Chapter 13.08 PERMITS, FEES, DESIGN AND INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS

All new buildings constructed for human occupancy in the City shall be connected to a public sewer unless the parcel is exempt per policies in the City of Palmdale General Plan. All such sewers shall be designed and constructed according to the provisions of this Title and any other provisions of the PMC. All sanitary sewers, including pumping stations, constructed and dedicated for public use shall be operated and maintained by the City and the benefitting property owner shall bear the cost thereof as provided in PMC Chapter 13.05 (Sewer Collection Service Charges). (Ord. 1614 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023; Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.020 Sewer permit required when – Period of validity.

(A) No person other than the person specifically excepted by this chapter shall commence, do or cause to be done, construct or cause to be constructed, use or cause to be used, alter or cause to be altered any public sewer, mainline sewer, manholes, inspection or sampling site, house lateral, sewage pumping plant, or other appurtenance thereto in the City of Palmdale without first obtaining a sewer permit from the City.

(B) Whenever a public sewer becomes available within 200 feet of the property where no public sewer was previously available under the provisions of this title, the property owner shall connect all building sewers or industrial connection sewers to the public sewer within 90 days after receiving official notice from the City. Property owners must abandon and fill with suitable materials, as determined by the City, any privy vault, septic tank, cesspool, or similar private sewage disposal systems.

(C) Prior to performing any construction, reconstruction or adjustment adjacent to an existing sewer manhole, the property owner or person performing such work must obtain a sewer permit from the City to ascertain that the sewer lines and manholes have been thoroughly cleaned and the manholes have been satisfactorily constructed, reconstructed or adjusted to City standards.

(D) A sewer permit is required for construction of industrial waste measuring manholes, reconstruction or adjustment of any portion of a manhole due to service connections or grading or paving operation, or any other work which in the opinion of the City may cause damage to a manhole.

(E) A sewer permit issued by the City shall expire one year from the date of issuance, except when the plans were approved in accordance with an agreement either with another governmental agency or for a subdivision as required by PMC Title 16, and the permit shall be valid for the period specified in the agreement. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.030 Permits – Issuance authorized when.

If it appears from the application for any permit required by this chapter that the application complies with all applicable requirements and that the work to be performed thereunder is to be done according to the provisions of this title, the City, upon receipt of the fees hereinafter required, may issue such permit. No permit will be issued pursuant to this chapter until the applicant has paid all appropriate fees and sewer collection service charges, as established from time to time by the City Council, to cover all costs including but not limited to the cost of field inspection of the proposed construction, procuring or preparing record plans, and all overhead and indirect costs. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.040 Exception.

Contractors constructing, maintaining or repairing public sewers and/or sanitary sewer pumping stations pursuant to a contract with the City of Palmdale are exempt from the requirement to obtain a sewer permit. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.050 Application – Form and contents.

Application for a sewer permit shall be made to the City on forms provided by the City and shall include all plans and other information requested by the City regarding the proposed work. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.060 Plan approval prerequisite to issuance.

No sewer permit will be issued until the application, plans and project details have been approved by the City as meeting all applicable City requirements and all required fees have been paid. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.070 Permit from other agencies required.

No sewer permit will be issued for the construction, installation, repair or removal of any public sewer, or appurtenances thereto which will necessitate any excavation or fill, in, upon or under any public street, highway or right-of-way under the jurisdiction of another public agency, unless the applicant has first obtained a permit from the agency having jurisdiction. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.080 Connections to trunk sewers – Permit requirements.

No permit shall be issued for the direct connection of any lot to a trunk sewer until the applicant has first obtained a permit for such connection from the agency or owner of such trunk sewer. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.090 Sewer permit – Determination of capacity – Agreement on future assessments.

No sewer permit shall be issued for the direct connection of any lot to a public sewer which was not designed for and intended to directly serve such lot unless the City first determines that there is additional capacity available in such sewer beyond that required to serve the property for which it was designed. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.100 Manhole inspection permit.

(A) A permit shall be obtained from the City wherever construction, reconstruction or adjustment is to be performed adjacent to an existing sewer manhole, to ascertain that the sewer lines and manholes have been thoroughly cleaned and the manholes have been satisfactorily constructed, reconstructed or adjusted to City standards.

(B) This inspection is also required for construction of industrial waste measuring manholes, reconstruction or adjustment of any portion of a manhole due to service connections or grading or paving operation, or any other work which in the opinion of the City may cause damage to a manhole. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.110 No transferability of permits.

