line, including the 8 feet
street/public right-of-way
Seepage Pits Water Well 1501 feet
Seepage Pits Seepage Pits 12 feet from edge of
excavation
Seepage Pits Water Mains (Public) 25 feet or 10 feet from edge
of easement
Seepage Pits Drainage Course 50 feet from centerline or
top of bank7
Seepage Pits Flowing Stream/Creek 100 feet from edge of flow
line or top of bank
Seepage Pits Pond or Lake 100 feet from the spillway
elevation
Ordinance No.936 - 16 of 54
Seepage Pits Water Supply Reservoir 200 to 400 feet from the
high water line2
Seepage Pits Aqueduct 5:1 setback to pipeline3
Seepage Pits Road Easements/ Right-of- 8 feet from edge of ultimate
way easement width4
Seepage Pits Cut Slopes 5:1 set back from top of cut
slopes
Seepage Pits Private Utility Trenches 56 feet
Seepage Pits Groundwater 10 feet (vertical)
Notes:
1. The minimum setback required to a public water well is 150
feet and increases to 200 feet where the depth of the dispersal
system exceeds 10 feet in depth. The minimum setback may
be increased if site conditions show the minimum setback is
insufficient to protect groundwater supplies.
2. Where the dispersal system is within 1200 feet of surface
water intake point, the setback shall be 400 feet. Where the
dispersal system is greater than 1200 feet of the surface water
intake point, the setback shall be 200 feet.
3. Maximum setback of 100 feet. A reduction in setback to 50
feet may be considered with engineering to demonstrate no
risk of sewage moving laterally to pipeline trench.
4. The setback may increase if the 5:1 setback to a road cut
is greater than the minimum setback.
5. This maximum 100-foot setback would also be applied to
the top of an eroded bank or natural slope in excess of 60%.
A reduction in setback to 50 feet may be considered with
engineering to demonstrate no risk of sewage surfacing on
the face of the bank or slope.
6. For trenches less than 2 feet in depth, a 5:1 setback based
on the trench depth can be used.
7. Setback increases to a 5:1 setback if drainage is greater
than 10 foot in depth.
Ordinance No.936 - 17 of 54
8. Refer to 19.28.090 "Siting Requirements" for other
references.
C. Grading Plan Review. Following Layout Design Review, a Grading
Plan Review may be required by the Building and Safety Services
Department as a condition of approval of the OWTS Layout Design.
A field check may also be required upon completion of grading.
D. Building Plan Review. Plans for a new or second dwellings must be
submitted to the Planning Services Department for processing and
approval. Upon submittal of the plans, the owner/agent shall meet
with staff at the City of Rancho Cucamonga Building and Safety
Services counter for a verification of bedrooms and plot plan
concurrence with the approved layout. Bedrooms are used to
determine the potential occupancy of a dwelling and therefore the
potential amount of wastewater that will be generated.
Guidelines for Determining the Number of Bedrooms:
1. Once the living room, dining room, family room, kitchen,
bathrooms, and utility rooms have been established, all other
rooms shall be considered as potential sleeping rooms. Dens,
libraries, studies, weight rooms, sewing rooms, workshops,
etc., shall be determined as bedrooms if they do not conform
to the criteria listed below.
2. All other habitable rooms totaling at least seventy (70) square
feet in size are to be considered bedrooms suitable for
sleeping purposes, regardless of whether or not they contain
closets or have direct access to a bathroom.
3. Rooms that open to a living room, dining room, family room,
kitchen, or entry way, and have a single, un-obstructive
opening (no doors) with a minimum 50% opening of the total
wall space (minimum 6' wide) with archways or other
acceptable means shall not be considered as bedrooms, due
to the lack of personal privacy presented by the opening.
4. Rooms that can only be accessed through another bedroom
are to be considered part of that bedroom, such as master
suite and not an additional bedroom.
5. Any cases, which will require the relocation or modification of
doorways, are to be reviewed and approved by the Planning
Department and Building and Safety Services to address any
structural considerations such as load bearing walls. This is
to be done prior to approval or sign-off by the City of Rancho
Cucamonga Building and Safety Services.
Ordinance No.936 - 18 of 54
E. Proof of Potable Water Supply Required. The applicant must
demonstrate the proposed development's access to a potable water
supply. A public water supply should be confirmed with proof of a
service availability letter from the Cucamonga Valley Water District
(CVWD), or a water bill showing the property is served by a local
water agency. The use of any new domestic water well will require
proof of potability and be subject to reviews and approvals by all
agencies involved. A copy of the Well Laboratory Report that
indicates the absence of bacteria and nitrate contamination of less
than 10 mg/1 of Nitrate-N or 45 mg/1 of nitrate will be necessary for
proof of potability of a private well. The date of the test cannot be
more than one year old. If a valid test does not exist, the well must
be sampled by client's consultant for bacteriological and nitrate
levels. Hand-dug water wells will not be accepted as a potable water
supply.
F. The applicant shall submit all preliminary plans and applications to
the Planning Services Department for review prior to obtaining all
necessary grading and building permits.
G. An OWTS installation permit will be valid for one hundred eighty
(180) days, which period shall commence at the date of issuance.
Upon the expiration of the initial one hundred eighty(180) day period,
the property owner or contractor may request an extension of an
additional one hundred eighty (180) day period.
H. Once the OWTS installation permit has been obtained, the OWTS
may be installed. The OWTS shall be inspected by the city Building
and Safety Services Department before the system may be
backfilled. If inspection is satisfactory, the city shall approve a final
OWTS permit. Any change in the OWTS plans after the issuance of
a permit must first be approved by the Director. Failure to obtain
approval from the Director will invalidate the permit.
The approval or permit cannot be transferred. Failure to obtain an
OWTS permit from the Department of Building and Safety Services
is a violation of this chapter. The Director may revoke a permit or
approval issued pursuant to this chapter in case of any false
statement, or misrepresentation of fact in the application or on the
plans on which the permit or approval was based.
19.28.100 OWTS permit fees.
Permit fees for OWTS subject to this chapter and all related fees will be an
amount established by resolution of the City Council.
19.28.110 Refusal to issue building permit.
Ordinance No.936 - 19 of 54
No building permit may be issued for any building requiring a sewage
disposal system that is not to be connected to an approved sanitary sewer
unless the applicant has received an OWTS permit.
19.28.120 Refusal to issue certification of occupancy.
A. No certification of occupancy may be issued for any building that is
not connected to an approved sanitary sewer unless the applicant
has received an OWTS permit.
B. No person may occupy or otherwise use any premises or building
that has not been connected to an approved sanitary sewer or
approved OWTS.
19.28.130 State contractor's license required for installation or repair;
registration fee.
A. No person may install, construct, alter, enlarge, reconstruct, replace,
improve, recondition or repair an OWTS pursuant to this chapter
unless: the person possesses a general engineering contractor's
license (class A) as defined in section 7056 of the Business and
Professions Code, or a Class C-42 sanitation system contractor's
license or Class C-36 plumbing contractor's license from the
Contractors State License Board of the State of California.
B. The property owner may construct or repair an OWTS on his/her own
property, which system serves or will serve the building on the
property that is neither being offered for sale nor intended to be so
offered, provided:
1. Persons hired by the owner to do the subject work must
comply with section 19.28.080(a); or
2. Persons hired by the owner must be hired as employees of
the owner and the owner must provide workman's
compensation insurance, as required by law; and
3. An OWTS permit is first obtained.
19.28.140 Construction inspections.
A stamped copy of the building plans for the approved OWTS must be kept
available at the jobsite during system installation and until the system
passes final inspection by the Director of Building and Safety Services.
Inspections of each new installation must be made to ensure compliance
with all the requirements of this Code. Requests for inspection must be
made at least one business day in advance of the commencement of work.
In the event the Director of Building and Safety Services determines there
Ordinance No.936 - 20 of 54
has been an improper installation, a stop-work order may be posted on the
jobsite. Before any further work is done on a posted system, clearance from
the Director of Building and Safety Services must be obtained.
19.28.150 Siting Standards.
A. Setback Requirements. The following table provides the minimum
requirements for the installation of OWTS for either new or existing
structures.
Table 19.28.150.A. Setback Requirements.
Minimum Setback Required From (feet) Septic Tank Disposal Field Seepage Pit
Non-Public Water Supply Well' 68 1008 1002 1502
Public Water Supply Well' 100 1502 200
Buildings or Structures3 5 8 8
Property line, including Street Right of 5 5 8
Way Line
Streams and other flowing bodies of 100 100 150
water9
Drainage Course 50 50 50
Lakes, ponds, and other surface water 200 200 200
bodies10
Large Trees4 10 - 10
Seepage pits, Outside Perimeter 5 5 12
Disposal field, on Center 5 106 5
Onsite domestic water lines (building 5 5 5
service line)
Public Domestic Water Lines 25 25 25
Distribution Box n/a 5 5
Ground surface on sloping ground n/a 15 15
Groundwater-5 5 57 10
Ordinance No.936 - 21 of 54
Notes:
1. Drainage piping will clear domestic water supply wells by not less
than 50 feet. This distance will be permitted to be reduced to not less
than 25 feet where the drainage piping is constructed of materials
approved for use within a building. If the dispersal system does not
exceed 10 feet in depth, then the horizontal sanitary setback will be
150 feet. If the dispersal system exceeds 10 feet in depth, then the
horizontal sanitary setback will be 200 feet. If the dispersal system
exceeds 20 feet in depth, then the horizontal sanitary setback will be
600 feet.
