Lake Stevens City Zoning Code

Whenever it is legally possible and practicable in terms of topography to connect a lot with a city sewer line by running a connecting line not more than 200 feet from the lot to such line, then no use requiring sewage disposal service may be made of such lot unless connection is made to such line.

Connection to such sewer line is not legally possible if, in order to make connection with such line by a connecting line that does not exceed 300 feet in length, it is necessary to run the connecting line over property not owned by the owner of the property to be served by the connection, and, after diligent effort, the easement necessary to run the connecting line cannot reasonably be obtained.

For purposes of this chapter, a lot is "served" by a city-owned sewer line if connection is required by this section.

Every principal use and every lot within a subdivision shall be served by a sewage disposal system that is adequate to accommodate the reasonable needs of such use or subdivision lot and that complies with all applicable health regulations. Connection to an approved sewage disposal system is required prior to the issuance of a final inspection or certificate of occupancy, or before any use reliant upon the sewer system may commence.

Whenever connection to the City's sewer system is required pursuant to a land use permit or as required by the local health department, a sewer main shall be extended from the existing sewer system through the property to the far side(s) of the subject property(s) and along the property's street frontages, as necessary to provide sewer service to the subject parcel and adjacent parcels feasibly served by the required extension(s). The connection to the existing sewer shall be made where dictated by the Public Works Director. Sewer mains extended pursuant to this section shall be a minimum of eight inches in diameter, and shall be larger if so indicated in the City's comprehensive sewer plan or sewer capital facilities plan. If the City has previously installed all or a portion of the required sewer line, the developer shall pay the City an in-lieu assessment fee as provided for in Title 6. The cost of oversizing a sewer main extension to larger than ten inches in diameter shall be credited toward the sewer general facilities charges normally due for connection of the subject property to the sewer system.

Primary responsibility for determining whether a proposed development will comply with the standard set forth in Section 14.60.100 may lie with a sewer purveyor other than the City, and the developer must comply with the detailed standards and specifications of such purveyor. The relevant agencies are listed in subsection (b) of this section. Whenever any such purveyor requires detailed construction or design drawings before giving its official approval to the proposed sewage disposal system, the authority issuing a permit under this chapter may rely upon a preliminary review by such purveyor of the basic design elements of the proposed sewage disposal system to determine compliance with Section 14.60.100. However, construction of such system may not be commenced until the detailed plans and specifications have been reviewed and any appropriate permits issued by such purveyor.

In the following if-then list, the if statement describes the type of development and the then statement indicates the purveyor that must certify to the city whether the proposed sewage disposal system complies with the standard set forth in Section 14.60.100.

Where a public sanitary sewer is not available for use as provided by Section 14.60.020 (Lots Served by Government Owned Water or Sewer Lines), and the City so certifies and approves, and if approved by the Snohomish County Health Department, the building sewer may be connected to a private sewage disposal system or replacement, any of which must comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Pursuant to RCW 70.64 and WAC 248.96, the City recognizes the Snohomish County Health Department as the legitimate agency to supervise and direct the on-site sewer system permit process. All permitting and inspection of private sewage disposal systems shall be done by the Snohomish County Health Department; provided, that any application to the Health Department for installation of a new on-site sewage system must be accompanied by a letter from the City stating that no sanitary systems are available and that the proposed on-site sewage system conforms to applicable City Code requirements. All related Health Department fees shall be paid by the property owner. A copy of the Snohomish County Health Department permit shall be furnished to the City by the property owner prior to any construction work.

An appropriate fee may be established by resolution for the above service provided by the City.

Any private or public sewer facility not owned by the City may be conveyed to the City if it meets the criteria listed in subsection (b). If the City accepts that conveyance, the sewer thereafter shall be a public sewer under the jurisdiction of the City.

The following criteria shall be met, unless otherwise waived by the Public Works Director, prior to conveyance of sewer facilities to the City:

Building sewer permits shall be obtained for any connection to the public sewer system.

A permit which includes building sewer work in a public area or the connection with or opening into any public sewer other than through the normal opening of a wye, tee or stub, may be issued only to a registered building sewer contractor or qualified City employee.

A permit which includes building sewer work on private property only may be issued to the owner of the property or to a registered building sewer contractor, or qualified City employee, but such permit shall not allow the owner to connect the building sewer to a public sewer except through the normal opening of a wye, tee, or stub under the supervision of the Public Works Director or designee.

Building sewer permits shall not be transferable. No authorized person, including any building sewer contractor or qualified City employee, shall lay any pipe pursuant to any other person's permit.

No permit shall be issued for building sewer connection before the main sewer is accepted.

All costs and expenses incident to the installation and connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the City from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer.

The applicant for a building sewer permit shall supply the Public Works Director with the following information:

All required fees shall be paid before any building sewer permit is issued. Such fees may include, but are not limited to: permit fees, stub fees, general facilities connection charges, in-lieu-of-assessment charges, reconnection charges, and/or any other charges identified as associated with the permit or the property (outstanding or otherwise), if applicable.

The permit card must be posted on the job prior to commencing the work and must be readily accessible to the Public Works Director.

