Laguna Hills City Zoning Code

The purpose and intent of this chapter is to provide regulations for the siting of permitted waste management facilities.

Waste management is governed by state and federal law. The licensing, inspection, permitting, and clearances are administered by the Orange County Health Care Agency (Environmental Health Division) and the Orange County Fire Authority. The city cooperates with local, state, and federal agencies to regulate the waste management stream.

The city has adopted a source reduction and recycling element establishing waste diversion goals to meet the California Integrated Waste Management Act requirements.

The city has adopted a household hazardous waste element which identifies a program for the collection, recycling, treatment, and disposal of hazardous wastes generated from households which should be separated from the solid waste stream. Administrative operations for the city include participation in the county of Orange program with other cities or implementation of its own program.

The disposal of household hazardous waste in landfill facilities, sewers, and/or stormdrains is prohibited by state law and Chapter 5-44 of this code.

Hazardous waste is found throughout every community. It is generated by a variety of uses including, but not limited to, medical centers, manufacturing businesses, dry cleaners, automotive businesses, photo labs, medical services, grocery stores, and pool supply houses. The Orange County Health Agency (Environmental Health Division) and Orange County Fire Authority administer the state programs regulating hazardous waste within the city.

Up to four reverse vending machines are permitted as an accessory use to a grocery store. Recycling centers, and four to eight reverse vending machines are permitted subject to a conditional use permit in all commercial, mixed use, industrial, and institutional zones. Periodic recycling events will be permitted subject to a temporary use permit. Waste transfer stations are permitted subject to a conditional use permit in the mixed use zone. All other waste management facilities are prohibited.

All permanent and temporary waste management facility sites shall be located in commercial, mixed use, industrial, and institutional zones and shall be subject to the development standards of the base zone, Fire Code requirements, Building and Safety Code requirements, and the following standards.

No building permits may be issued to any waste management facility emitting any air contaminant until the state agency, with jurisdiction, has certified to the permit issuing authority that the appropriate state permits have been received by the developer, or that the developer will be eligible to receive such permits and that the development is otherwise in compliance with applicable air pollution laws. All waste management facilities shall adhere to adopted water/drainage protection requirements.