It is the intent of this chapter to establish regulations for the disposal of grease and other insoluble waste discharges from commercial kitchens and other commercial businesses within the city. The city council, in enacting the ordinance codified in this chapter, intends to provide for the maximum beneficial public use of the city's sewer system, to prevent blockages of that system and accidental discharge of grease or other potentially deleterious materials onto city streets and into the storm drain system, to ensure the cost of maintaining the public sewer system is equitably distributed amongst users, to clarify grease and commercial waste disposal requirements for existing commercial kitchens and other commercial facilities, and to promote public health and safety.
(Ord. 1800 § 2, 2004)
"Automotive repair facility"
means any business operating in the city, whose business includes the diagnosis and/or repair of vehicles including, but not limited to, automobiles, commercial trucks, and heavy equipment.
"Car wash facility"
means any facility engaged in the commercial washing of vehicles including but not limited to, new and used automobile dealers, auto detailers, commercial car washes and self-service car washes. Noncommercial car washing by residents and nonprofit groups are specifically excluded.
"Commercial facility"
means any facility, including automotive repair facilities, car wash facilities, commercial kitchens, and manufacturing facilities that have a process whereas potentially deleterious wastes may discharge to the sanitary sewer system. Facilities issued current and valid industrial waste discharge permits by the sanitation districts of Los Angeles County are not considered commercial facilities and are exempt from the permitting, inspection and fee provisions of this chapter.
"Commercial kitchen"
means any business operating in Hawthorne as a full service or take-out restaurant, catering kitchen, employee cafeteria, or any other facility engaged in preparing and heat-processing food for consumption by the public or employees and which uses any equipment that produces grease vapors, steam, fumes, smoke or odors that are required to be removed by a Type I or Type II hood. Establishments engaged only in assembling or serving food that is prepared entirely off site, and whose kitchen equipment consists only of beverage warmers and microwaves are not considered commercial kitchens.
"Commercial waste"
means any and all waste substances, liquid or solid, except domestic sewage, and includes among other things grease laden wastewaters, sediment laden wastewaters, explosive, noxious or toxic gas when present in the sewage system.
"Commercial waste control device"
means any grease interceptor, grease trap or other mechanism which attaches to wastewater plumbing fixtures for the purpose of collecting grease for off-site disposal. Commercial waste control device shall also mean "gravity grease interceptor" and "grease interceptor" as defined by Uniform Plumbing Code Section 209.0. The term commercial waste control device may be used in this chapter interchangeably with the term "interceptor."
"Food grinder"
means any device installed in the sewage system for the purpose of disposing food waste in the public sewer system.
"Grease"
means any oil, fat, or oily, fatty substance such as but not limited to vegetable or animal fat that turns or may turn viscous or solidifies with a change in temperature or other conditions.
"Interceptor"
means and is a device designed and installed so as to separate and retain deleterious, hazardous or undesirable matter from wastes. Interceptor shall also mean "gravity grease interceptor" and "grease interceptor" as defined by Uniform Plumbing Code Section 209.0. The term interceptor may be used in this chapter interchangeably with the term "commercial waste control device."
"Person"
means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association or other group or combination of individuals acting as a business unit.
"Remodeling"
means any physical change to a commercial kitchen that requires a building permit and involves under slab plumbing work in a food processing area.
"Significant improvement"
means: When a change in operations occurs; a remodel of a commercial kitchen as defined in this chapter; or a sewer stoppage or damage occurs; or a change in operations such as a modification in the operational procedures of any commercial facility, which has the potential to significantly increase the amount of waste generated by food preparation or other activity; including, without limitation, any substantial increase in the net public area, any substantial increase in the hours of operation, any significant increase in the size of the facility or the number of employees, or any significant change in the size or type of equipment.
"Wastewater"
means water containing animal, vegetable or potentially deleterious matter (including industrial waste) and water, whether treated or untreated, discharged into or permitted to enter a public sewer.
(Ord. 1800 § 2, 2004; Ord. 1911 § 2, 2008)
The installation and use of food grinders shall be prohibited in all new commercial kitchens in new or existing buildings, in all existing commercial kitchens undergoing remodeling, and in all existing food preparation and service establishments undergoing remodeling or a change in operations such that they would become a commercial kitchen.
(Ord. 1800 § 2, 2004)
A. 
