The City of San Luis Obispo has adopted updates to certain regulations that would ultimately protect the community, including City-owned infrastructure and the environment.
On May 7, the City Council approved proposed changes to the City’s municipal code that better align with State legislation by imposing requirements for businesses and property owners related to reducing unnecessary waste and environmental pollution.
Read the highlights about each upcoming ordinance below:
Single-Use Foodware Accessories and Standard Condiments Ordinance
Who this affects: Restaurants, retail food facilities and food delivery services.
What to know: This update aligns with California Assembly Bill 1276 (in effect since 2022), which prohibits the bundling of single-use foodware and requires all retail food facilities and food delivery services to offer single-use foodware accessories and condiments only upon customer request so customers can take only what they need with a goal to reduce unnecessary waste. Single-use foodware items subject to this law include utensils, straws, chopsticks, stirrers and condiment cups and packets.
To comply, restaurants will need to
- ensure single-use items are given only upon request (or from a self-serve station),
- post signage to inform customers of their request options,
- avoid purchasing or distributing bundled single-use foodware and
- update online ordering menus to include the option to request utensils and condiments.
Clearing of Waste Matter, Debris, and Vehicles from Private Property
Who this affects: Private property owners or their agent (including businesses, restaurants or tenants).
What to know: This regulation requires the installation of a locking mechanism on trash, recycling, and/or organics bins if deemed necessary due to containers not being properly maintained, with the goal of preventing environmental and public health impacts. If required, the private property owner or customer will be responsible for paying a one-time installation fee to the garbage company for their locking mechanism and training employees (if applicable) on keeping the bin locked when not actively in use.
Fats, Oils, and Grease Discharge Control
Who this affects: Businesses that generate fats, oils and grease.
What to know: This regulation may require some businesses to use a new design for grease control devices, which prevent fats, oils and grease from entering San Luis Obispo’s sewer system. Businesses or restaurants may have to update their current grease control devices and all permittees should expect more thorough inspection and reporting requirements, and to provide documented training for staff on best management practices.
Private Sewer Laterals and Discharges to the Public Sewer System
Who this affects: Homeowners and private developers.
What to know: Every home has a pipe that connects its private wastewater system to the public sewer system; the pipe is called a sewer lateral. Just like roofs and driveways, maintaining a lateral is the homeowner’s responsibility. This updated regulation allows alternatives for sewer lateral offset requirements, relaxes triggers for offsets associated with ADUs and projects not generating additional sewage, and removes the requirement for same parcel residential intensification projects to replace a sewer lateral other than their own. Additionally, to protect against sewage backup in the home, the update reaffirms that homeowners should install a sewer backwater device to limit risk and liability.
Stormwater
Who this affects: Property owners, developers and construction companies.
What to know: This regulation clarifies allowable discharges into the stormwater system from construction sites. Additionally, parties responsible for the ownership and maintenance of regulated post-construction stormwater control measures will have to submit self-inspection reports of features such as bioretention areas, underground chambers, pervious pavements, green roofs, cisterns, retention ponds and infiltration basins every year by June 15.
Water Conservation
Who this affects: Property owners.
What to know: To align with recently adopted California state regulations, this regulation reduces the allowable repair timeline for a water leak causing water waste runoff from 10 days to 72 hours. The ordinance update also prohibits irrigation within 48-hours of rainfall and restricts the irrigation of non-functional turf at commercial, institutional and industrial properties. Additionally, the City’s water conservation retrofit upon sale program has been updated to reference the California Green Building Code’s definition of low water use fixtures. This will ensure that state-approved low-flow fixtures are installed within homes and businesses prior to sale.
For more information about the above-proposed Utilities municipal code updates, please visit the Utilities Municipal Code Updates webpage.