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Portland is a Sanctuary City

Chapter 28.08 Plumbing Installations

City Code Chapter

28.08.010 General.

(Amended by Ordinances 181437, 191154, and 192002, effective January 10, 2025.)

All plumbing installations must be designed and installed in accordance with the Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code, any other relevant Specialty Codes, Title 25 and this Chapter. Permits and inspections are required for all plumbing work except as specifically exempted by this Title.

Existing plumbing that was lawfully in place in Portland as of January 1, 2008, or that was constructed or relocated under a valid permit after that date is considered an existing nonconforming condition as provided in this Title.

28.08.020 Specific Requirements.

(Amended by Ordinances 181437, 191154, and 192002, effective January 10, 2025.)

  1. In addition to the requirements of the relevant Specialty Codes and Title 25, the following specific requirements apply to plumbing installations for moorages, marinas and floating structures.
  2. A.  Sewage ejectors must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and the relevant Specialty Codes, except that the head pressure required by Section 3l8 K (6)(3) for testing drainage systems is reduced from 10 feet to five feet for ejectors installed at individual floating homes.
  3. B.  Flexible connectors for water lines must be approved by the National Sanitation Foundation and be of the type approved for mobile home installations or marine use.
  4. C.  Piping materials must comply with the requirements of the relevant Specialty Codes and Title 25.
  5. D.  Continuously running water through the moorage supply line is an acceptable alternate to pipe insulation to avoid pipe freezing.
  6. E.  All flexible pressure sanitary sewer connections to and in the moorage dock pressure sanitary sewer system must be, as a minimum, helically reinforced PVC, ultraviolet resistant, smooth inside and outside hose that must remain flexible down to a temperature of minus four degrees Fahrenheit (- 4° F).  Insert adapters from flex hose to rigid piping used in the pressure sanitary sewer system must be plated steel, stainless steel, brass or aluminum with stainless steel hose clamps.
  7. F.  Backflow protection.  All water service connections regardless of size or type supplying water from the city distribution system to any type of floating structure, whether permanent or temporary, must be equipped with an approved backflow prevention assembly. The type of backflow assembly required for service connections to facilities as described in this Title must be a Reduced Pressure Backflow Assembly (RPBA). The backflow assembly must be installed at the termination of the City distribution system and at the start of the private distribution system.
  8. Services that supply water to fire sprinkler systems typically are not fully metered. The type of backflow assembly required for fire sprinkler applications must be a Reduced Pressure Detector Assembly (RPDA).
  9. Only State of Oregon Department of Human Services and Portland Bureau of Water Works approved assemblies may be installed. Applicable backflow assembly installation requirements must comply with both Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 333 and Title 21 of this Code.
  10. All plumbing work and materials used in association with the installation of a required backflow assembly on a potable water service line, must be installed in accordance with the relevant Specialty Codes, Title 25 of this Code, and this Chapter. All applicable permits and inspections apply except as exempted by other provisions of this Title.
  11. All backflow assembly installations whether installed on potable or non-potable water service lines will be subject to inspection and approval by the Bureau of Water Works.
  12. Backflow assemblies installed on service connections to floating structures that were installed before January 1, 2008, and are not on the State of Oregon Department on Human Services approved list of assemblies will be allowed to remain in service as long as:
    1. 1. The type of assembly is commensurate with the degree of hazard as outlined in OAR 333-061-0070(6) (2007) and Portland Water backflow assembly installation requirements under Title 21.
    2. 2. The assembly is being properly maintained, tested at least annually and performs satisfactorily.
  13. Assemblies of this type that need to be relocated, require more than minimum maintenance or are on services that are modified, changed size or remodeled must be replaced with an approved assembly. Additionally, as outlined in Title 21 Section 21.12.320 of the City Code, approved assemblies may be required to be installed for new construction, where buildings or structures are remodeled, or where tenant improvements are made.
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