All commercial kitchens shall have commercial waste control devices, or shall otherwise comply with the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
The director of building and safety or designee shall not issue a certificate of occupancy for a commercial kitchen which is required to have a commercial waste control device until such device has been installed and inspected and approved by the building department.
(Ord. 1800 § 2, 2004; Ord. 1911 § 3, 2008)
A. 
All commercial kitchens and food preparation and service establishments, with a commercial waste control device as prescribed by this chapter, shall have the connection to the sanitary sewer system, from the device, permitted by the city in a form approved by the chief of general services and public works or designee.
B. 
A commercial waste discharge permit shall require the payment of an initial permit fee, and an annual inspection fee, and at time of renewal or revision, a renewal/revision fee.
C. 
The commercial waste discharge permit is not transferable to new owners.
D. 
Persons seeking a commercial waste discharge permit shall complete and file with the director of building and safety or designee an application on the form prescribed by the city. Applications shall be accepted only from the owner or operator of the commercial kitchen or food preparation and service establishment. The applicable fee shall accompany the application. The applicant shall provide at a minimum the following information:
1. 
Name and address of applicant;
2. 
Address for which the permit is requested;
3. 
Site plan showing property lines, easements, structures, and location of grease control device;
4. 
Description of food processing, type and number of meals to be served, cleanup procedures, size of kitchen, and dining room capacity;
5. 
List of kitchen appliances, fixtures and ventilating equipment;
6. 
Volume and type of wastewater to be discharged;
7. 
Any other information deemed necessary by the director of building and safety or designee to evaluate the application.
E. 
A commercial waste discharge permit shall be valid for five years, and shall be automatically renewed, provided:
1. 
There has been no significant improvements; and
2. 
The licensee has not violated this chapter, the Uniform Plumbing Code, or other laws during the previous five years; and
3. 
The permit renewal and annual inspection fees are paid.
(Ord. 1800 § 2, 2004; Ord. 1911 § 4, 2008)
A. 
Commercial kitchens and food preparation and service establishments that would become commercial kitchens upon completion of remodeling or a change in operations may obtain a commercial waste disposal license in lieu of installing a commercial waste control device upon a determination by the director of building and safety or designee that there are physical limitations to a property that make the installation of a commercial waste control device infeasible or contrary to other laws.
B. 
In lieu of a commercial waste control device, the applicant for a commercial waste disposal license shall procure a tallow bin or grease barrel, and the services of a grease-rendering vendor to collect and dispose of waste oils, greases and other materials offsite. All manifests for such collection shall be kept onsite, and available for review by city representatives.
C. 
A commercial waste disposal license shall require the payment of an annual fee to defray a portion of the city's costs of maintaining the sewer system free of grease and resultant blockages. This fee shall be established by resolution of the city council, and shall be limited to the incremental increase in the cost of preventive maintenance attributable to the licensee. The director of building and safety or designee shall not issue a certificate of occupancy for any commercial kitchen that obtains a grease disposal license until a tallow bin or grease barrel has been obtained, and the first annual fee has been paid to the city.
D. 
Persons seeking a commercial waste disposal license shall complete and file with the director of building and safety or designee an application on the form prescribed by the city. Applications shall be accepted only from the owner or operator of the commercial kitchen or food preparation and service establishment. The application shall be accompanied by the applicable fee. The applicant shall provide the following information:
1. 
Name and address of applicant;
2. 
Address of premises for which the license is requested;
3. 
Site plan showing property lines, easements, structures, and any other features that limit the installation of a grease control device; and the location of the tallow bin or grease barrel;
4. 
Description of food processing, type and number of meals to be served, cleanup procedures, size of kitchen, and dining room capacity;
5. 
List of kitchen appliances, fixtures and ventilating equipment;
6. 
Volume and type of wastewater to be discharged; and
7. 
Any other information deemed necessary by the director of building and safety or designee to evaluate the application.
E. 
A commercial waste disposal license shall be valid for one year, and shall be automatically renewed, provided:
1. 
There has been no remodeling of the premises, or change in operations; and
2. 
The licensee has not violated this chapter, the Uniform Plumbing Code, or other laws during the previous year; and
3. 
The annual in-lieu fee is paid.
(Ord. 1800 § 2, 2004; Ord. 1911 § 5, 2008)
A. 
All new commercial facilities, in new or existing buildings shall install a commercial waste control device as required by this chapter.
