ARTICLE 1. Septic Tanks [117400. - 117450.]

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 1.

in effect

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117400. Section 117400.

This article shall not apply to any city, town, county, sanitary district, sanitation district, sewer maintenance district or to any agency or institution of the state or the federal government by reason of the cleaning of septic tanks, chemical toilets, cesspools, sewage seepage pits or sewage works that are owned and operated by any of these governmental agencies or institutions.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117405. Section 117405.

It is unlawful for any person or firm to carry on or engage in the business of the cleaning of septic tanks, chemical toilets, cesspools or sewage seepage pits or to dispose of the cleanings therefrom in any city, town, county, or city and county unless he or she or it shall hold an unrevoked registration issued by the local health officer or his or her duly authorized representative of the city, town, county, or city and county for the carrying on of the business.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117410. Section 117410.

Except as provided in Section 25163, it is unlawful for any person to clean septic tanks, chemical toilets, cesspools or sewage seepage pits or to dispose or aid in the disposal of the cleanings thereof, for any person or firm engaged in the business of cleaning out septic tanks, chemical toilets, cesspools or sewage seepage pits or disposing of the cleanings thereof who does not hold an unrevoked registration as provided in this article.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117415. Section 117415.

All applications for registration under this article shall be filed with the local health officer in the city, town, county, or city and county in which it is desired to carry on the business. The application shall state the name in full, if a partnership then names of each of the partners, the relation of the applicant to the firm or partnership, the place of business and place of residence of the applicant for registration and of each of the partners in the business, if a partnership, and shall state the exact location of the place at which it is proposed to dispose of cleanings. The application shall be signed by the authorized officer of a corporation, if a corporation; or by the managing partner, if a partnership.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117420. Section 117420.

Registration shall be issued only after a satisfactory examination by the health officer or his or her duly authorized representative covering the equipment to be used, the applicant’s knowledge of sanitary principles and of the laws and ordinances affecting human health or nuisances, and the reliability of the applicant in observing sanitary laws, ordinances and directions, and in selecting laborers and employees who may clean out septic tanks, chemical toilets, cesspools and sewage seepage pits without endangering human health or comfort; and only after examination of the place or places and manner of disposal of the cleanings proposed by the applicant.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117425. Section 117425.

The health officer is required to act upon each application within thirty (30) days of the date of filing same.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117430. Section 117430.

Registration shall be only for the unexpired portion of the calendar year in which application is made, and at the end of the calendar year all registrations shall become void and of no effect.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117435. Section 117435.

(a) Applicants may be registered under any terms, conditions, orders, and directions as the health officer or his or her duly authorized representative may deem necessary for the protection of human health and comfort. Each health officer and his or her duly authorized representative may require any and all persons who are registered with the health officer to clean septic tanks, cesspools, or sewage seepage pits or to dispose of the cleanings therefrom, to file with the health officer at any time and at any frequency or intervals as the health officer or duly authorized representative may desire, a statement specifying all of the following: (1) The name and address of the owner or tenant of each and every one of the premises where a septic tank, cesspool, or sewage seepage pit has been cleaned out by the registrant or his or her employees or by others on his or her behalf and the date of each cleaning. (2) The location where the cleanings are disposed of and by whom. (3) Discharges of waste that may result in violation of laws or ordinances required to be known by the registrant pursuant to Section 117420. (b) The health officer may require the statement to be sworn to before a notary. (c) Any and all persons registered with the health officer to clean septic tanks, cesspools, or sewage seepage pits, or to dispose of the cleanings therefrom, shall also provide a statement as required pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) to a regional board as defined pursuant to Section 13050 of the Water Code.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117440. Section 117440.

A change of address of any registrant including a member of a partnership that is registered and of the place of business thereof shall be reported in writing by registered mail by the registrant within two days after the change of address.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117445. Section 117445.

Any registration issued under this article may be revoked by the issuing health officer for cause on 10 days’ notice to the applicant. The notice shall be served by registered mail or in person at the latest place of residence or of business reported by the applicant.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117450. Section 117450.

Violation of any of the provisions of this article or of any order or orders of a health officer made pursuant to this article for the protection of human health and comfort shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) for each offense or by imprisonment for not less than thirty (30) days or by both the fine and imprisonment.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026