Permits issued pursuant to this chapter are not transferable from one person to another person or from one location to another location. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

Article II. Fees

13.08.120 Connection to public sewer – Payment of fees required.

Any person desiring to connect to a public sewer shall, as a prerequisite to obtaining the permits required by this chapter, pay all fees or charges which may be required by the City of Palmdale. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.130 Fees – Estimated valuation procedures.

Whenever the fees required by this chapter are based on valuations, the City shall determine the estimated valuation in all cases, and for such purposes the City shall be guided by approved estimating practices. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.140 Sewer capacity fee (connection fee) – Designated.

(A) No permit shall be issued for connection to the public sewer until there has been paid to the City a sewer capacity fee as established by the City Council and set forth in the City’s fee schedule. At the time of submission of application for permit for connection to the public sewer, an applicant shall pay such sewer capacity fee.

(B) The sewer capacity fee for all uses shall be determined in accordance with a sewer capacity fee study adopted by the City Council.

(C) Sewer capacity fees as defined by this chapter shall automatically adjust annually by the same percentage of change in the Consumer Price Index on March 1st of each year, for the All Urban Consumers, for the Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County Area (CPI), as determined by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, or its successor. Should the Bureau of Labor Statistics revise such index, the Director of Finance shall use the revised index or a comparable system as approved by the City Council for determining fluctuations in the cost of living. The sewer capacity fees may also be recalculated at new sewer capacity fee unit costs established from time to time by the City Council to keep pace with changing cost of construction. (Ord. 1400 § 2, 2010; Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.150 Tapping fee established, payment required when.

(A) Any person seeking to connect a house lateral or industrial connection sewer to a public sewer at a point where no connection has been provided shall apply and obtain a City sewer permit and pay the tap fee established by the City Council before the City will schedule the new tap to be constructed.

(B) Tapping of the public sewer as required on sewer plans approved by the City shall be coordinated and installation contracted by the City upon payment of all fees. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.160 Area and connection charges in reimbursement districts.

(A) If any property is in a sewer reimbursement district, no permit shall be issued for the connection of such property to a public sewer until, in addition to any other fees required by this chapter, all area charges and frontage charges required by this section have been paid.

(B) An area charge computed by the area rates established for the reimbursement district shall be collected, whether or not additional public sewer is being constructed to serve the property. If the property is in more than one reimbursement district, an area charge shall be collected for each district.

(C) Additionally, if a reimbursement agreement pursuant to Chapter 16.165 PMC provides for frontage reimbursement, any lot located in the frontage reimbursement area and seeking direct house connection to any public sewer shall pay a reimbursement district connection charge in the amount specified in subsection (D) of this section.

(D) The reimbursement district connection charge shall be computed at the rate as established from time to time by the City Council in the fee resolution or as designated in the reimbursement agreement affecting the property. If a reimbursement district connection charge is collected as provided in this section, then the connection charge required by PMC 13.08.140 shall not be collected. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.170 Tap fee.

The applicant shall pay a fee as established from time to time by resolution of the Council to tap the public sewer and reimburse the City for all costs and expenses to coordinate, inspect and install the tap on behalf of the applicant or permittee. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.180 Manhole inspection fee.

A manhole inspection fee shall be as established from time to time by resolution of the City Council. These fees shall cover the costs of engineering, field inspection, and all overhead and indirect costs. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.190 Consolidated sewer maintenance district withdrawal fees.

Any person who desires to place a newly constructed public sewer system in operation and connect such sewer system to that operated by the City of Palmdale, and the property to be so benefited is not within the City limits of the City of Palmdale, then they shall pay a charge as determined from time to time by the City Council to cover all costs incurred to accomplish a withdrawal from the consolidated sewer maintenance district and inclusion within the City of Palmdale sanitary sewer service area, including the necessary State of California processing fee. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.200 Sewer maintenance charges.

(A) Any person who desires to connect a new house or industrial connection to a mainline sewer, or to place a newly constructed public sewer system in operation prior to the availability of sewer maintenance revenue from the property to be served by such sewer system, shall pay a sewer collection service charge in an amount determined by the City to cover such cost of maintaining such system from the time the sewer is placed in operation until the property so benefited is included on the next available property tax rolls and revenue becomes available.

(B) Such charge shall be computed by multiplying the sewage unit charge, as annually determined by the City Council from time to time, times the number of sewage units to be discharging from the subject property as determined in Chapter 13.05 PMC. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.210 Geographical information system (GIS) fees.

Any person desiring to connect to the public sewer system shall be required to pay a fee established from time to time by the City Council to reimburse the City for the costs to add all sewer collection system elements including pump stations and miscellaneous appurtenances data and information to the City GIS system, including mapping and data such as pipe materials, slope, size, etc., as required by the City. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.220 Charges for substantial increase in public sewer capacity.