2. For any system discharging 5,000 gallons per day (GPD), or more,
the required setback will be increased to 200 feet.
3. Includes porches and steps whether covered or uncovered,
breezeways, roofed porte cocheres, roofed patios, carports, covered
walls, covered driveway, and similar structures or appurtenances.
4. Any tree with a trunk diameter of one foot or more within 5 feet of
the system that will not be removed during construction.
5. The highest known level to which groundwater is known to have
occurred rather than the level at the time when testing occurred.
6. Plus 2 feet for each additional foot or depth in excess of 1 foot
below the bottom of the drain line.
7. For any system utilizing Alternate Treatment System and Sewage
Holding Tank (Chapter 11), this minimum separation may be
reduced to 2 feet with approval under the Advanced Protection
Management Program (APMP) (refer to Chapter 12: Tier 3 -
Advanced Protection Management Program for Impaired Areas for
more information regarding the APMP) and the Regional Water
Quality Control Board (RWQCB).
8. Unless regulatory or legitimate data requirements necessitate that
monitoring wells be located closer.
9. Where the edge of the water body is the natural or levied bank for
creeks and rivers, or may be less where site conditions prevent
mitigation of wastewater to the water body.
10. Where the edge of the water body is the high water mark for lakes
and reservoirs and the mean high tide line for tidally influenced water
bodies.
Ordinance No.936 - 22 of 54
B. On sites with natural slopes of 25% or greater, the siting and design
of the leaching system shall be performed in accordance with
recommendations prepared by a licensed professional geotechnical
engineer.
C. Criteria specified in Table 19.28.150.A, above must be met within the
area of the proposed system and within the 100% expansion area
for the proposed system. Depth of earth cover required over the
dispersal field is twelve (12") inches. When the dispersal field cannot
be installed twelve inches below the ground surface, and meet the
above separation requirements, then a supplemental treatment
system will be required.
D. OWTS located near public water systems shall be subject to
increased setback requirements, such as OWTS located with 1200
feet of a surface water intake.
E. Density and minimum lot size requirements. All new development
requires a minimum lot size of one-half acre (21,780 square feet),
average gross, per dwelling unit, including accessory structures, is
required for all new developments, which do not have access to a
public sewer as required under 19.28.040 of this chapter. The public
street area adjacent to the net lot area may count towards the
minimum one-half acre gross lot size for OWTS.
For new development for industrial or commercial properties, the
wastewater flow for each one-half acre of land may not exceed that
from a single dwelling unit. When determining compliance with this
criterion, a flow rate of 300 gallons per day will be considered
equivalent to a single-family dwelling unit. This flow rate shall be
prorated for commercial or industrial developments with lots smaller
than one-half acre, or the equivalent of 20 fixture units.
F. Minimum Lot Size Exemptions.
1. The minimum lot size requirements do not apply to existing
properties with OWTS which were installed prior to the
effective date of this chapter.
2. New development occurring upon single family residences
with existing septic systems that will accommodate additional
wastewater flows, caused by additional installations such as
rooms, bathrooms or accessory structures. A septic
certification may be required to verify the septic tank and
disposal field capacity to accept additional wastewater flows.
3. Tracts, parcels, and/or commercial/industrial developments
which received land use approval from the City of Rancho
Ordinance No.936 23 of 54
Cucamonga prior to August 21, 2017 are exempt from the
minimum lot size requirements and shall not be less than one-
half acre per this chapter for the use of septic tank subsurface
disposal systems.
4. New lots, which are smaller than one-half acre, may be
formed by combining through a lot merger two or more
existing lots which have received land use approval prior to
the effective date of the LAMP. Individually, these lots would
be eligible for an exemption from the minimum lot size
requirement. Developments on combined lots may also
qualify for an exemption provided that the total number of units
proposed for the new parcel is equal to, or less than the total
number of units proposed for the existing parcel and/or when
an alternative treatment system is utilized. When requesting
to use an alternative treatment system, each system will be
reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and will require the
approval of Building and Safety Services and the Santa Ana
Regional Water Quality Control Board.
19.28.160 Groundwater and Percolation Testing Requirements.
A. Groundwater Testing Procedures.
1. Test borings in the area of an OWTS shall extend to a
minimum of 15 feet unless refusal is reached. Deeper depths
may be required depending on site-specific conditions as
determined by the City of Rancho Cucamonga Building and
Safety Services or the project qualified professional. Site-
specific conditions may include, but not be limited to; the
proposed depth of the system, local geology, soil types
encountered, elevation and terrain, features on site, evidence
and/or knowledge of historic ground water levels in the area,
and the anticipated fluctuation of the groundwater table in
times of normal to above normal annual rainfall.
2. Test borings in the area of a vertical seepage pit or horizontal
seepage pit system shall extend to at least 10 feet deeper
than the bottom of the proposed pit(s).
3. Since groundwater does not always immediately flow into a
test boring, the City of Rancho Cucamonga Building and
Safety Services requires a minimum of 72 hours pass before
an accurate groundwater measurement is taken. The qualified
professional and/or the property owner maintain full
responsibility for protecting the public from any hazards
related to the test borings. It is recommended that all test
Ordinance No.936 - 24 of 54
borings that encounter groundwater be converted to
observation wells so the groundwater conditions can be
monitored over time.
4. If the qualified professional does not wish to complete the test
borings as observation wells, they can cover the test boring,
place safeguards around the borings to prevent unauthorized
access and make an appointment for the City of Rancho
Cucamonga Building and Safety Services staff to observe the
boring at least 72-hours after the boring has been completed.
5. During periods of below normal average rainfall, or after
periods of drought where there has not yet been sufficient
ground water recharge, the absence of groundwater in test
borings in areas where groundwater is suspect may not mean
that approval to issue a septic tank permit can be granted. It
may be necessary for the City of Rancho Cucamonga Building
and Safety Services and the qualified professional to monitor
the test borings for a sufficient period of time to determine
where groundwater will rise to during normal to above normal
rainfall.
B. Percolation Testing Procedure.
All percolation testing for dispersal systems except vertical seepage
pits in the City of Rancho Cucamonga shall be conducted through
the use of the following procedures. The test shall be performed by
or under the direct supervision of a California registered professional
engineer or geologist. Any deviation shall be authorized only after
receiving written approval by the City of Rancho Cucamonga
Building and Safety Services. Percolation testing shall be required
for all new OWTS for non-residential development and for residential
development comprising more than one dwelling unit, where a
percolation report has not previously been completed. A one-lot
custom single family home may use the city's currently adopted
California Plumbing Code, Appendix H — Private Sewage Disposal
Systems, Section H 3.0 - Area of Disposal Fields and Seepage Pits,
and the included Table H 2.1(2) — Design Criteria of Five Typical
Soils for the design of the seepage pit or the leech field.
1. Test Holes. A minimum of four test holes is required when
percolation rates are less than 60 minutes per inch (mpi). A
minimum of six test holes is required when the average
percolation rate is more than 60 mpi. Additional test holes may
be necessary on a site specific basis for reasons that include,
but are not limited to the following: (i) Unacceptable or failed
tests; (ii) Areas of the disposal field requiring defined limits for
Ordinance No.936 - 25 of 54
exclusion; (iii) The disposal system is located out of a
concentrated area; and (iv) Soil conditions are variable or
inconsistent. All test holes shall be representative of the
dispersal system installation depth. If the proposed
development site has any of the following characteristics, test
holes must be extended below the proposed dispersal system
installation depth: (i) Shallow or consolidated rock or
impervious soil layers; (ii) slopes exceeding twenty-five (25%)
percent; or (iii) other factors as might be determined by sound
geotechnical engineering practices.
2. There shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet of soil above any
imperious formation such as rock, clay, adobe, and/or water
table. Fractured rock and consolidated granites will not be
considered as soil. Deep testing may be required to ensure
uniform conditions exist below the disposal field.
3. Depending upon the scope of grading for a project, the
Planning Department may require a conceptual grading plan
and Building and Safety Services may require a grading plan.
If a grading plan is required it should be included with the
percolation report submittal. A grading plan helps Building and
Safety Services ensure testing was done at the correct
depths. Where grading is expected, include the original and
finished elevations in the grading plan. For details on how to
complete a grading plan contact the Building and Safety
Services Department.
4. Percolation testing shall be conducted by, and all
accompanying reports prepared by a Qualified Professional.
5. Prior to reviewing a percolation test, Building and Safety
Service may require a site evaluation during percolation
testing to ensure proper system design, and evaluate site
location to ensure that the system will be in compliance. For
soil to be considered uniform, test results must fall with
twenty-five (25%) percent of the mean percolation rate.
Determining the number of percolation tests required will be
based on soil conditions and project type.
6. For areas which are primarily Sandy Loam or Sandy Clay, a
field design of 60 square feet per 100 gallons.
7. For areas which are primarily Clay wither considerable sand
or gravel, a field design of 90 square feet per 100 gallons.
