Proposed Sewer Ordinance

Updating Stevenson’s Sewer Ordinance: A Community-Driven Approach

The City of Stevenson strives to provide a consistent level of services to residents and businesses within City limits by investing in public infrastructure availability. Since June 2023, the City has been working to modify an outdated sewer ordinance — the local policy that regulates how residents and businesses connect to and use the public sewer system. 

In August 2023, at the request of Council, City staff drafted an updated ordinance for review at a Council-only workshop. Based on Council feedback, a revised ordinance was presented at a facilitated public workshop in September. This led the City Council to form a Sewer Ordinance Committee. It is composed of 15 members who expressed interest in the topic.  

The 15 Sewer Ordinance Committee members were appointed to represent diverse perspectives on the topic. Members included developers, business owners and residents with sewer and septic waste management systems, two Council members, and the Mayor. 

From September 2023 through May 2024, the Committee members consulted with other community members to collect feedback and met as a group four times to discuss findings. The Committee summarized the input received and collaborated with City staff and Council on the revised sewer ordinance.  

After additional feedback from Council, they authorized a draft for public release in September 2024. This draft is available for additional public comments before any final decision on adoption will be made.

Why Revise the Existing Ordinance?

The original ordinance was adopted in the 1970s. It is more restrictive than our community tolerates and imposes great financial burdens on households and businesses.

The existing ordinance requires residents and businesses to connect to public sewer lines within 90 days of an official notice to connect. It also prohibits new development on septic systems within 300 feet a public sewer system. The 90 day connection deadline is nonnegotiable.

Construction of the connection and payment of System Development Charges is at the owner's sole expense. A system development charge is billed to a property owner upon connection to a public utility system. The sewer System Development Charge is based upon the size and type of the development. Homes less than 1,500 square feet pay $6,683. Homes over 2,600 square feet pay $11,607. Homes between those thresholds pay $8,910. The ordinance does not provide incentives, deferrals or phase-in allowances for the financial impact of these connections.

The City has heard feedback from residents, businesses, developers, staff and City Council and understands the need to change how things should be going forward.

What is in the Revised Draft Ordinance?

The draft contemplates a citywide shift to a reliable, safe sewer system and a long-term investment in the City’s infrastructure, environment and economy. It considers the needs and means of our community as it makes that shift.

The draft regulations now consider the type of development served by the public sewer system:

• Connection is still required for all developments (new and existing) where a public sewer is "available". "Available" means "a public sewer abuts a lot along any street, alley, right-of-way or easement accessible to the lot owner...".
• The prohibition of new septic systems within 300 feet of a public sewer system is removed for new development of single-family homes, duplexes, and divisions of property into 2 lots.
• New development of single-family homes, duplexes, and divisions of property into 2 lots continues to be allowed where a public sewer is not "available".
• The prohibition of new septic systems within 300 feet of a public sewer system remains new development of multi-family housing, commercial, industrial, and divisions of property into 3 lots or more.
• New development of multi-family housing, commercial, industrial, and divisions of property into 3 lots or more must now extend and connect to public sewer everywhere in city limits.

The draft regulations now offer connection incentives and phase-in allowances to limit the financial impact of connection to the public sewer system:

• Connection Incentive. The sewer System Development Charge will now be waived if connected within 90 days of an official notice to connect. 
• Connection Incentive. The sewer System Development Charge will now be waived for Low- and Moderate-income Households if connected within 3 years of an official notice to connect. The City considers a lot owner low- or moderate-income if the lot owner's household doesn't earn more than 400% of the federal poverty level. The federal poverty level differs by household size and year. For example, in 2025 a waiver will now be provided if a 3-person household earns $106,600 or less.
• Connection Incentive. The sewer System Development Charge will now be deferred if connected after 90 days and within 3 years of an official notice to connect. The deferred charge need not be paid until the lot is sold or transferred.
• Phase-In Allowance. Lot owners now have an option to pay a penalty if they choose not to connect. The penalty amount is assessed monthly and may be as much as the base sewer monthly rate for sewer service. For a home, this rate is currently $140.92.
• Phase-In Allowance. Lot owners who commit to connect to the public sewer system within 3 years may halve the monthly penalty. This is intended as a phase-in allowance so the lot owner may save for the physical construction costs. 
• Phase-In Allowance. Low- and Moderate-Income lot owners will also be eligible for the phase-in allowance which will halve the already reduced monthly rate.
• Response within 90 days of the official notice to connect would be required and the lot owner would need to enter into a contract in order to avail themselves of these financial benefits.

What happens next?

The City is committed to ensuring community awareness of this update and providing opportunities for the community to continue influencing the content of the draft ordinance before it is adopted.

• Thursday, April 10th from 6:00 to 7:30 pm- City staff will hold a Public Open House. The purpose of the Open House is to inform attendees about the community-driven revised draft ordinance. Attendees will be guided through the process a lot owner will experience when connection to the public sewer system is required. There will be opportunities for attendees to ask questions to ensure their understanding of the proposed changes so that they may provide their opinions to the City Council. Staff will collect written comments at this Open House for City Council review at the Public Hearing.
• Thursday, April 17th at 6:00pm- The City Council will hold a Public Hearing. The purpose of the Hearing is for the community to inform the City Council of their opinions on the draft ordinance. After hearing these opinions, the Council will be asked if they desire any changes to the draft.
• Thursday, May 15th at 6:00pm- The City Council will hold a second Public Hearing. The purpose of the Hearing will be the same. After this hearing, the Council will again be asked if they desire any changes. If they do not, then they may adopt the draft ordinance. If adopted, the new regulatory program would take effect and be implemented shortly afterward.