Chapter 16.08
HOUSEBOATS
Sections:
16.08.030 Houseboat requirements.
16.08.040 Certificate of occupancy required.
16.08.050 Permit required for construction, alteration or moving houseboat into City.
16.08.060 Houseboat marina requirements.
16.08.070 Penalty for violation.
16.08.010 Applicability.
The provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to all houseboats located within the City at the time of adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter as well as any houseboats which may be located within the City subsequent to the adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter. [Ord. 800 § 6, 1972.]
16.08.020 Definitions.
For the purpose of this chapter, the words and phrases defined in this section shall be construed in accordance with the definitions set forth unless it is apparent from the context that a different meaning is intended:
A. “City or county” means any city, county, city and county, or port authority.
B. “Houseboat” means any watercraft or industrial or commercial structure on or in the waters of the State, floating or nonfloating, which is designed or fitted out as a place of habitation and is not principally used for transportation. “Houseboat” includes platforms and waterborne hotels and restaurants.
C. “Houseboat marina” means any area within the City covered by the waters of San Francisco and Richardson Bays where one or more houseboats are moored and which area is zoned by SMC Title 10 for the mooring of houseboats either permanently or on a temporary basis. [Ord. 800 § 1, 1972.]
16.08.030 Houseboat requirements.
No person shall use or occupy or permit the use or occupancy of a houseboat for living quarters, either permanently or on a temporary basis, within the City, except when established in a specific location for which a conditional use permit has been issued pursuant to the zoning regulations of the City, and when such houseboat meets the following additional requirements:
A. Construction. Every houseboat shall be inspected and approved by the Director of Public Works of the City, or the Sausalito building inspector, or any individual qualified to render such inspection and duly authorized by the City to do so for the problems of buoyancy, windage, stability and structure, and for compliance with this chapter.
B. Safety. Every houseboat shall be supplied with lifesaving equipment and extinguishers, access to circumference of the houseboat, and adequate means of egress.
C. Water Connection. Every houseboat shall have a secure water connection above the waterline with an approved backflow prevention device.
D. Electrical Connection. Every houseboat shall have a permanent and adequate electrical connection.
E. Sewer. Every houseboat shall be connected to a public sewer system with adequate vents, tanks and ejector devices. ABS and PVC may be used for drainage and vents. Should a public sewer not be available, then other devices acceptable to the regional water quality control board may be used. Holding tanks designed and intended to accept all waste discharges from houseboats may be approved by the City in those instances where direct sanitary sewer connections cannot be accomplished.
F. Mooring. Every houseboat shall maintain adequate lines, cleats and other necessary mooring equipment. This shall be inspected by the owner and/or operator of the marina or property upon which or within which such watercraft are located preceding the winter season.
G. Gangway (Secondary Walkway). Every houseboat shall have a firm and substantial walkway extending from houseboat to mooring docks.
H. Construction Specifications. All construction shall conform to specifications established by the City. [Ord. 800 § 2, 1972.]
16.08.040 Certificate of occupancy required.
Any person desiring to maintain a houseboat within the City shall file with the City an application for a certificate of occupancy. Such certificate of occupancy shall not be issued unless the houseboat complies with the provisions set forth in SMC 16.08.030, and the following requirements:
A. Such craft shall be located in an appropriate zoning district.
B. Payment of fees based upon the rates established by the Uniform Building Code. [Ord. 800 § 3, 1972.]
16.08.050 Permit required for construction, alteration or moving houseboat into City.
No person shall commence the construction, alteration or renovation of any houseboat within the City, or move a houseboat into the City, for use within the City, until he has first obtained from the building inspector a permit authorizing such work. The fees for such permits shall be based upon the rates established by the Uniform Building Code. All and any work thereafter shall be accomplished in conformance with the requirements set forth in SMC 16.08.030. [Ord. 800 § 4, 1972.]
16.08.060 Houseboat marina requirements.
No person shall rent or hold out for rent any site or space for the establishment or location of a houseboat without having first secured a permit from the City to do so. The following requirements shall be satisfied before issuance of such permit:
A. Information Required. The owners and/or operators of any marina or water area within the City upon which any houseboat is proposed to be located shall furnish to the City the following information:
1. The number of houseboats located or proposed to be located within the subject marina;
2. A brief physical description of all such houseboats;
3. The names of the legal owners and their addresses of all such houseboats;
4. The location within the marinas of all such houseboats;
5. Such information required by subsections (A)(1) through (4) of this section, inclusive, shall further be provided to the City on an annual basis.
B. Garbage. The owners and/or operators shall provide enclosed garbage receptacles in an accessible location for the use of houseboat occupants. No garbage, trash or refuse shall be dumped into the waters of San Francisco or Richardson Bays.
C. Parking. The owners and/or operators shall provide off-street parking in accordance with the parking standards set forth in the zoning regulations of the City.
D. Mooring. The mooring plan of every marina should achieve the best in personal safety and aesthetics for its individual problems. All houseboats shall float at plus five feet above mean low low water unless, upon conditional use permit review, a greater depth may be required should surrounding uses so demand and require.
E. Location. No houseboat marina shall be established or developed except in compliance with all applicable zoning regulations.
F. Pump-Out Facility. There shall be provided in each houseboat marina in which are located houseboats utilizing holding tanks a permanent holding tank pump-out facility or equivalent services which are operable and available for use at all times and which are capable of servicing all houseboats berthed, docked, or moored at the marina or anchorage area. [Ord. 800 § 5, 1972.]
16.08.070 Penalty for violation.
Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of an infraction and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $100.00. [Ord. 800 § 7, 1972.]