Ordinance No.936 - 26 of 54
8. Percolation rates in excess of 120 minutes per inch shall be
deemed conclusive evidence that the soil is impermeable is
not suitable for an OWTS.
C. Percolation Testing Reports. All testing data and required result
information shall be submitted to City of Rancho Cucamonga
Building and Safety Services on forms approved by the city. A
minimum of three copies is required. All reports shall be signed with
an original signature and seal by the consultant who either performed
or supervised the testing. All percolation testing is to be performed
by a licensed civil engineer or geologist registered in the State of
California.
19.28.170 Septic Tank Requirements.
A. All conventional OWTS require the use of a septic tank to allow for
the removal of solids in the wastewater prior to being discharged to
the dispersal field. Alternative OWTS also require a septic tank
unless a settling chamber is a component of the treatment unit.
B. Septic Tank Requirements:
1. Septic tanks must be certified by the International Association
of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO).
2. The tank shall be watertight and possess two chambers.
3. Septic tanks shall be certified by the manufacturer to allow for
burial without being water filled to allow for routine
maintenance or to be used as a holding tank as needed.
4. Septic tanks shall be installed per the manufacturer's
instructions.
5. The bottom of the excavation for the tank shall extend into
native or compacted soils to eliminate potential settling
issues.
6. Septic tank location must take into account maintenance and
pumping requirements including vehicle access; and distance
and elevation lift to pumper truck.
7. All tanks must have a capped tee or a 90 degree elbow fitting
on the inlet to prevent gas exchange between the tank and
the house plumbing. Inlet tees must extend at least 14 inches
below the liquid level.
Ordinance No.936 - 27 of 54
8. Outlet tees must be uncapped and must extend at least 12
inches below the liquid level.
9. The outlet elevation shall be between 2 and 6 inches lower
than the inlet elevation to ensure proper fall without a
significant loss of volume.
10. Fall between the outlet of the septic tank and the dispersal
field shall be continuous with a minimum fall that that ensures
the outlet pipe is 4 inches higher than the top of the seepage
pit system or 4 inches above the top of the leach rock or other
components used in the dispersal system on a level system,
or a distribution box if multiple seepage pits or leach lines are
constructed.
11. Septic tanks with greater than 6 inches of cover must have
risers to within 6 inches of finished grade. Risers and lids that
are at or above grade must be watertight and lockable or
require tools to be opened.
12. Septic tank risers must have a current IAPMO certification
prior to use. Concrete risers and lids must be constructed of
Type V concrete or be protected from corrosion from sewer
gases. The interior diameter of the riser shall be a minimum
of eighteen (18) inches.
13. Effluent filters must be IAPMO approved if they are to be
installed as part of the outlet tee.
14. Septic tanks installed in areas of vehicular traffic must be
certified to withstand the proposed loads or have an
engineered traffic slab installed to accommodate the
proposed loads.
15. Minimum tank size is 1000 gallons for residential and 750
gallons for non-residential structures.
16. Septic tanks shall be sized according to anticipated
wastewater flows from the structure(s). The following
standard sizes shall apply: (i) 1-3 bedroom single family
dwelling (0-450 GPD) 1000 gallons; (ii) 4 bedroom single
family dwelling (450-600 GPD) 1200 gallons; (iii) 5-6 bedroom
single family dwelling (601-900 GPD) 1500 gallons; and (iv)
Flows greater than 900 GPD must utilize the following formula
to determine minimum tank sizing: 1125 gallons + (.75)(Flow
in GPD).
Ordinance No.936 - 28 of 54
17. The permitted plan set shall contain a note requiring the septic
tank to be filled with water, without leakage, at the time of the
first inspection.
19.28.180 Leach Line System Requirements.
A. Leach line systems are limited to soils with percolation rates of 120
minutes per inch or less. Percolation rates in excess of 120 minutes
per inch are unsuitable for the installation of an OWTS dispersal
system.
1. At least four percolation test holes at each leach field location
should be provided to represent soil types at the depth of the
proposed leach lines. At least one deep boring should extend
to a depth of at least 15 feet or to impermeable material but in
no case shall there be less than 5 foot of unsaturated,
permeable soil below the bottom of the leach line trench. For
areas of suspected high groundwater, deep borings are
recommended to be 20'-25' to help determine gradients
during varying rainfall periods.
2. Backhoe excavations may be required to demonstrate
uniformity of soil throughout the leach field area(s). Leach line
dispersal systems are limited to slopes of 25 percent (4:1) or
less.
B. Soil Cover Requirements. The maximum soil cover allowed over the
top of the infiltrative surface is 48 inches, measured from the top of
the leach rock chamber/etc. to the ground surface. The minimum
cover required over the top of the infiltrative surface is 12 inches. Soil
cover requirements must also conform to those allowed by the
manufacturer of any gravel-less/chamber design.
C. Leach Line Dimensions. Leach lines are to be installed according to
the qualified professional's specifications for location, length, width,
and depth. Leach lines are to be spaced at least 10 feet apart,
measured center to center. Leach lines shall be installed with a width
of no less than 12 inches and no more than 36 inches. Regardless
of trench width or materials used, dispersal systems using leach lines
shall be designed using not less than 3 square feet of infiltrative area
per linear foot of trench as the infiltrative surface. No reduction in
sizing is allowed for the use of chambers. The minimum length of
leach trench for a new OWTS using leach lines as the dispersal
system shall be 200 feet regardless of the projected wastewater
flows. A 100% reserve area shall be required for all leach line
systems. Properties that previously were required to maintain areas
Ordinance No.936 - 29 of 54
of 200% or 300% reserve shall now have a 100% reserve area
requirement in place of the previous requirement.
D. Materials and Construction Considerations. Leach lines shall not be
placed under impermeable surfaces. Leach lines that are later
covered by impermeable surfaces may not be considered as viable
for purposes of determining primary and reserve area requirements.
All piping and materials used in leach line systems including gravel-
less/chamber systems must have IAPMO approval and must be
approved by City of Rancho Cucamonga Building and Safety
Services prior to installation. Leach lines that utilize gravel shall be
filled with clean, washed leach line rock to a point at least 4 inches
above the top of a 4-inch perforated pipe and shall have a minimum
of 12 inches of gravel below the pipe. The rock shall be graded at 1
to 1.5 inches in size and shall be covered with straw, untreated
building paper or a geotextile fabric prior to backfill to prevent the
infiltration of soil into the rock. Where multiple leach lines are
proposed on sloping ground, a distribution box must be used to
connect the leach lines. Leach line trenches shall be installed with
the trench bottom and materials used being level to within 2 inches
per 100 feet.
E. Leach Lines on Steep Slopes. The following requirements must be
met for the installation of leach line trenches on slopes exceeding 25
percent (4:1) without necessitating the grading of terraces.
1. The maximum slope allowed for leach line trenches is 40
percent (2-1/2:1 slope).
2. All leach lines on steep slopes shall be installed in 5 foot deep
trenches with 12 inches of leach rock below the leach pipe or
with approved chambers or other gravel-less system.
3. The design of disposal systems on steep slopes requires the
experience and expertise to address conditions relative to
soil, slope stability, and subsurface conditions which require
professional judgment and technical knowledge. Designs for
steep slope systems will only be approved when submitted by
a qualified professional licensed in the State of California.
4. Testing must provide data representative of the entire
disposal area and demonstrate that conditions are uniform
below the entire disposal area. The minimum testing required
is: (i) Six percolation tests at a depth equal to the proposed
trench depth; (ii) Two percolation tests five feet below the
proposed trench depth; (iii) Percolation testing must show
rates of 120 minutes per inch or less; and (iv) At least two soil
Ordinance No.936 - 30 of 54
profile borings demonstrating uniform conditions throughout
the disposal area to a depth of 10 feet below the proposed
trench depth.
5. Design reports must include the following: (i) Cross section(s)
hillside soil profile(s); (ii) Detailed boring logs of all test holes
and borings; (iii) Scaled layouts and profiled designs based
on accurate topography; (iv) Any grading proposed on the site
in the disposal area; (v) A slope stability report or statement
from a qualified professional; (vi) Any grading, proposed to
create a stable work area for trench installation, may be
subject to review for conflict with Building and Safety Services
Department.
F. Leach Line System Length.
Table 19.28.180. Leach Line System Length Requirements.