The provisions of this chapter shall also apply to any property previously connected to a public sewer, the discharge from which is later proposed to be increased or is found to have been increased substantially beyond the proportionate share of public sewer capacity allotted to the property by the sewer permit. Any previously connected property discharging more than that permitted may be charged an additional sewer capacity fee and a charge to cover the cost of maintenance at the then-current fee or rate or any other fees and charges applicable to the substantial increase in public sewer capacity. (Ord. 1400 § 3, 2010; Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.230 Refund procedures.

(A) In the event that any person shall have paid a fee as required under this chapter and no work or processing has been done on these functions by the City and the project has been formally abandoned or cancelled, such person, upon presentation to the City of a request in writing, shall be entitled to a refund in an amount equal to not more than 75 percent of the fee actually paid.

(B) In the event that the City has commenced any plan checking or other work for which a fee was paid, or the contractor has commenced work on the construction, no portion of the fee shall be refunded.

(D) The City shall satisfy itself as to the right of such person to a refund, and each refund shall be paid as provided by law for the payment of claims against the City. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

Article III. Design Standards

13.08.240 Sanitary sewer system design standards.

All sanitary sewer system facilities and infrastructure shall be designed according to the latest edition of the City of Palmdale Engineering Design Guidelines, Chapter VII, Sanitary Sewer Plans, as adopted and incorporated by reference as if fully set forth below. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.250 Copy of the City Engineering Design Guidelines maintained by Director of Public Works.

A copy of the Palmdale Engineering Design Guidelines has been deposited in the office of the Director of Public Works and is maintained for use and examination by the public. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.260 Participation in project – Letter requirements.

Prior to approval and permitting of a Palmdale private contract, the developer shall submit a letter of participation identifying all parcels and lots agreeing to be serviced by the private contract and any new public sewers as follows:

(A) A letter of participation, prepared on a form provided by the City, shall be submitted before approval of public sewer plans describing all properties which have participated in the cost of the project.

(B) All such properties listed will be exempt from the connection charge only, specified in this chapter.

(D) Exception. The letter of participation shall not be revised after a reimbursement agreement authorized under Chapter 16.165 PMC has been approved by the Council. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.270 Dedication of sewers.

(A) An offer of dedication of mainline sewers to the City shall be included in the agreement to construct sewers for a new subdivision which accompanies the faithful performance security guaranteeing the construction required as a condition for the recordation of the tract map or parcel map.

(B) Before plans for the construction of any other public mainline sewer are approved by the City, the person causing such plans to be prepared shall present an offer of dedication, signed and acknowledged, on forms provided by the City.

(C) When the construction of the mainline sewer has been completed pursuant to all City requirements and accepted by the Council, the sewer becomes a public sewer.

(D) No sewer shall be accepted for dedication by the City unless such sewer has been constructed in conformity with all requirements of this title. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.280 Exceptions to requirements authorized when.

If a literal compliance with any engineering requirement of this chapter is impossible or impractical because of peculiar conditions in no way the fault of the person requesting an exception, and the purposes of this chapter may be accomplished and public safety secured by an alternate construction or procedure, and the City so finds that such alternate complies with sound engineering practice, the City may grant an exception permitting such alternate construction or procedure. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.290 Plan preparation by registered civil engineer.

Any plans submitted for approval under the provisions of this chapter shall be prepared by or under the direction of and shall be signed by a registered civil engineer of the state of California or by a professional engineer registered in the discipline required for the type of infrastructure proposed. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.300 Sewer plans.

(A) Before a sewer permit required by this chapter may be issued, plans for the proposed construction shall be submitted to and approved by the City, unless the City determines that plans are not necessary.

(B) Failure to make required plan corrections and other changes necessary for plan approval and to re-submit such corrected plans within one year after the checked plans are returned by the Public Works Department shall constitute abandonment of the work.

(C) Approval of a sewer plan shall expire two years from the date of the approval, unless construction of the facilities has commenced.

(D) Resubmission of abandoned and expired plans shall be subject to all new fees as if it was a new project. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.310 Materials and construction – Conformity with standard specifications.

All material used in any work done under provisions of this chapter shall be new, first-class material and shall conform to and the manner of construction shall meet all the requirements prescribed by this chapter, by the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction, and by the Special Provisions for the Construction of Sanitary Sewers (supplement to the Standard Specifications) and Standard Plans on file in the office of the City. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.320 Sewer easement requirements.