B. 
Existing commercial facilities undergoing significant improvements shall have a commercial waste control device as required by this chapter.
C. 
The director of building and safety or designee shall not issue a certificate of occupancy for a commercial facility which is required to have an commercial waste control device until such device has been installed and inspected and approved by the building department and all permit and inspection fees have been paid.
D. 
The chief of general services and public works may, for a specific facility, waive the requirement for the commercial waste discharge permit and installation of treatment facilities upon satisfactory evidence that commercial waste discharges will not occur from the facility.
(Ord. 1800 § 2, 2004; Ord. 1911 § 6, 2008)
A. 
All commercial facilities, with a commercial waste control device as prescribed by this chapter, shall have the connection to the sanitary sewer system, from such device, permitted by the city pursuant to Section 13.56.010 of the Hawthorne municipal code.
B. 
A commercial waste discharge permit shall require the payment of an initial permit fee, and an annual inspection fee, and at time of renewal, a renewal fee.
C. 
Persons seeking a commercial waste discharge permit shall complete and file with the director of building and safety or designee an application on the form prescribed by the city. Applications shall be accepted only from the owner or operator of the commercial facility. The application shall be accompanied by the applicable fee. The applicant shall provide at a minimum the following information:
1. 
Name and address of applicant;
2. 
Address for which the permit is requested;
3. 
Site plan showing property lines, easements, structures, and location of industrial waste interceptor;
4. 
Description of processes;
5. 
List of tools, fixtures and equipment used in processes;
6. 
Volume and type of wastewater to be discharged;
7. 
Any other information deemed necessary by the director of building and safety or designee to evaluate the application.
(Ord. 1800 § 2, 2004; Ord. 1911 § 7, 2008)
Any decision of the director of building and safety or designee pursuant to this chapter may be appealed by any interested party to the city manager.
(Ord. 1800 § 2, 2004)
A. 
Each commercial facility with a commercial waste control device shall be required to employ an appropriate service or procedures for periodic collection of accumulated materials from such device. The collection period shall be, at a minimum, at three-month intervals. More frequent collection may be necessary to prevent overflows. No accumulated grease or other accumulated material shall be introduced into any sewer lateral, public sewer, storm drain, or public way.
B. 
Each commercial facility with a commercial waste control device shall be required to keep records onsite, of cleaning, maintenance, and grease and accumulated materials removal.
C. 
Each commercial facility with a commercial waste control device permit, a commercial waste disposal license, an commercial waste discharge permit, or those facilities with a commercial waste control device shall allow city representatives access to the premises, for purposes of sampling, inspections and review of records relating to the device.
(Ord. 1800 § 2, 2004; Ord. 1911 § 8, 2008)
A. 
The owner and operator of a commercial kitchen or facility shall be in violation of this chapter if he or she:
1. 
Fails to install a commercial waste control device as required by the Uniform Plumbing Code and this chapter;
2. 
Fails to obtain a commercial waste disposal license as required by this chapter;
3. 
Fails to install a commercial waste interceptor as required by this chapter;
4. 
Fails to obtain a commercial waste discharge permit as required by this chapter;
5. 
Makes any false statement, representation, record, report, plan or other document filed with the director of building and safety or designee;
6. 
Tampers with or knowingly renders inoperable any commercial waste control device or interceptor required under this chapter;
7. 
Fails to fulfill maintenance, cleaning and record-keeping requirements as required by permit and this chapter; or
8. 
Refuses city representatives reasonable access to a commercial facility for the purposes of inspecting or monitoring.
B. 
Any willful failure to comply with a provision of this chapter shall constitute a violation, regardless of whether the failure to comply is caused by the permittee/licensee or an employee or agent of the permittee/licensee.
C. 
Where the failure to comply is continuing and intentional, each successive failure to comply shall be a separate and distinct violation.
(Ord. 1800 § 2, 2004; Ord. 1911 § 9, 2008)
Any violation of this chapter shall be subject to the penalties provided for in Section 1.20.010 of the Hawthorne municipal code as well as city administrative actions pursuant to Chapters 1.23A and 1.23B of the Hawthorne Municipal Code.
(Ord. 1800 § 2, 2004; Ord. 1911 § 10, 2008)
Fees pertaining to this chapter shall be established by resolution of the city council.
(Ord. 1800 § 2, 2004)