LEACH LINE TRENCH LENGTH (feet) BASED ON PERCOLATION TEST
RATE
Perc Perc
Rate Number of Bedrooms Rate Number of Bedrooms
MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6 MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 200 200 240 270 280 300 31 280 350 420 480 535 595
2 200 200 240 270 280 300 32 280 355 430 480 535 595
3 200 200 240 270 280 300 33 290 360 430 490 545 605
4 200 220 260 290 300 310 34 290 360 440 490 545 605
5 200 240 290 320 320 340 35 290 365 440 500 555 615
6 200 250 300 340 350 360 36 300 370 440 500 555 615
7 210 260 310 350 370 380 37 300 370 450 500 555 615
8 210 265 320 360 390 400 38 300 375 450 510 565 625
9 220 270 320 360 400 410 39 300 380 460 510 565 625
10 220 275 330 370 410 420 40 300 380 460 520 575 635
11 220 280 340 380 420 430 41 310 385 460 520 575 635
12 230 285 340 380 430 440 42 310 390 470 530 585 645
Ordinance No.936 - 31 of 54
LEACH LINE TRENCH LENGTH (feet) BASED ON PERCOLATION TEST
RATE
Perc Perc
Rate Number of Bedrooms Rate Number of Bedrooms
MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6 MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6
13 230 290 350 390 430 450 43 310 390 470 530 585 645
14 235 295 350 400 440 460 44 310 395 480 540 595 655
15 240 300 360 400 450 470 45 320 400 480 540 595 655
16 240 300 360 410 450 490 46 320 400 480 540 595 655
17 240 305 370 410 460 500 47 320 405 490 550 605 665
18 250 310 370 420 460 510 48 330 410 490 550 605 665
19 250 310 380 420 470 520 49 330 410 500 560 615 675
20 250 315 380 430 470 520 50 330 415 500 560 615 675
21 260 320 380 430 480 530 51 340 420 500 560 615 675
22 260 320 390 440 480 530 52 340 420 510 570 625 685
23 260 325 390 440 490 550 53 340 425 510 580 635 695
24 260 330 400 450 500 560 54 340 430 520 580 635 695
25 260 330 400 450 500 560 55 340 430 520 580 635 695
26 270 335 400 450 510 570 56 350 435 520 590 645 705
27 270 340 410 460 515 575 57 350 440 530 590 645 705
28 270 340 410 460 515 575 58 350 440 530 600 655 715
29 270 345 420 470 525 585 59 350 445 540 600 655 715
30 280 350 420 470 525 585 60 360 450 540 610 665 725
Ordinance No.936 - 32 of 54
LEACH LINE TRENCH LENGTH BASED ON PERCOLATION TEST RATE
Perc Perc
Rate Number of Bedrooms Rate Number of Bedrooms
MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6 MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6
61 370 460 550 620 690 740 91 680 770 860 930 980 1020
62 380 470 560 630 680 720 92 695 785 875 945 995 1035
63 390 480 570 640 690 730 93 710 800 890 960 1010 1050
64 400 490 580 650 700 740 94 725 815 905 975 1025 1065
65 420 500 580 660 710 750 95 740 830 920 990 1040 1080
66 420 510 600 670 720 760 96 755 845 935 1005 1055 1095
67 430 520 610 680 730 770 97 770 860 950 1020 1070 1110
68 440 530 620 690 740 780 98 785 875 965 1035 1085 1125
69 450 540 630 700 750 790 99 800 890 980 1050 1100 1140
70 460 550 640 710 760 800 100 815 905 995 1065 1115 1155
71 470 560 650 720 770 810 101 830 920 1010 1080 1130 1170
72 480 570 660 730 780 820 102 845 935 1025 1095 1145 1185
73 490 580 670 740 790 830 103 860 950 1040 1110 1160 1200
74 500 590 680 750 800 840 104 875 965 1055 1125 1175 1215
75 510 600 690 760 810 850 105 890 980 1070 1140 1190 1230
76 520 610 700 770 820 860 106 905 995 1085 1155 1205 1245
77 530 620 710 780 830 870 107 920 1010 1100 1170 1220 1260
78 540 630 720 790 840 880 108 935 1025 1115 1185 1230 1270
79 550 640 730 800 850 890 109 950 1040 1130 1200 1250 1290
80 560 650 740 810 860 900 110 965 1055 1145 1215 1265 1305
81 570 660 750 820 870 910 111 980 1070 1160 1230 1280 1320
82 580 670 760 830 880 920 112 995 1085 1175 1245 1295 1335
83 590 680 770 840 890 930 113 1010 1100 1190 1260 1310 1350
Ordinance No.936 - 33 of 54
LEACH LINE TRENCH LENGTH BASED ON PERCOLATION TEST RATE
Perc Perc
Rate Number of Bedrooms Rate Number of Bedrooms
MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6 MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6
84 600 690 780 850 900 940 114 1025 1115 1205 1275 1325 1365
85 610 700 790 860 910 950 115 1040 1130 1220 1290 1340 1380
86 620 710 800 870 920 960 116 1055 1145 1235 1305 1355 1395
87 630 720 810 880 930 970 117 1070 1160 1250 1320 1370 1410
88 640 730 820 890 940 980 118 1085 1175 1265 1335 1385 1425
89 650 740 830 900 950 990 119 1100 1190 1280 1350 1390 1440
90 665 755 845 915 965 1005 120 1120 1210 1300 1370 1420 1460
Note: MPI means minutes per inch. Conversion Factor example. (1 inch of drop/#
Perc Rate) x 60 minutes per hour = 6 inches/hour.
19.28.190 Vertical Seepage Pit System Requirements.
A. Permitted Locations.
1. Any lot previously approved for the use of a vertical seepage
pit must meet all current requirements found in this section to
be considered for development based on the use of a vertical
seepage pit. A new custom single family house may use the
sizing criteria for existing lots.
2. New lots containing two or more OWTS units, upon the
recommendation and design by a qualified professional soils
engineer.
B. Percolation Test Procedures for Vertical Seepage Pit Systems. All
vertical seepage pits for new construction, or for 2 or more lots, will
require percolation testing by a qualified professional certified to
perform percolation tests in City of Rancho Cucamonga. A waiver of
testing can be considered where adequate information exists as to
soil types, depth and permeability. Percolation testing for vertical
seepage pits shall be completed per the following guidelines:
1. A 12 to 48 inch diameter test hole shall be excavated to a
depth of at least 10 feet deeper than the proposed installation
depth.
Ordinance No.936 - 34 of 54
2. A minimum 10 foot separation between the bottom of the
vertical seepage pit and the anticipated high groundwater
level is required.
3. Boring logs shall be recorded and included with all test reports
indicating soil strata depths and types and visual classification
according to the unified soil classification system along with
any groundwater encountered.
4. The overdrill must be checked for the presence of
groundwater a minimum of 24 hours after the completion of
the test boring to allow time for groundwater to stabilize in the
hole.
5. After the groundwater reading is recorded, the test hole shall
be backfilled to a depth 10 feet above the bottom of the test
hole or the groundwater level whichever is shallower.
6. The pit shall be filled with water to the cap depth and a
continuous pre-soak shall be maintained at the proposed cap
level for a minimum 8-hour period. In highly permeable soils
when cap levels cannot be maintained during pre-soak, the
test shall be conducted at a depth no higher than the pre-soak
level which was attained. Document the pre-soak attempt with
gallons of water used. In no case shall less than 5,000 gallons
of water be used within a 1 hour period in the attempted pre-
soak when the cap level cannot be maintained. The depth of
the test shall be noted on the boring log and in no case shall
the sidewall of permeable soil below the cap level be less than
ten foot.
7. Upon completion of the pre-soak period, fill the pit to cap level
and determine uniformity of soil by measuring the falling head.
Distance to the water level shall be measured at 15 minute
intervals, or more frequently if needed, until the drop stops or
the pit empties. A graph of the drop in water level shall be
attached to all proposals submitted by the qualified
professional. If non-uniform rates persist, the soil will not be
considered uniform and the tests discontinued as they will not
be approved by City of Rancho Cucamonga Building and
Safety Services.
8. If the procedure in Item no. 4 demonstrates uniform soil,
proceed with a two-hour static head or falling head capacity
test: (i) Static Head — the pit shall be filled with water to the
cap depth and the water column shall be maintained at that
level for two hours. The amount of water added to maintain
Ordinance No.936 - 35 of 54
this level must be documented. The 24-hour capacity is
determined by multiplying by 12. Adjustment to a four foot
diameter pit is made if a lesser size test hole is used; (ii)
Falling Head — the pit shall be filled with water to the cap
depth and the column of water shall be allowed to drop for a
two hour period. The distance dropped shall be measured and
the amount of water absorbed determined. This amount is
multiplied by 12 to determine the 24-hour capacity.
Adjustment to a four foot diameter pit is made if a lesser size
test hole is used.
9. The minimum capacity for a new OWTS using vertical
seepage pits as the dispersal system shall be 5 times the
volume of the required septic tank or 5000 gallons per day
whichever is greater. All individual vertical seepage pit shall
have a minimum capacity of 1,667 gallons per day.
10. Each pit must meet these minimum criteria to be acceptable.
The qualified professional may include safety factors as he
feels the situation warrants.
11. It shall be the responsibility of the qualified professional to
maintain all test holes or pits in a safe manner prior to backfill
or capping to prevent a hazard or accident.
C. Dimensions and Construction Requirements.
1. Vertical seepage pits shall be installed according to the
qualified profession's specifications for location, depth, and
cap depth.
2. The pit excavation shall be five (5), six (6) or seven (7) feet in
diameter. Pit excavations greater than 7-feet in diameter
require prior approval by the Building Official.
3. The sidewall depth below the inlet shall not be less than 14
feet.
4. The minimum depth to the top of the infiltrative surface
allowed is 2 feet. This depth is also known as the cap depth.
There is no maximum cap depth but documentation must be
provided to justify any cap depth greater than 5 feet.
