For the purposes of this chapter, "available sewers" are public sanitary sewers within two hundred lineal feet of the nearest point of the parcel with respect to which availability is being determined, which sewers have the capacity to accept sewage discharged from that parcel.
(82-12)
Plumbed buildings lawfully connected to private sanitary systems as of December 9, 1982, shall connect to the public sanitary systems in the following circumstances:
A. 
Availability of Sewers. All plumbed buildings shall be required to connect to public sanitary sewers within six months of availability. The six-month period shall commence when the City Engineer mails written notice to the record owner of the property. The City Engineer may extend this period for up to an additional one hundred eighty days if he or she determines that a shorter period of time is impractical.
B. 
Grant Areas. All existing construction located in areas of the City served by sewers funded through public grants shall be subject to any mandatory connection criteria established by such grants, in addition to the requirements of subsection A of this section.
C. 
Failed Septic Systems. All existing plumbed buildings experiencing failed septic systems shall connect to an available public sewer immediately upon such failure.
D. 
Exemptions. The Planning Commission may grant exemptions from the requirements of subsection A or C of this section if the Commission determines, upon application of the property owner, based upon the application and such additional relevant scientific and engineering information as the Commission may require the applicant to provide, that connection to public sewers will involve unusual logistical hardship (for example, a significant difference in grade level). As a condition of granting the exemption, the Planning Commission may require the installation of dry sewers and consent to participate in a sewer assessment district.
(82-12; 95-06)
As a condition of approval of any subdivision of land into two or more parcels after December 9, 1982, public sanitary sewers shall be made available to the new parcels by the landowner in the following circumstances:
A. 
A division of land creating three or fewer additional parcels shall be required to make public sanitary sewers available when the nearest public sanitary sewers are within a distance equal to two hundred lineal feet plus two hundred lineal feet per additional parcel created.
B. 
A division of land creating four or more additional parcels shall be required to provide public sanitary sewers for all parcels.
C. 
In determining the number of parcels, all parcels created since December 9, 1982, from the subject property, or from contiguous property under common ownership on December 9, 1982, or at the time of application shall be included, as it is the intent of this chapter that property owners be treated in like fashion and that successive re-subdivisions shall not be a means for evading the intention of this chapter to eliminate unsewered development in the City.
D. 
Upon recommendation of the City Engineer, this requirement may be satisfied by an election to participate in a sewer assessment district, or the posting of bonds, or both.
(82-12)
All new construction permitting increased occupancy, in the case of nonresidential property, or involving the creation of additional bathrooms, laundry rooms or kitchens in the case of residential property, shall connect to public sanitary sewers before the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, in the case of new structures, or before permission is granted to connect to utilities, in the case of remodeling or renovations. The Planning Commission may grant an exemption from this requirement for the construction of the first dwelling unit on a parcel zoned for residential development if the Commission determines, based upon the application from the property owner and such additional relevant scientific and engineering information as the Commission may require the applicant to provide, the following:
A. 
That public sanitary sewers are not available. If the property was one of two or more contiguous undeveloped parcels in common ownership as of December 9, 1982, or as of the date of application, sewers shall be deemed available if they are within a distance of two hundred feet times the number of such parcels; or
B. 
It can be demonstrated to the City's satisfaction that connection to public sewers will involve unusual logistical hardship (e.g., a significant difference in grade level).
As a condition of granting the exemption, the Planning Commission may require the installation of dry sewers at the time of construction, approval of the proposed septic system design and location by the City Engineer or his or her designee, consent to participation in a sewer assessment district, and such other conditions as may encourage the eventual installation of public sanitary sewers to serve the property.
(82-12; 95-06)
In that portion of the City including Annexation 52-A, the following rules shall apply and shall take precedence over the rest of the requirements of this chapter. In this area, connection to sewers shall be required only in the following circumstances:
A. 
Existing Construction. An existing plumbed building experiencing a failed septic system shall connect to a public sewer immediately upon such failure if there is a sewer available within two hundred fifty lineal feet from the proposed point of connection to a main line. Connection may also be required if a public health agency determines that the defective system is a health hazard.
B. 
Land Subdivision.
1. 
A division of land involving more than five gross acres shall connect to public sewers.
2. 
A division of land involving five or fewer gross acres need not connect to public sewers if the nearest public sewer is more than two hundred fifty feet away and no public health agency has determined that development without sewers would constitute a public health hazard. If subdivision is permitted without sewers, the installation of dry sewers shall be required, and provision shall be made for participation in a sewer assessment district at such time as the City may require it.
3. 
In determining the size of a subdivision, all contiguous land in common ownership as of the date of annexation shall be included, as it is the intent of this chapter that property owners be treated in like fashion and that successive re-subdivision shall not be a means for evading the intention of this chapter.
(82-12)
All sewer laterals shall be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition and in good working order, by the owner of the property served by such sewer lateral. All necessary maintenance, repair and replacement of the sewer lateral are the sole responsibility of the property owner. The sewer lateral is that length of sewer pipe located between the building being served on the property and the City's main sewer line.
(12-01)