A. All applications for sewer service shall be made by the property owner or authorized agent. The records of the Pierce County auditor shall be prima facie proof of property ownership. The applicant shall furnish the city such information as may be required on the city's application form. The applicant shall agree to conform to the rules and regulations for the operation of the city's sewer system as set forth in this chapter. Applications for sewer service shall expire in 180 days if no sewer permit has been issued. A 180-day extension may be granted for justifiable cause, including but not limited to extension of the related building permit application for 180 days.
B. No connection shall be made to the city's sewer system without a sewer permit having been issued. Sewer permits shall expire if no connection has been made within 180 days of issuance. A 180-day extension may be granted for justifiable cause, including but not limited to extension of the related building permit for 180 days.
C. Charges to connect to the city sewer system shall be due and payable upon issuance of a permit for connection to the city sewer system and shall be charged at the rate in effect at the time of application for sewer service pursuant to this chapter.
D. Residential System Development Charges (SDC).
1. The SDC for a single-family residence (new construction) shall be the charge applicable to one residential equivalent (RE), $11,927 effective July 1, 2023.
2. The SDC for an existing single-family residence served by an on-site septic disposal system shall be the charge applicable to one residential equivalent (RE), $11,927 effective July 1, 2023.
3. The SDC for each unit of a duplex shall be the charge applicable to one residential equivalent (RE) unit, $11,927 effective July 1, 2023.
4. In addition to the SDC provided in this subsection, there shall be a surcharge of $2,568 for each residential equivalent (RE) connection to the sewer system within the Fennel Creek sewer lift station service area, as shown on Exhibit "A" as previously codified in this section and on file in the office of the city clerk.
5. The SDC for multifamily residential buildings with more than two units shall be as follows, effective January 1, 2014:
a. Eighty percent of the SDC applicable to one residential equivalent (RE) per dwelling unit for three or more bed/bonus room units;
b. Seventy percent of the SDC applicable to one residential equivalent (RE) per dwelling unit for two bed/bonus room units;
c. Sixty percent of the SDC applicable to one residential equivalent (RE) per dwelling unit for one bed/bonus room unit;
d. Fifty percent of the SDC applicable to one residential equivalent (RE) per dwelling unit for studio/efficiency units.
6. The SDC for each unit of co-living housing shall be 50% of the charge applicable to one residential equivalent (RE) unit, $11,927 effective July 1, 2023.
E. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). ADUs will be charged a sewer SDC as follows:
1. When one new ADU is constructed on the same lot as one or more primary dwelling units, a new connection shall be required. In this case the owner shall either:
a. Pay a sewer SDC at the rate of 77 percent of one residential equivalent applicable at the time of connection; or
b. Sign an agreement to pay the sewer SDC at the time that the ADU is sold separately from the primary dwelling unit. The amount of the sewer SDC due at the time of sale will be at the rate of 77 percent of one residential equivalent applicable in effect at the time of the sale. The agreement shall be recorded with the Pierce County auditor. The owner is responsible for recording the document with the Pierce County auditor and providing a conformed copy to the city. The form of the agreement shall be specified by the director.
2. If a second ADU is constructed on the same lot as one or more primary dwelling units, whether concurrent with or separate from the first ADU, a new sewer connection shall be required for each ADU, and the owner of the ADU shall pay a sewer SDC at the rate of 77 percent of one residential equivalent applicable at the time of connection for each ADU.
3. If an existing ADU is converted to a condominium and can be sold independently, and no SDC has been paid for the ADU, a new connection shall be required and the owner of the ADU shall pay a sewer SDC at the rate of 77 percent of one residential equivalent applicable at the time of connection.
4. If an existing ADU is platted or otherwise segregated from the property under Chapter
58.17 RCW and BLMC Title 17, where it is the only dwelling unit remaining on the lot, and a reduced sewer SDC was paid for a connection for the ADU, the owner of the ADU shall pay the difference between the amount paid and 100 percent of one residential equivalent applicable at the time of segregation.
5. If an existing ADU is platted or otherwise segregated from the property under Chapter
58.17 RCW and BLMC Title 17, where it is the only dwelling unit remaining on the lot, and no connection was installed for the ADU, a new connection shall be required and the owner of the ADU shall pay 100 percent of one residential equivalent applicable at the time of connection.
F. Nonresidential SDCs.
1. SDCs shall be levied for each new sewer service connection to the city sewer system and for service upgrades generating additional flow or loading.
2. SDCs for existing nonresidential uses that convert from septic to sewer shall be based on the most recent 12 months of water use records. The following formula shall be used to determine the number of REs an existing building is equivalent to: (average daily water use plus 113 gallons per day) divided by 275 gallons per day.
3. Connection charges for new nonresidential construction shall be the calculated residential equivalents based on the residential equivalent value given in Schedule A, Nonresidential Sewer Equivalents, which is hereby incorporated by reference as now or hereafter amended.
4. Sewer connection charges for new tenant improvements shall be the calculated residential equivalents based on the residential equivalent value listed in Schedule A. If a former tenant or building owner paid a connection charge for the space a new tenant is occupying, the new tenant shall be charged only that portion of the connection charge which reflects the increased use over the previous tenant(s), based upon the business types of the new and previous tenant found in Schedule A; provided, however, that once a connection charge has been paid for the original connection and the first and second tenant improvements in the same space, there shall be no additional connection charges assessed thereafter for subsequent tenant improvements. Connection charges shall not be charged for tenant improvements which are accessory to the primary use of the structure, less than 2,000 square feet in size, and have an occupancy load of less than 50 occupants.
5. The calculation of residential equivalents given in Schedule A, Nonresidential Sewer Equivalents, and attached to the ordinance codified in this section, shall be updated annually as needed.
6. In addition to the connection fee for nonresidential uses provided in this subsection, there shall be a surcharge of $2,568 for each residential equivalent (RE) connection to the sewer system within the Fennel Creek sewer lift station service area, as shown on Exhibit "A" attached to the ordinance codified in this section and on file in the office of the city clerk.
7. Sewer SDC Exemptions for City Facilities.
a. Existing City Facilities. New sewer connections installed by the city in existing city parks and other existing city facilities shall be exempt from paying SDCs.
b. New or Expanded City Facilities. Facilities built to provide sewer system services shall be exempt from paying sewer SDCs.
G. Sewer Availability Certificate. The following fee schedule applies to complete sewer availability forms for submission to Pierce County or other entities or jurisdictions.
1. No modeling or analysis required: $100.00.
2. Sewer flow modeling or analysis: $700.00.
(Ord. 561, 1985; Ord. 571C § 1, 1992; Ord. 787 §§ 1, 2, 1998; Ord. 919 § 2, 2001; Ord. 968 § 2, 2002; Ord. 1083 § 2, 2004; Ord. 1094 § 2, 2005; Ord. 1207 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1221 § 4, 2007; Ord. 1230 § 21, 2007; Ord. 1477 § 3, 2014; Ord. 1493 § 2, 2014; Ord. 1517 § 2, 2015; Ord. 1557 § 1, 2016; Ord. 1577 § 2, 2017; Ord. 1613 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1705 § 2, 2023; Ord. 1737 § 9, 6/10/2025; Ord. 1745, 12/9/2025)