5. The maximum slope allowed for the use of vertical seepage
pits is 40 percent (2-1/2:1 slope). Slopes that exceed 25%
(4:1) will require additional engineering and design detail as
required to address the risk of effluent surfacing on the slope
recognizable as sewage as well as slope stability issues.
Ordinance No.936 - 36 of 54
Slopes that exceed 25% (4:1) will, in most cases, require a
terrace design or grading to allow for drilling access. Any
grading shall be in accordance with any permit requirements
for brushing, clearing, and grading from any other agency.
6. All pits must be filled with clean washed leach line rock to the
cap depth. The rock shall be graded at 1 to 1.5 inches in size
and shall be covered with straw, untreated building paper or a
geotextile fabric prior to backfill to prevent the infiltration of soil
into the rock.
7. A 4 inch Schedule 40 pipe shall be installed from the ground
surface to the bottom of each seepage pit for clean-out,
pumping and verification of the total pit depth. The pipe shall
have perforations from the cap depth to the bottom of the pit
and be of solid construction from the cap depth to the ground
surface. A screw fit cap must be placed on top of the riser to
allow access.
8. Where more than one vertical seepage pit is proposed for the
primary or reserve system, a distribution box must be used to
connect the pits. Chaining or lining the seepage pits together
such that the overflow from an upstream pit flows to a
downstream pit shall not be permitted.
D. Design Criteria for Replacement of Existing Private Sewage Disposal
Systems.
Table 19.28.190.D Design Criteria for Replacement of Existing Private Sewage
Disposal Systems.
Minimum 3 Ft A.P.* @ 5 Ft A.P.* @ 7 Ft A.P.* @ Size of Seepage Pit
Septic Disposal 12" 24" 36" with
Tank Leach Wide Bottom Wide Bottom Wide Bottom Min. 4Ft. — Max. 6Ft.
Ca acit Field Below Below Below
p y (Area Leach Line Leach Line Leach Line Dia. Liner.
(Gallons) Req'd) (A.P. x (A.P. x (A.P. x (Diameter x Depth)
Required Length) Length) Length) (See notes: 3, 4, 5 & 6)
Field Design at 60 Square Feet/ 100 gallons (See Pit design at 60 Square
notes: 1, 2, 3 & 6) Feet/ 100 gallons
1,000 600 (2) 3' x 100' (4) 5' x 55' (2) 7' x 100' or 5' x 39' 6' x 32'7' x 28'
(1) 7 x 200
1,200 720 (3) 3' x 80' (4) 5' x 66' (4) 7' x 52' 5' x 46' 6' x 38'7' x 33'
Ordinance No.936 - 37 of 54
1,500 900 (3) 3' x 100' (3) 5' x 82' (3) 7' x 70' 5' x 58' 6' x 48'7' x 41'
Field Design at 90 Square Feet/ 100 gallons (See Pit design at 90 Square
notes: 1, 2, 3 & 6) Feet/ 100 gallons
1,000 900 (3) 3' x 100' (2) 5' x 100' (3) 7' x 64' 5' x 58' 6' x 48'7' x 41'
1,200 1,080 (4) 3' x90' (3) 5' x72' (3) 7' x78' 5' x69' 6' x58'7' x50'
1,500 1,350 (5) 3' x 90' (3) 5' x 90' (2) 7' x 100' 5' x 86' 6' x 72'7' x 62'
Notes: *Absorption Perimeter
1. Other variations may be allowed to width and depth so
as to achieve the required leach area. Chapter 8.
2. Trenches shall not have less than 600 sq. ft of
infiltrative area. Chapter 8.
3. All deviations from this handout will require a
percolation test with a designed septic system by a licensed
Civil Engineer.
4. Depth of the seepage pit shall be measured from the
bottom of the pit to the invert of the distribution pipe. Chapter
9.
5. Multiple seepage pits may be used. If this is the case,
the required depth from the table above can be divided equally
among the numbers of seepage pits. In no cases the depth of
seepage pits can be less than the "minimum depth". Chapter
9.
E. Design Criteria for New Private Sewage Disposal Systems.
1. Five-Foot Diameter Pits:
SEEPAGE PIT DEPTH (feet) BASED ON PERCOLATION TEST RATE
Perc Number of Bedrooms Perc Number of Bedrooms
Rate Rate
MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6 MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 17 17 17 17 18 19 31 18 22 27 31 34 38
2 17 17 17 17 18 19 32 18 23 27 31 34 38
3 17 17 17 17 18 19 33 18 23 27 31 35 39
4 17 17 17 18 19 20 34 18 23 28 31 35 39
5 17 17 18 20 20 22 35 18 23 28 32 35 39
Ordinance No.936 - 38 of 54
SEEPAGE PIT DEPTH (feet) BASED ON PERCOLATION TEST RATE
Perc Perc
Rate Number of Bedrooms Rate Number of Bedrooms
MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6 MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6
6 17 17 19 22 22 23 36 19 24 28 32 35 39
7 17 17 20 22 24 24 37 19 24 29 32 35 39
8 17 17 20 23 25 25 38 19 24 29 32 36 40
9 17 17 20 23 25 26 39 19 24 29 32 36 40
10 17 18 21 24 26 27 40 19 24 29 33 37 40
11 17 18 22 24 27 27 41 20 25 29 33 37 40
12 17 18 22 24 27 28 42 20 25 30 34 37 41
13 17 18 22 25 27 29 43 20 25 30 34 37 41
14 17 19 22 25 28 29 44 20 25 31 34 38 42
15 17 19 23 25 29 30 45 20 25 31 34 38 42
16 17 19 23 26 29 31 46 20 25 31 34 38 42
17 17 19 24 26 29 32 47 20 26 31 35. 39 42
18 17 20 24 27 29 32 48 21 26 31 35 39 42
19 17 20 24 27 30 33 49 21 26 32 36 39 43
20 17 20 24 27 30 33 50 21 26 32 36 39 43
21 17 20 24 27 31 34 51 22 27 32 36 39 43
22 17 20 25 28 31 34 52 22 27 32 36 40 44
23 17 21 25 28 31 35 53 22 27 32 37 40 44
24 17 21 25 29 32 36 54 22 27 33 37 40 44
25 17 21 25 29 32 36 55 22 27 33 37 40 44
26 17 21 25 29 32 36 56 22 28 33 38 41 45
27 17 22 26 29 33 37 57 22 28 34 38 41 45
28 17 22 26 29 33 37 58 22 28 34 38 42 46
29 17 22 27 30 33 37 59 22 28 34 38 42 46
30 18 22 27 30 33 37 60 23 29 34 39 42 46
SEEPAGE PIT DEPTH (feet) BASED ON PERCOLATION TEST RATE
Perc Perc
Rate Number of Bedrooms Rate Number of Bedrooms
MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6 MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6
61 24 29 35 39 44 47 91 43 49 55 59 62 65
62 24 30 36 40 43 46 92 44 50 56 60 63 66
63 25 31 36 41 44 46 93 45 51 57 61 64 67
64 25 31 37 41 45 47 94 46 52 58 62 65 68
65 27 32 37 42 45 48 95 47 53 59 63 66 69
66 27 32 38 43 46 48 96 48 54 60 64 _67 70
67 27 33 39 43 46 49 97 49 55 61 65 68 71
Ordinance No.936 - 39 of 54
SEEPAGE PIT DEPTH (feet) BASED ON PERCOLATION TEST RATE
Perc Perc
Rate Number of Bedrooms Rate Number of Bedrooms
MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6 MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6
68 28 34 39 44 47 50 98 50 56 61 66 69 72
69 29 34 40 45 48 50 99 51 57 62 67 70 73
70 29 35 41 45 48 51 100 52 58 63 68 71 74
71 30 36 41 46 49 52 101 53 59 64 69 72 75
72 31 36 42 46 50 52 102 54 60 65 70 73 75
73 31 37 43 47 50 53 103 55 61 66 71 74 76
74 32 38 43 48 51 54 104 56 61 67 72 75 77
75 32 38 44 48 52 54 105 57 62 68 73 76 78
76 33 39 45 49 52 55 106 58 63 69 74 77 79
77 34 39 45 50 53 55 107 59 64 70 75 78 80
78 34 40 46 50 54 56 108 60 65 71 75 78 81
79 35 41 46 51 54 57 109 61 66 72 76 80 82
80 36 41 47 52 55 57 110 61 67 73 77 81 83
81 36 42 48 52 55 58 111 62 68 74 78 82 84
82 37 43 48 53 56 59 112 63 69 75 79 82 85
83 38 43 49 54 57 59 113 64 70 76 80 83 86
84 38 44 50 54 57 60 114 65 71 77 81 84 87
85 39 45 50 55 58 61 115 66 72 78 82 85 88
86 39 45 51 55 59 61 116 67 73 79 83 86 89
87 40 46 52 56 59 62 117 68 74 80 84 87 90
88 41 46 52 57 60 62 118 69 75 81 85 88 91
89 41 47 53 57 61 63 119 70 76 82 86 89 92
90 42 48 54 58 61 64 120 71 77 83 87 90 93
Where: mpi = minutes per inch
Conversion Factor:
Example: (1 inch of drop / X MPI) x 60 minutes per hour = 6 inches/hour
2. Six-Foot Diameter Pits:
