City Code Section
- For the purpose of this Chapter, the following definitions and applicable definitions of Section 17.32.020 will apply:
- A. “Available Public Sewer” means a public sewer that is within 100 feet or one-half block, whichever is less, of property to be served, without crossing another property to make the new connection, or such other conditions of availability as are established by administrative rule. In cases of onsite conveyance or disposal system failure, sewer shall be deemed available if within 300 feet.
- B. “Branch Sewer” means the public portion of the horizontal piping system that connect from the plumbing system of a building or buildings to a public sewer.
- C. “Common Private Sewer System (also called Party Sewer)” means that portion of a building sewer that:
- 1. Is not owned by the City of Portland;
- 2. Is used for draining more than one building under different ownership; and
- 3. Conveys the discharge to a sewer service lateral, public sewer, private sewage disposal system, or other point of disposal.
- Common private sewers are found on private property and in private and public rights-of-way, including easements.
- D. “Connection” means the connection of all sanitary waste and drainage disposal lines from all development on a property to the public sewer and drainage system.
- E. “Director” means the Director of the Bureau of Environmental Services or the Director’s designee.
- F. “Immediately Available Public Sewer” means a public sewer to which a property can connect without further extension of the public system.
- G. “Owner-Occupant” means an owner who uses the property as their primary residence. The individual who has the responsibility for assessments and is occupying the property will be considered the owner-occupant regardless of who holds the deed to the property. An owner who lived at the property before moving to a nursing home or similar facility is considered to be residing at the property if the property is not producing income.
- H. “Nonconforming Sewer” means a private sanitary sewer that is:
- 1. Not on the same public or private property as the structure or structures being served by the sewer; and
- 2. Not located within a recorded sewer easement or subject to a recorded covenant for easement regarding use of the sewer and meeting the standards for easements specified in administrative rules.
- I. “Onsite Sewage Disposal System” means a cesspool or the combination of a septic tank or other treatment unit and effluent sewer and absorption improvement.
- See Figure 13 at the end of this Title for graphical representation of these definitions.