On Friday, January 8, 1988, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) imposed a moratorium on new sources of sewage discharge (and increases in the volume of existing sources) in the community of Baywood-Los Osos. The moratorium was imposed through the provisions of a Memorandum of Understanding executed between the county and the RWQCB in December, 1978, and imposes a variety of responsibilities on the county. The purpose of this memo is to set forth official Department of Planning and Building policy on the implementation of the moratorium by staff.

1. Area where moratorium applies. The area subject to the moratorium is shown on the attached map, and is known as the prohibition area. The provisions of the moratorium do not apply outside of the prohibition area. Click here for attached Map

2. Effect of moratorium on the permit process:

a. Construction involving new or expanded septic systems prohibited. The primary effect of the moratorium is that this office is prohibited from issuing any permits for new on-site sewage disposal systems (commonly called "septic" systems) within the prohibition area, We are also prohibited from issuing permits for expansion of the capacities of any existing systems. These mandates (for our purposes) translate into the following specific requirements:

(1) Independent structures without toilets or other plumbing fixtures (e.g. detached garages) may be approved.

(2) Additions to existing buildings which would normally (in circumstances other than the moratorium) require accompanying expansion of on-site sewage disposal (septic) systems shall not be approved, even where the existing septic system was originally oversized and could accommodate the addition without expansion.

(3) Proposed living area (not bedroom) additions to existing dwellings will be processed per normal procedures: if they would not normally require accompanying septic system expansion, they may be approved. However, only living area additions that are open to the "core" of the house (kitchen, living room or dining room), that have large cased openings (no doors), and that do not have closets will be approved. If you have any questions about these requirements, please call Steve Hicks, Supervising Plans Examiner, at 781-5709 before you complete your design.

(4) Any change in occupancy of commercial structures which would increase the "fixture unit" requirements per the Uniform Plumbing Code shall not be approved.