SEEPAGE PIT DEPTH (feet) BASED ON PERCOLATION TEST RATE
Perc Perc
Rate Number of Bedrooms Rate Number of Bedrooms
MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6 MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 17 17 17 17 _ 17 17 31 17 19 22 25 28 32
2 17 17 17 17 17 17 32 17 19 23 25 28 32
Ordinance No.936 - 40 of 54
SEEPAGE PIT DEPTH (feet) BASED ON PERCOLATION TEST RATE
Perc Perc
Rate Number of Bedrooms Rate Number of Bedrooms
MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6 MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6
3 17 17 17 17 17 17 33 17 19 23 26 29 32
4 17 17 17 17 17 17 34 17 19 23 26 29 32
5 17 17 17 17 17 18 35 17 19 23 27 29 33
6 17 17 17 18 19 19 36 17 20 23 27 29 33
7 17 17 17 19 20 20 37 17 20 24 27 29 33
8 17 17 17 19 21 21 38 17 20 24 27 30 33
9 17 17 17 19 21 22 39 17 20 24 27 30 33
10 17 17 18 20 22 22 40 17 20 24 28 31 34
11 17 17 18 20 22 23 41 17 20 24 28 31 34
12 17 17 18 20 23 23 42 17 21 25 28 31 34
13 17 17 19 21 23 24 43 17 21 25 28 31 34
14 17 17 19 21 23 24 44 17 21 25 29 32 35
15 17 17 19 21 24 25 45 17 21 25 29 32 35
16 17 17 19 22 24 26 46 17 21 25 29 32 35
17 17 17 20 22 24 27 47 17 21 26 29 32 35
18 17 17 20 22 24 27 48 18 22 26 29 32 35
19 17 17 20 22 25 28 49 18 22 27 30 33 36
20 17 17 20 23 25 28 50 18 22 27 30 33 36
21 17 17 20 23 25 28 51 18 22 27 30 33 36
22 17 17 21 23 25 28 52 18 22 27 30 33 36
23 17 17 21 23 26 29 53 18 23 27 31 34 37
24 17 18 21 24 27 30 54 18 23 28 31 34 37
25 17 18 21 24 27 30 55 18 23 28 31 34 37
26 17 18 21 24 27 30 56 19 23 28 31 34 37
27 17 18 22 24 27 31 57 19 23 28 31 34 37
28 17 18 22 24 27 31 58 19 23 28 32 35 38
29 17 18 22 25 28 31 59 19 24 29 32 35 38
30 17 19 22 25 28 31 60 19 24 29 32 35 38
SEEPAGE PIT DEPTH (feet) BASED ON PERCOLATION TEST RATE
Perc Perc
Rate Number of Bedrooms Rate Number of Bedrooms
MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6 MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6
61 20 24 29 33 37 39 91 36 41 46 49 52 54
62 20 25 30 33 36 38 92 37 42 46 50 53 55
63 21 25 30 34 37 39 93 38 42 47 51 54 56
64 21 26 31 35 37 39 94 38 43 48 52 54 57
Ordinance No.936 - 41 of 54
SEEPAGE PIT DEPTH (feet) BASED ON PERCOLATION TEST RATE
Perc Perc
Rate Number of Bedrooms Rate Number of Bedrooms
MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6 MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6
65 22 27 31 35 38 40 95 39 44 49 53 55 57
66 22 27 32 36 38 40 96 40 45 50 53 56 58
67 23 28 32 36 39 41 97 41 46 50 54 57 59
68 23 28 33 37 39 41 98 42 46 51 55 58 60
69 24 29 33 37 40 42 99 42 47 52 56 58 61
70 24 29 34 38 40 42 100 43 48 53 57 59 61
71 25 30 35 38 41 43 101 44 49 54 57 60 62
72 25 30 35 39 41 44 102 45 50 54 58 61 63
73 26 31 36 39 42 44 103 46 50 55 59 62 64
74 27 31 36 40 42 45 104 46 51 56 60 62 64
75 27 32 37 40 43 45 105 47 52 57 61 63 65
76 28 32 37 41 44 46 106 48 53 58 61 64 66
77 28 33 38 41 44 46 107 49 54 58 62 65 67
78 29 33 38 42 45 47 108 50 54 59 63 65 67
79 29 34 39 42 45 47 109 50 55 60 64 66 68
80 30 35 39 43 46 48 110 51 56 61 64 67 69
81 30 35 40 44 46 48 111 52 57 62 65 68 70
82 31 36 40 44 47 49 112 53 58 62 66 69 71
83 31 36 41 45 47 49 113 54 58 63 67 70 72
84 32 37 41 45 48 50 114 54 59 64 68 70 72
85 32 37 42 46 48 50 115 55 60 65 68 71 73
86 33 38 42 46 49 51 116 56 61 66 69 72 74
87 33 38 43 47 49 51 117 57 62 66 70 73 75
88 34 39 44 47 50 52 118 58 62 67 71 74 76
89 35 39 44 48 50 53 119 58 63 68 72 74 76
90 35 40 45 49 51 53 120 59 64 69 73 75 77
3. Seven-Foot Diameter Pits:
SEEPAGE PIT DEPTH (feet) BASED ON PERCOLATION TEST RATE
Perc Perc
Rate Number of Bedrooms Rate Number of Bedrooms
MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6 MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 17 17 17 17 17 17 31 17 17 19 22 24 27
2 17 17 17 17 17 17 32 17 17 20 22 24 27
3 17 17 17 17 17 17 33 17 17 20 22 25 28
4 17 17 17 17 17 17 34 17 17 20 22 25 28
Ordinance No.936 - 42 of 54
SEEPAGE PIT DEPTH (feet) BASED ON PERCOLATION TEST RATE
Perc Perc
Rate Number of Bedrooms Rate Number of Bedrooms
MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6 MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6
5 17 17 17 17 17 17 35 17 17 20 23 25 28
6 17 17 17 17 17 17 36 17 17 20 23 25 28
7 17 17 17 17 17 17 37 17 17 20 23 25 28
8 17 17 17 17 18 18 38 17 17 20 23 26 28
9 17 17 17 17 18 19 39 17 17 21 23 26 28
10 17 17 17 17 19 19 40 17 17 21 24 26 29
11 17 17 17 17 19 20 41 17 18 21 24 26 29
12 17 17 17 17 20 20 42 17 18 21 24 27 29
13 17 17 17 18 20 20 43 17 18 21 24 27 29
14 17 17 17 18 20 21 44 17 18 22 25 27 30
15 17 17 17 18 20 21 45 17 18 22 25 27 30
16 17 17 17 19 20 22 46 17 18 22 25 27 30
17 17 17 17 19 21 23 47 17 18 22 25 28 30
18 17 17 17 19 21 23 48 17 19 22 25 28 30
19 17 17 17 19 21 24 49 17 19 23 25 28 31
20 17 17 17 20 21 24 50 17 19 23 25 28 31
21 17 17 17 20 22 24 51 17 19 23 25 28 31
22 17 17 18 20 22 24 52 17 19 23 26 28 31
23 17 17 18 20 22 25 53 17 19 23 26 29 32
24 17 17 18 20 23 25 54 17 20 24 26 29 32
25 17 17 18 20 23 25 55 17 20 24 26 29 32
26 17 17 18 20 23 26 56 17 20 24 27 29 32
27 17 17 19 21 23 26 57 17 20 24 27 29 32
28 17 17 19 21 23 26 58 17 20 24 27 30 33
29 17 17 19 21 24 27 59 17 20 25 27 30 33
30 17 17 19 21 24 27 60 17 20 25 28 30 33
SEEPAGE PIT DEPTH (feet) BASED ON PERCOLATION TEST RATE
Perc Perc
Rate Number of Bedrooms Rate Number of Bedrooms
MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6 MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6
61 17 21 25 28 31 34 91 31 35 39 42 45 46
62 17 21 25 29 31 33 92 32 36 40 43 45 47
63 18 22 26 29 31 33 93 32 36 40 44 46 48
64 18 22 26 30 32 34 94 33 37 41 44 47 48
65 19 23 26 30 32 34 95 34 38 42 45 47 49
66 19 23 27 30 33 35 96 34 38 43 46 48 50
Ordinance No.936 - 43 of 54
SEEPAGE PIT DEPTH (feet) BASED ON PERCOLATION TEST RATE
Perc Perc
Rate Number of Bedrooms Rate Number of Bedrooms
MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6 MPI 1 2 3 4 5 6
67 20 24 28 31 33 35 97 35 39 43 46 49 51
68 20 24 28 31 34 35 98 36 40 44 47 49 51
69 20 25 29 32 34 36 99 36 40 45 48 50 52
70 21 25 29 32 35 36 100 37 41 45 48 51 53
71 21 25 30 33 35 37 101 38 42 46 49 51 53
72 22 26 30 33 35 37 102 38 43 47 50 52 54
73 22 26 30 34 36 38 103 39 43 47 51 53 55
74 23 27 31 34 36 38 104 40 44 48 51 53 55
75 23 27 31 35 37 39 105 40 45 49 52 54 56
76 24 28 32 35 37 39 106 41 45 49 53 55 57
77 24 28 32 35 38 40 107 42 46 50 53 56 57
78 25 29 33 36 38 40 108 43 47 51 54 56 58
79 25 29 33 36 39 40 109 43 47 51 55 57 59
80 25 30 34 37 39 41 110 44 48 52 55 58 59
81 26 30 34 37 40 41 111 45 49 53 56 58 60
82 26 30 35 38 40 42 112 45 49 53 57 59 61
83 27 31 35 38 40 42 113 46 50 54 57 60 61
84 27 31 35 39 41 43 114 47 51 55 58 60 62
85 28 32 36 39 41 43 115 47 51 56 59 61 63
86 28 32 36 40 42 44 116 48 52 56 59 62 63
87 29 33 37 40 42 44 117 49 53 57 60 62 64
88 29 33 37 40 43 45 118 49 53 58 61 63 65
89 30 34 38 41 43 45 119 50 54 58 61 63 66
90 30 34 38 42 44 46 120 51 55 59 62 65 66
19.28.200 Horizontal Seepage Pit Systems.
The use of the horizontal seepage pit systems is permitted only where
adequate area does not exist for a leach line system. All horizontal seepage
pit systems shall comply with the design and construction requirements
provided in this section.