The installer of the building sewer shall meet with the inspector on the job whenever so directed.

For the purpose of assuring safe and quality construction of building sewers, safe and quality connection of building sewers to the public sewers of the City, no person, other than the owner of the property involved, may construct, install, repair, reconstruct, excavate, or connect to the public sewers of the City any building sewer, except for building sewer contractor holding a valid, unsuspended current certificate of registration issued by the Department of Licensing of the State of Washington pursuant to Chapter 18.27 RCW, or qualified employees of the City.

All such registered building sewer contractors and/or qualified City employee shall adhere at all times to the then current requirements of the City relating to building sewers, connections to public sewers, and building sewer contractors, including reasonable requirements of the Public Works Director relating to construction, installation, reconstruction and repair of building sewers, and shall be liable for all damage to the public sewers of the City and any other public sewers and any other sewage treatment plant to which the City is connected.

Not more than one primary structure may be connected to the sewer system by a single connection unless an exception is granted by the Public Works Director prior to the construction of such connection.

If more than one primary structure is connected to the public sewer system by a single connection, a mutually beneficial easement shall be granted to the respective properties over the shared portions of the connection, thus assuring that all properties involved shall have perpetual use of the building sewer. Provisions shall also be made for maintenance and access for repair proposes. Said easement(s) shall be recorded with the County Auditor, and a copy thereof furnished to the City.

Building Sewer – Specifications. The building sewer shall be of the pipe and joint material indicated below. Joints shall be gas tight and watertight. Any part of the building sewer that is located within less than five feet of a water service pipe shall be constructed of ductile iron pipe with approved flexible gaskets unless such part is at least three feet lower than such water pipe. If installed in filled or unstable ground, the building sewer shall be of ductile iron pipe, except that non-metallic material may be accepted if laid on a suitable concrete bed or cradle as approved by the Public Works Director.

When required by the Public Works Director, the amount of pipe deflection shall be tested after the trench backfill and compaction has been completed. The test shall consist of pulling a wooden mandrel through the completed pipeline with a diameter equal to 95% of the pipe diameter. The contractor will be required to replace any pipelines that fail the test.

Building Sewer – Size, Slope and Length. The size, slope and length of the building sewer shall be subject to the inspection, verification and approval of the Public Works Director, but in no event shall the diameter be less than four inches from one connection to a single family residence and six inches for connections to/from two to not more than four single family residences. The size of building sewers for other connections shall be determined by the Public Works Director. The slope of such building sewer shall be not less than 2% for 4-inch and 6-inch pipe unless the depth of the public sewer requires a lesser slope and such lesser slope is approved by the Public Works Director, who may require the owner to release the City from all liability for damage. The maximum permitted length of 4-inch pipe used as a building sewer shall be 100 feet. The maximum permitted length of 6-inch pipe, or a combination of 4-inch and 6-inch pipe, used as a building sewer shall be 200 feet.

Building Sewer – Elevation – Direction. Whenever possible, the building sewer shall be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement floor. No building sewer shall be laid under any building or within two and one-half feet of any foundation wall, unless the building sewer is constructed of ductile-iron pipe. The minimum depth of trench shall be 18 inches. The building sewer shall be laid at uniform grade and in straight alignment insofar as possible. Changes in direction shall be made only with properly curved pipe and fittings, as approved by the Public Works Director. Fittings shall be used at all major changes of direction and a clean out shall be provided at such fittings. Wherever any building drain is constructed too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sewage carried by such drain shall be lifted by approved artificial mean and discharged into the public sewer at the owner's expense.

Information from the Public Works Department. The owner of any building shall be responsible for obtaining from the Public Works Director the location and elevation of the sewer tee or sewer stub at the point of connection and, in the case of new construction, for planning the building and plumbing and to provide adequate slope for the building sewer. The applicant for permit shall be responsible for determining the available grade between building drain and sewer tee stub.

Building Sewer – Excavation – Pipe Laying. All excavations required for the installations of a building sewer shall be open trench work unless otherwise approved by the Public Works Director. Pipe laying and backfill shall be performed in accordance with the following specifications:

Building Sewers – Joints and Connections. All joints and connections shall be made gas tight and watertight in accordance with City specifications. All joints between dissimilar pipes shall be made with suitable adapter couplings, special fabricated coupling, or cement mortar approved by the Public Works Director. Other jointing materials and methods may be used only by approval of the Public Works Director.

Building Sewer - Connection to Public Sewer. The connection of the building sewer into the public sewer shall be made at a stub, if such stub is available at the suitable location, or to a right-angle sewer tee. If no properly located stub or tee is available, a neat hole may be cut into the public sewer and a pre-manufactured tee installed with entry at right angles, which hole may be cut only by a registered side sewer contractor. The invert of the sewer tee at the point of connection shall be at a higher elevation than the invert of the public sewer. A smooth neat joint shall be made. Special fittings may be used for the connection only when approved by the Public Works Director.

