Chapter 13.40 SEWER CONNECTION REQUIRED

Chapter 13.40
SEWER CONNECTION REQUIRED

Sections:

13.40.020 Notice of requirement to connect.

13.40.010 Connection required.

A. Except as otherwise provided in SMC 13.40.030 and 13.102.040, the owner or occupant of any lands, premises or habitable structures shall connect plumbing outlets located thereon with the nearest accessible sanitary sewer whenever such a sewer is located within 200 feet of the closest point of the building site or premises to be served, as measured along any public place or any easement granted for sewer purposes. The city engineer shall determine when the sanitary sewer is accessible. This requirement shall be based upon the following conditions:

1. Sanitary plumbing outlets must be connected to a sanitary sewer system.

2. Storm drainage must be managed according to Chapter 13.104 SMC and must not enter the sanitary sewer system.

B. The city engineer may prescribe the manner in which connections shall be made, and require plans to be submitted for his or her approval prior to the issuance of a permit or the installation of any pipe. (Ord. 2017-002 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2001-015 § 1; Ord. 270 § 3, 1973)

13.40.020 Notice of requirement to connect.

Whenever any land, buildings, or premises are required to be connected with the public sewer system as provided in SMC 13.40.010, the director, upon notice from the city engineer that a connection is accessible, shall serve upon the owner, agent, lessee, or occupant of said lands, buildings, premises or habitable structures, a notice in writing specifying the time within which such connection must be made, which time shall not be more than 60 days from the date of delivery of such notice.

Except as otherwise provided in SMC 13.40.030, if such owner, agent, lessee or occupant shall fail, neglect or refuse to connect said land, buildings, premises, or habitable structures to the public sewer system within the time specified, the director shall notify the city engineer, whereupon the city engineer may make such connection and the cost plus 15 percent thereof shall be charged to the owner, agent, lessee, or occupant and a bill showing the amount thereof mailed or delivered to him, or posted upon the premises, whereupon the amount shall immediately be paid to the finance department. (Ord. 2001-015 § 2; Ord. 270 § 4, 1973)

13.40.030 Extension of time to connect.

A. Any person required to connect pursuant to SMC 13.40.010 may request an extension of time to comply with the requirements to connect. Such request must be made in writing to the city manager or his designee within 180 days from the date that the property becomes required to connect, or within 20 days of the date of notice to connect is mailed to responsible party.

B. The city manager, or his designee, shall review all requests for time extensions requested under this chapter and issue a written approval or denial within a reasonable time.

C. Any request denied by the city manager, or his designee, may be appealed to the city council. Such appeal must be in writing and filed with the city clerk within 10 days of the date the city manager denied the request. Appeals shall be heard by the city council at a regular meeting as soon as practicable after receipt of such appeal. The decision of the city council shall be final.

D. Requests for time extensions may be made in cases where newer septic systems have been installed and are working properly, where terrain and/or location of buildings make it impractical to connect, where connection places an unacceptable financial hardship on the responsible party, or other special circumstances claimed by the responsible party. Each request for a time extension shall be evaluated independently as to special circumstances outlined by the responsible party.

E. Owners of existing septic systems will not be required to connect until 10 years from the date of installation of their existing systems or for at least two years from the date of notice of requirement to connect, whichever is greater. (For example, a three-year-old system would be granted an extension of seven years; a nine-year-old system would be granted an extension of two years.)

F. No time extension shall be granted, and/or any approved time extension shall be immediately revoked, when conditions exist that are a violation of any health, building or safety code or rule. When, in the opinion of the city manager or his designee, conditions exist that require immediate remediation to comply with acceptable health or safety conditions, the responsible party shall be notified and shall be required to connect within 20 days of the date of such notice.

G. All extension agreements shall be recorded with the county recorder as a condition of the granting of the extension. Such extensions shall continue in effect for new property owners during the term of the agreement.

H. Nothing in this chapter shall in any way alter any property owner’s obligation to pay latecomer charges pursuant to any latecomer agreement and a waiver or extension of time to hook up shall not extend or alter the latecomer obligation. (Ord. 2001-015 § 3)