AB 885

AB 885 Signed by the Governor (Assembly Member Jackson)

Assembly Bill 885 is legislation related to statewide minimum standards for onsite sewage treatment systems. The bill was signed in to law by Governor Gray Davis on September 28, 2000. The bill was sponsored by the California Association of Environmental Health Administrators (CAEHA) and was introduced by Assembly Member Hannah Beth Jackson in February 1999.

The State of California is only one of two states in the nation that does not have statewide minimum standards for onsite sewage treatment systems. Specifically, AB 885 requires:

The adoption of statewide standards or regulations for existing, construction, and performance of onsite sewage disposal systems by the State Water Resources Control Board by January 1, 2004. The regulations will become effective six months after the regulations are adopted. The current state budget contains an allocation of $300,000 for the development of these standards. The future statewide standards will not preempt local jurisdictions from having more protective or stringent standards for protection of public health. Basin Plans will be amended to include minimum statewide standards for existing, construction and performance requirements for onsite sewage disposal systems, with local provisions to address regional geological or hydrological conditions.

The standards to apply to any onsite sewage disposal system that:

is constructed or replaced on or after July 1, 2004 (or six months after the adoption date of the regulations, whichever is sooner)

is subject to a major repair

pools or discharges to the surface of the ground

in the judgment of the Regional Water Quality Control Board or the authorized agency has the reasonable potential to cause a violation of water quality objectives, to impair present or future beneficial uses of water, to cause pollution, nuisance, or contamination of waters of the state.

The provision of financial assistance to assist private property owners with existing systems whose cost of compliance with these regulations exceeds one-half of one percent of the value of their property.
AB 855

(The above summary is provided by: Peggy Langle, County of Santa Barbara Environmental Health Services Director)

Return to Legislative Page, Home Page

	is constructed or replaced on or after July 1, 2004 (or six months after the adoption date of the regulations, whichever is sooner)
	is subject to a major repair
	pools or discharges to the surface of the ground
	in the judgment of the Regional Water Quality Control Board or the authorized agency has the reasonable potential to cause a violation of water quality objectives, to impair present or future beneficial uses of water, to cause pollution, nuisance, or contamination of waters of the state.