A. Percolation Test Procedures for Horizontal Seepage Pit Systems. All
percolation tests shall be performed in accordance with the test
procedures found in 19.28.160 (Groundwater and Percolation
Testing Requirements). In addition to the requirements of Section
19.28.160, percolation tests for horizontal seepage pits must also
comply with the following additional requirements:
Ordinance No.936 - 44 of 54
1. The average percolation rates shall not exceed 30 minutes
per inch in any portion of the horizontal seepage pit. Individual
rates exceeding 30 minutes per inch may be considered with
additional soil testing.
2. At least 4 percolation test holes at each pit location should be
provided to represent soil types within the infiltrative surface
area of the seepage pit. This profile should represent the
entire sidewall depth of the pit.
3. At least 1 deep boring should extend to a depth of at least 10
feet below the bottom of the seepage pit, or to impermeable
material. In no case shall less than 5 feet of unsaturated
permeable soil exist below the bottom of the seepage pit.
4. Backhoe excavations may be required to demonstrate
uniformity of soil throughout the seepage pit. This would be
necessary when the pit is proposed in an area of variable soil
conditions.
5. Any percolation tests for horizontal seepage pits, which were
approved based on testing prior to the effective date of this
section, will require additional percolation testing unless the
previous testing meets current requirements.
B. Dimensions and Construction Requirements.
1. Horizontal seepage pits are to be installed according to the
qualified professional's specifications for location, length,
width, and depth.
2. Horizontal seepage pits must be spaced 20 feet apart
measured edge to edge.
3. Primary and reserve horizontal seepage pits cannot be
combined in one common pit.
4. The pit excavation must be at least 4 feet in width, but not
greater than 6 feet in width.
5. The top of the infiltrative surface shall be at least 2 feet below
the natural grade but no more than 5 feet. This depth is also
known as the cap depth. Additional soil can be placed over
the top of the installed horizontal seepage pit at the discretion
of the qualified professional.
6. The sidewall depth below the cap shall be at least 6 feet but
cannot exceed 7 feet.
Ordinance No.936 - 45 of 54
7. The pit excavations may arc or bend under the following
conditions: (i) The maximum deflection cannot exceed a total
of 45 degrees in any direction without increasing the pit length
to compensate for loss of sidewall area; (ii) Bends or arcs
totaling greater than 45 degrees may be accepted on a case-
by-case basis. A correction factor will be required, increasing
the total length, due to sidewall loss; and (iii) U-shaped and
H-shaped bends will not be accepted.
8. The maximum slope for the use of horizontal seepage pits is
25% (4:1). Exceptions to this slope limit may be considered
up to 50% (2:1), on a case-by-case basis, where the soil and
slope are uniform, extending 100 feet beyond the seepage pit.
Additional testing, and design detail shall be required to
address the risk of effluent surfacing on the slope
recognizable as sewage as well as slope stability issues.
Slopes that exceed 25% (4:1) will, in most cases, require a
terrace design. Any grading to create terraces should be in
accordance with any permit requirements for brushing,
clearing, and grading from any other agency.
9. The use of concrete pit liners is allowed. If used, the concrete
pit liners shall meet the testing standards established by the
International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical
Officials (IAPMO).
10. All pits must be filled with clean leach line rock to the cap
depth of the horizontal pit liner. The rock should be graded at
1 to 1.5 inches in size and shall be covered with straw,
untreated building paper or a geotextile fabric prior to backfill
to prevent the infiltration of soil into the rock.
11. A manifold system constructed of 4 inch loop of Schedule 40
perforated pipe shall be installed in the pit to allow for
distribution of the effluent throughout the entire pit. The
manifold shall be placed 1 foot from the sidewall of the
horizontal seepage pit and shall run the length and width of
the pit in a rectangular pattern.
12. Where more than one horizontal seepage pit is proposed for
the primary or reserve system, a distribution box must be used
to connect the pits.
13. A hybrid system combining a horizontal seepage pit for the
primary or reserve design, and leach lines for the other system
is allowed. However, a combination of the two types of
systems, used for a single primary or reserve design, will not
Ordinance No.936 - 46 of 54
be considered. The system design identified as the most
difficult installation shall be installed as the primary system.
This is to be based on access, grading, or other obstacles to
install the system once the house is constructed.
14. The California Occupational Health and Safety Act (COHSA)
requires shoring for excavations exceeding 5 feet when
persons will be working in them. All work done installing
horizontal seepage pits must comply with COHSA for the
purpose of construction and inspection.
C. Horizontal Seepage Pit Sizing Calculations. The calculations for
sizing a horizontal seepage pit are done to provide an equivalent
amount of sidewall area in the seepage pit as found in a standard 3
foot deep leach line trench using the same percolation rate.
Seepage Pit Length = (3LL —2wd)/ 2d
Where: 3 = sq. ft. of absorptive sidewall area per lineal foot of
3 foot deep leach line trench
LL = leach line length as a function of percolation rate
w = seepage pit width
d = seepage pit sidewall depth below cap
19.28.210 Alternative onsite wastewater treatment systems; Use of
alternative systems.
Alternative onsite wastewater treatment systems and sewage holding tanks
may only be used with prior approval of the Director of Building and Safety
Services prior to submittal of plans for permitting purposes. Owners of
alternative treatment systems located within the City must:
A. Maintain an operating permit;
B. Ensure the alternative treatment system is inspected annually; and
C. Submit quarterly water samples during the first year of use.
19.28.220 Alternate onsite wastewater treatment systems siting and
operational requirements; Variances permissible.
A. Property owners may apply to Building and Safety Services to
establish alternative OWTS siting and operational requirements
where it is determined by Building and Safety Services that
Ordinance No.936 - 47 of 54
alternative requirements will provide equivalent level of
environmental protection.
B. Variances will not be granted in the following circumstances:
1. Where the proposed OWTS presents a substantial likelihood
of discharging sewage, impure waters, or any matter or
substance offensive, injurious, or dangerous to health so as
to cause any of the following to occur:
Sewage, impure waters, or any matter or substance
offensive, injurious, or dangerous to health to empty,
flow, seep, or drain onto the surface of any land.
ii. Sewage, impure waters, or any matter or substance
offensive, injurious, or dangerous to health to empty,
flow, seep, drain into, or affect any well, spring, stream,
river, lake, or other waters.
iii. Result in any condition which is unsafe, dangerous, or
creates a nuisance.
2. Above surface discharge. Variances will not be granted for
any OWTS which utilizes any form of effluent disposal
discharging on, or above, the post installation ground surface;
this includes, but is not limited to sprinklers, exposed drip
lines, free-surface wetlands, and ponds.
3. Sewer availability. Variances will not be granted for any
OWTS where there is a public sewer available. Building and
Safety Services Department may require a "Will or Will Not
Serve" letter Cucamonga Valley Water District with each new
or replacement OWTS proposal to evaluate the proximity and
availability of community systems to the proposed OWTS site.
This will ensure septic systems are only installed in areas
where a sewer is unavailable. The "Will or Will Not Serve"
letter must include the following: (i) Parcel number for the
property where the OWTS is being proposed; (ii) Distance to
the nearest available sewer line; and (iii) Whether or not the
sewering entity will provide service to the parcel. The "Will or
Will Not Serve" letter must be completed and signed by the
appropriate official representing the sewering entity and be
filed with the Building and Safety Services Department prior
to submittal of the percolation report/plot plan, or upon request
once the percolation report/plot plan has been submitted.
4. Sewer Requirement. Connection to a public sewer system is
required within established sewer service districts and outside
Ordinance No.936 - 48 of 54
such districts when required by the RWQCB. Developments
must connect to a sewer system when the nearest property
line is within 200 feet of a sewer line. This requirement will be
increased by 100 feet for each dwelling unit within the
development.
5. Ground Slope. Variances will not be granted for slopes
greater than a 30% incline without a slope stability report
approved by a Qualified Professional. Refer to Natural
Ground Slope for more information regarding natural ground
slope requirements.
