FROM:
Engineering
SUBJECT:
Title
Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Fontana, California Rescinding and Replacing Articles I Through VIII of Chapter 23 of the Fontana Municipal Code Regarding Sewers and Sewage Disposal
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RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Waive full reading and introduce for first reading by title only Ordinance No. 1984, Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Fontana, California rescinding and replacing Articles I through VIII of Chapter 23 of the Fontana Municipal Code Regarding Sewers and Sewage Disposal.
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COUNCIL GOALS:
• To operate in a businesslike manner by correcting problems immediately.
• To promote economic development by establishing a quick, consistent development process.
DISCUSSION:
Chapter 23 of the Fontana Municipal Code (“Sewers and Sewage Disposal”) has been assembled and amended incrementally over multiple decades. As a result, comprehensive amendments are necessary to enhance internal consistency and align the City’s sewer regulations with current operational requirements. In addition, several regulatory areas governed by Chapter 23-particularly onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) and industrial pretreatment-have evolved substantially under state and federal law, and the City’s implementation responsibilities are also shaped by the City’s regional sewer service arrangements.
The proposed ordinance is a comprehensive overhaul of Chapter 23 intended to modernize, reorganize, and clarify the City’s sewer use regulations. The update represents a coordinated effort by staff to (1) improve readability and internal consistency, (2) align local requirements with current state and federal regulatory frameworks, and (3) ensure the City has clear administrative and enforcement authority to operate an effective sewer program and meet its obligations under applicable sewer service agreements.
Key Revisions
1) Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS).
The ordinance updates the City’s approach to OWTS to reflect current State Water Resources Control Board policy and the Regional Water Quality Control Board’s implementation practices. The revised provisions clarify when sewer connection is required versus when OWTS may be permitted, and they align thresholds and regulatory triggers with the OWTS Policy “tier” structure and Regional Board oversight. For example, the updated code identifies circumstances where properties served by OWTS must connect to the public sewer or obtain Regional Board authorization (e.g., higher-flow systems, nondomestic discharges, high-strength food service wastewater, Tier 3/Tier 4 corrective action scenarios, or cesspools).
2) Pretreatment program requirements and enforcement tools.
The ordinance modernizes pretreatment standards and administrative procedures to support an effective and efficient pretreatment program. The update expands and clarifies staff authority and enforcement mechanisms necessary to regulate nondomestic wastewater discharges, including permit administration, monitoring and reporting, and a full range of enforcement responses. These provisions are structured to support the City’s compliance responsibilities under its regional sewer service agreements and to ensure discharges within the City do not cause pass-through, interference, or other violations at downstream facilities.
3) Grease interceptor and grease trap requirements.
The ordinance updates requirements for grease interceptors/grease traps to reflect current best practices and reduce risks of blockages, overflows, and related maintenance and environmental impacts. The revisions clarify when grease control devices are required, improve standards for installation and maintenance, and strengthen the City’s ability to ensure ongoing compliance-particularly for food service and similar high-risk uses.
4) Fees and charges-clarity and alignment with current practice.
The ordinance updates fee and charge provisions to better reflect current City operational practices and to provide clearer direction to staff and customers regarding when charges apply, how they are calculated, and how they are administered. This includes clarifying procedural steps tied to permitting and use-related charges, improving transparency, and reducing ambiguity that can lead to inconsistent application.
5) Organization, terminology, and cross-references.
Finally, the ordinance performs a comprehensive internal cleanup of Chapter 23 by standardizing terminology, correcting and updating cross-references, and improving overall organization. This work is intended to make the code more uniform and user-friendly for customers, developers, and regulated users, while also improving day-to-day administration for staff.
Conclusion
Overall, the proposed ordinance is a substantial modernization of the City’s sewer use code. It is designed to provide a clearer and more enforceable regulatory framework; align local standards with current state and federal requirements; and better position the City to implement OWTS oversight, pretreatment controls, and grease management consistent with contemporary regulatory expectations and the City’s regional wastewater service obligations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the approval of this item.
MOTION:
Approve staff recommendation.