Building Sewer – Inspection. The applicant for the building sewer permit shall notify the Public Works Director when the building sewer is ready for inspection. The grade, materials, and manner of construction shall be subject to approval of the Public Works Director or a regularly-appointed sewer inspector. The Public Works Director may require any test to demonstrate that the building sewer meets the standards specified herein. Such tests may be infiltration tests, exfiltration, air, tests or a combination of them.

Primary responsibility for determining whether a proposed development will comply with the standard set forth in Section 14.60.300 often lies with an agency other than the city, and the developer must comply with the detailed standards and specifications of such other agency. The relevant agencies are listed in Subsection (b). Whenever any such agency requires detailed construction or design drawings before giving its official approval to the proposed water supply system, the authority issuing a permit under this chapter may rely upon a preliminary review by such agency of the basic design elements of the proposed water supply system to determine compliance with Section 14.60.300. However, construction of such system may not be commenced until the detailed plans and specifications have been reviewed and any appropriate permits issued by such agency.

In the following if-then list, the if statement describes the type of development and the then statement indicates the agency that must certify to the city whether the proposed water system complies with the standard set forth in Section 14.60.300.

Subject to subsection (b) of this section, all public streets, sidewalks, and other common areas or facilities in subdivisions created after the effective date of this chapter shall be sufficiently illuminated to ensure the security of property and the safety of persons using such streets, sidewalks, and other common areas or facilities.

All roads, driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, and other common areas and facilities in unsubdivided developments shall be sufficiently illuminated to ensure the security of property and the safety of persons using such roads, driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, and other common areas and facilities.

All entrances and exits in substantial buildings used for nonresidential purposes and in two-family or multi-family residential developments containing more than four dwelling units shall be adequately lighted to ensure the safety of persons and the security of the buildings.

All outdoor lights shall be low sodium or similar lamp type and be down-shielded to prevent light pollution.

If the use is not a subdivision and is located on a lot that is served by an existing power line and the use can be served by a simple connection to such power line (as opposed to a more complex distribution system, such as would be required in an apartment complex or shopping center), then no further certification is needed.

If the use is a subdivision or is not located on a lot served by an existing power line or a substantial internal distribution system will be necessary, then the electric utility service provider must review the proposed plans and certify to the city that it can provide service that is adequate to meet the needs of the proposed use and every lot within the proposed subdivision.

If the use is not a subdivision and is located on a lot that is served by an existing telephone line and the use can be served by a simple connection to such power line (as opposed to a more complex distribution system, such as would be required in an apartment complex or shopping center), then no further certification is necessary.

If the use is a subdivision or is not located on a lot served by an existing telephone line or a substantial internal distribution system will be necessary, then the telephone utility company must review the proposed plans and certify to the city that it can provide service that is adequate to meet the needs of the proposed use and every lot within the proposed subdivision.

Except as noted in subsections (c) through (f) of this section, existing, extended, and new electric power lines (not to include transformers or enclosures containing electrical equipment including, but not limited to, switches, meters, or capacitors which may be pad mounted), telephone, gas distribution, cable television, telecommunications overhead facilities, and other communication lines in or adjacent to any land use or building permit approved after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be placed underground in accordance with the specifications and policies of the respective utility service providers and located in accordance with the currently adopted version of the engineering design and development standards for the City of Lake Stevens. In the event the distribution line originates from a point opposite any public roadway from the new construction the service lines shall be placed beneath said roadway by means of boring or surface excavation across said roadway.

Whenever an unsubdivided development is hereafter constructed on a lot that is undeveloped on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, then all electric, power, telephone, gas distribution, telecommunications, and cable television lines installed to serve the development that are located on the development site outside of a previously existing public street right-of-way shall be placed underground in accordance with the specifications and policies of the respective utility companies.

Wiring and/or related facilities for existing aboveground utilities may remain aboveground if one of the following circumstances exists:

Building permits for additions, alterations, or repairs within any 12-month period and equal to less than 50 percent of the total value of the existing building or structure shall not be subject to the requirements of this section.

Nothing in this section nor any other section in relation to underground utilities shall apply to power lines carrying a voltage of 15 kV or more, nor shall it be constructed to prohibit the placement of said mounted transformers, terminal pedestal, or other electrical and communications devices above ground, as determined by the appropriate utility service provider involved.

Repair, maintenance or upgrading of existing underground service shall not be relocated overhead.

Whenever it can reasonably be anticipated that utility facilities constructed in one development will be extended to serve other adjacent or nearby developments, such utility facilities (e.g., water or sewer lines) shall be located and constructed so that extensions can be made conveniently and without undue burden or expense or unnecessary duplication of service. In all cases, utility lines shall extend to the common property line(s) of the subject property and the property(ies) anticipated to undergo future development.

All utility facilities shall be constructed in such a manner as to minimize interference with pedestrian or vehicular traffic and to facilitate maintenance without undue damage to improvements or facilities located within the development.

Every development that, under the City's solid waste collection policies, is or will be required to provide one or more dumpsters for solid waste collection shall provide sites for such dumpsters that are:

All such dumpsters shall be screened if and to the extent that, in the absence of screening, they would be clearly visible to:

When dumpster screening is required under this section, such screening shall be constructed, installed, and located to prevent or remedy the conditions requiring the screening.