6. Leaching Areas. As referenced in the current adopted
California Plumbing Code, Appendix H —Private Sewage
Disposal Systems — Section H 301.1 Leaching Chambers
that comply with IAPMO PS 63 and bundled expanded
polystyrene synthetic aggregate units that comply with IAPMO
IGC 276 shall be sized using the required area calculated
using Table H 201.1(3) with a 0.70 multiplier.
7. Supplemental Treatment. OWTS utilizing supplemental
treatment require periodic monitoring or inspections. No
variances will be granted for supplemental treatments that are
unable to meet this requirement.
8. Depth to Groundwater. No variance will be granted for OWTS
with a depth from the bottom of the dispersal system to
groundwater less than 5 feet. The exception to this will be for
seepage pits which shall have a separation no less than 10
feet.
9. Recreational Vehicle (RV) Holding Tanks. No variances will
be granted for OWTS dedicated to receiving significant
amounts of wastes, which are dumped from RV holding tanks.
10. Class V Injection Wells. United States Environmental
Protection Agency (USEPA) requirements apply to
underground injections control systems for OWTS.
Subsurface disposal systems including leach fields and
seepage pits shall comply with USEPA Underground Injection
Control requirements when classified as a Class V injection
well. Subsurface disposal systems with at least one of the
following characteristics are classified as Class V wells: (i)
The system has the capacity to serve 20 or more persons per
day; (ii) The system receives wastewater other than domestic
wastewater such as that generated by manufacturing,
chemical processing, industrial fluid disposal, automotive
Ordinance No.936 - 49 of 54
repair, or recycling; or (iii) The system receives sewage
containing biological agents (such as wastewater from
recreational vehicles or portable toilets). Disposal systems
that are classified as Class V wells must be registered with
USEPA.
19.28.230 Sewer wells; cesspools; seepage pits.
Except those permitted pursuant to a valid OWTS permit issued in
conformance with the requirements of this chapter, all sewer wells,
cesspools, seepage pits, and similar excavations are hereby declared a
public nuisance and are prohibited.
19.28.240 Holding tanks.
A. All holding tanks are hereby declared a public nuisance and are
prohibited. Exception to this prohibition may be granted by the
Director of Building and Safety Services:
1. If it is necessary to use a holding tank to abate a nuisance or
health hazard caused by a failing OWTS; or
2. For a publicly-owned nonresidential facility necessary for the
public health, safety or welfare, where installation of an OWTS
is not feasible and a holding tank is determined by the Director
of Building and Safety Services to provide the safest and most
acceptable method of sewage disposal.
B. Where exceptions are granted and holding tank(s) approved, an
operating permit issued by the director will be required, which will
provide for approval of the tank pumper, maintenance schedule,
tank/sewage level monitoring, and reporting requirements.
19.28.250 OWTS failures; Corrective actions required.
A. All OWTS failures resulting in effluent surfacing, wastewater surface
discharge, or wastewater back-up into plumbing fixtures, shall be
reported immediately to Building and Safety Services, upon
discovery.
B. Building and Safety Services or other designated City departments
will complete an investigation within 24 hours to determine the
validity of the complaint or other notification of a failing OWTS.
C. Any OWTS that is found to be failing shall have a notice of violation
issued to the property owner requiring action to eliminate the
immediate health hazard through pumping of the septic tank by a
licensed sewage hauler or elimination of wastewater flows to the
Ordinance No.936 - 50 of 54
failing OWTS. The notice of violation will also require a repair to be
completed to the OWTS as needed within a reasonable time frame.
D. The proposed repair shall be evaluated by Building and Safety
Services to ensure it meets the minimum design requirements of this
chapter or is in substantial conformance to the greatest extent
practicable.
E. Groundwater separation requirements to the bottom of the dispersal
system and the highest anticipated groundwater level for repairs
shall be as follows: (i) 5 foot for conventional OWTS; (ii) 2 foot for
alternative OWTS with supplemental treatment; and (iii) Less than 2
foot separation cannot be allowed through this LAMP and will require
a waste discharge permit through the RWQCB.
F. The repair shall be completed under permit and inspection by
Building and Safety Services.
G. Failure to complete the required corrective action within the time
frames given will result in additional enforcement action which may
include condemnation of the structure for immediate health hazards.
19.28.260 Substandard systems.
All OWTS within the City of Rancho Cucamonga that do not meet the
minimum design requirements of this Chapter shall be deemed
substandard. Sites with substandard OWTS shall be prohibited from having
future additions or modifications to the property that would potentially
increase wastewater flow to the OWTS or decrease the amount of usable
area available for the OWTS.
19.28.270 Abandoned onsite wastewater treatment systems.
A. All abandoned OWTS shall be disposed of in accordance with this
section. An OWTS Abandonment Permit must be obtained prior to
the removal or disposal of any abandoned OWTS. For the purposes
of this section, an OWTS shall be considered abandoned if it has
been out of service for more than three consecutive months.
B. Every OWTS that has been abandoned or has been discontinued
from further use or to which no waste or waste discharge pipe from
a plumbing fixture is connected must have all remaining sewage
removed from, and disposed of by a qualified waste hauler and
transported to a dispersal facility that operates in compliance with
valid permit issued by a Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Ordinance No.936 - 51 of 54
C. Upon removal of all remaining sewage, the tank top and bottom must
be crushed, backfilled and compacted with material approved by the
director or be removed and disposed of in an approved manner.
D. Completion of the above-described work shall require that the
property owner obtain a septic tank abandonment permit from the
director.
19.28.280 Abatement.
To the extent possible, failing OWTS must be brought into compliance with
this Code. In case of any failure, malfunction or breakdown of any OWTS,
if not corrected within a time designated by the Director, the Director may
order or cause corrections to be made and bill the property owner for the
costs and may place a lien on the property for the abatement costs. The
Director may also order the premises to be vacated if no safe manner of
abatement is possible.
19.28.290 Notice of violation.
The Director may provide a notice of intent to record a notice of violation to
the owner of property upon which a failing or substandard OWTS exists.
Notice will be provided to the property owner by mail at the address shown
on the latest assessment roll or at any other address of the owner known to
the director. The notice will also be posted on the property. The notice will
state that within 15 days of the date of the notice, the property owner may
request a meeting with the Director to present evidence that a violation does
not exist.
If, within 15 days of the date of the notice, the property owner does not
request a meeting and the violation has not been corrected, or if, after
considering the evidence presented by the property owner at the meeting,
the Director determines that a code violation in fact exists, the Director may
record a notice of violation in the office of the County Recorder. Upon
recording the notice, the Director will notify the owner of the action. The
notice is to inform all parties that no improvements, including building
additions, can be approved while the failing or substandard OWTS
continues in operation.
At the request of any affected property owner and upon full payment of any
fees established by resolution of the city council for recovery of associated
enforcement costs and payment of any fee for the recordation of the notice
of violation, the Director will issue a notice of expungement of violation upon
proof to the director that the noticed violation has been remedied.The notice
of expungement may be recorded by the property owner at his or her
expense.
Ordinance No.936 - 52 of 54
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 15th day of August, 2018.
L. lei Mich. , Mayo
ATTEST:
L yLAJ Le
J ice C. Reynolds, City CI " k
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO ) ss
CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA )
I, JANICE C. REYNOLDS, CITY CLERK of the City of Rancho Cucamonga,
California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance was introduced at a Regular Meeting of
the City Council of the City of Rancho Cucamonga held on the 1 stday of August 2018, and was
passed at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Rancho Cucamonga held on the
15th day of August 2018.
AYES: Alexander, Kennedy, Michael, Spagnolo, Williams
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
Executed this 16th day of August 2018, at Rancho Cucamonga,/JAnice C. Reynolds, City Cl rk
L
Ordinance No.936 - 54 of 54
19.28.300 Appeal from denial, revocation or suspension.
A. Any person aggrieved by any decision of the Director with respect to
the issuance or refusal to issue a OWTS permit may, within ten days
of the date of the decision, appeal the decision to the city manager,
or his or her designee, by filing a written notice of appeal with the city
manager.
B. The city manager, or his or her designee, shall thereupon fix a time
and place for hearing such appeal within 30 days of the date of said
decision. The aggrieved party shall be given notice of the time and
place of the hearing by serving the notice personally or by depositing
it in the United States Post Office in the city, certified mail, addressed
to the aggrieved party at his or her last known address.
C. The city manager, or his or her designee, shall have the authority to
determine all questions raised on such appeal during the hearing. No
such determination shall conflict with any substantive provision of
this chapter.
D. Following such hearing, the city manager, or his or her designee,
may reverse, modify, or affirm the decision of the director with
respect to the issuance or refusal to issue a license. The city
manager shall render a decision within a reasonable period of time
not to exceed 60 days of the conclusion of the hearing. The decision
of the city manager, or his or her designee, shall be final.
SECTION 3. The City Council declares that, should any provision, section,
paragraph, sentence, or word of this Ordinance be rendered or declared invalid by any
final court action in a court of competent jurisdiction, or by reason of any preemptive
legislation, the remaining provisions, sections, paragraphs, sentences, and words of this
Ordinance shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify as to the adoption of this Ordinance.
Ordinance No.936 - 53 of 54