Land Use Program

Purpose


The Land Use Program's charge is to ensure that existing and proposed land developments align with public health and safety and the environment in Humboldt County. Every place of human occupancy or dwelling must have an approved means of sewage disposal. If a community sewage collection and treatment system is not available, an approved on-site sewage disposal system permitted through this program is the typical alternative.

Next steps for draft Waterless Toilet Systems ordinance

Staff in the Land Use Program have developed a draft Waterless Toilet Systems ordinance intended to replace the existing Experimental Disposal Systems Program Title VI, Division 1, Chapter 5 (https://humboldt.county.codes/Code/615) of Humboldt County Code. The new ordinance proposes to designate waterless toilet systems as a permissible alternative to flush toilets.

Comments received from the public, related to the ordinance, have been reviewed, considered and incorporated into the ordinance where possible. An introduction to the ordinance is scheduled for the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors meeting of May 28, 2019. Ratification, if approved, is scheduled for June 4, 2019.

A draft version of the proposed changes to the Experimental Disposal Systems Program Title VI, Division 1, Chapter 5 of Humboldt County Code is available here (PDF).

View the original Experimental Disposal Systems Program Title VI, Division 1, Chapter 5 of Humboldt County Code with proposed changes here (PDF).

Local Agency Management Program (LAMP)

Humboldt County’s Local Agency Management Program (LAMP) and its two component documents, the Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (OWTS) Regulations and Technical Manual (RTM) and Title VI, Divisions 1 and 2 of Humboldt County Code, provide the regulatory framework for oversight of OWTS and ensure compliance with the State Water Resources Control Board’s Water Quality Control Policy for Siting, Design, Operation and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS Policy).

With input from local agencies, environmental groups, consultants and other stakeholders DEH has tailored the LAMP to improve OWTS management through appropriate regulations customized to consider the sensitive areas within the varied climate and geology of the north coast.

The LAMP was approved by the Board of Supervisors in November 2017. Final approval from the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board came in February 2018.

More information about the LAMP is available here (PDF).