(A) A person desiring to construct a sewer in an easement under the provisions of this Chapter shall present to the City a request for processing, sufficient information to enable the preparation of a written description, together with all applicable fees.

(B) The location and dimensions of sanitary sewer easements shall be sufficient to provide present and future sewer service to abutting areas and adequate access for maintenance as determined by the City.

(1) No plans shall be approved by the City for sewer facilities to be constructed by any person across the property of others; and

(2) No sewer facilities shall be accepted for public use, nor placed in use by any person. (Ord. 1614 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023; Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

Article IV. Inspections

13.08.330 Inspection by City – Requirements.

All work done under the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to inspection by and shall meet the approval of the City; provided, however, that approval by the City shall not relieve the permittee or any other person from complying with all of the applicable provisions of this title or the Palmdale plumbing code, and no provision of this title or chapter supersedes, affects or modifies in any way the provisions of said Palmdale plumbing code. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.340 Notice to City when ready for inspection.

The permittee shall request an inspection at least 24 hours prior to the time any inspection is to be made by the City. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.350 Work to be convenient and uncovered.

At the time of the inspection the permittee shall have all work uncovered and convenient, and shall give the City every facility to make a thorough inspection. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.360 Using facilities before inspection prohibited – Exceptions.

No sewer or other facility constructed under the provisions of this chapter may be placed in use until the work has been approved by the City and for public sewers has been accepted for maintenance by the City Council. The City may grant exceptions to this requirement only when the work is substantially complete and has been inspected, and if the City determines that the best interests of the public are served by permitting such use prior to completion of the work. Such approval, prior to completion, shall make the properties being served by the sewer subject to the sewer collection service charge required by Chapter 13.05 PMC. The charge will be placed on the next available tax rolls for the subject properties. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.370 CCTV inspection of sewers prior to acceptance.

The developer/permittee shall cause the new mainline sewers to be air tested and video inspected to the requirements of the City prior to being placed into operation or accepted for maintenance. Videos will clearly show the quality of work and cleanliness of the pipe. Pipe that is determined to have defective joints or cracked, broken, dirty or otherwise be unacceptable shall be repaired and/or cleaned to the satisfaction of the City prior to being placed into operation. Video requirements shall be as referenced in the latest version of the Engineering Design Guidelines prepared by the City and available in the office of the Director of Public Works. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.380 Correction of defective work.

If the construction does not conform to the provisions of this chapter, or if the permittee fails to prosecute the work with such diligence to ensure its completion within the time specified, the City shall notify the permittee in writing to comply. If the permittee fails to comply within five business days after the written notice, the permit shall be suspended or revoked in accordance with the procedures set forth in this chapter and no further work shall be done by the permittee until the suspension is removed either by correction of the work or after an appeal hearing in accordance with the procedures set forth herein. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.390 Certificate of final inspection – Conditions.

When it appears to the satisfaction of the City that all work done under the permit has been constructed according to and meets the requirements of all the applicable provisions of this title, and that all fees have been paid, the City, if requested, shall cause to be issued to the permittee constructing such work a certificate of final acceptance. The certificate shall recite that such work as is covered by the permit has been constructed according to this title and that said work is in an approved condition. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

Article V. Maintenance

13.08.400 Injuring or removing sewers or equipment.

An unauthorized person shall not remove or cause to be removed, or damage, impair, destroy or misuse or cause to be damaged, impaired, destroyed or misused, any portion of any public sewer, sewage pumping plant, or any appurtenances thereto. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.410 Manholes – Opening or entering prohibited.

An unauthorized person shall not open or enter, damage, impair, destroy or misuse, or cause to be opened or entered, damaged, impaired, destroyed or misused for any purpose whatsoever, any manhole in any public sewer. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.420 Reconnection following violations – Conditions – Cost reimbursement.

Whenever an industrial connection sewer has been disconnected from the public sewer by the City for failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter, reconnection shall be made only upon issuance of a sewer permit as elsewhere in this chapter provided. Before such permit is issued, the applicant shall pay all fees required by this title for new permits and also reimburse the City for all costs of the disconnection made. The City may also require the installation of a manhole for the purpose of measuring the flow, or for making periodic tests of the wastes from such connection. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

13.08.430 Reimbursement for repairs and maintenance following violations.

Whenever an industrial sewer connection permittee by reason of violation of this title, or any other person by reason of violation of this title, causes obstruction, damage or destruction of a public sewer, or any appurtenances thereto, or pumping plants in connection therewith, they shall reimburse the City for the cost of flushing, cleaning, repairing and reconstruction of such sewer or facility, made necessary by such violation, within 30 days after the City has rendered an invoice for the same. (Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)