Required use of sanitary sewers.

Tampa City Code § 26-118

in effect

Sec. 26-118. - Required use of sanitary sewers. (a) It is unlawful for any person to construct or maintain, within the boundaries of the service area, any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other facility intended or used for the disposal of domestic or industrial waste, except where a public sanitary sewer is unavailable. (b) The owner of each lot or parcel of land within the service area which abuts upon a street or other public way containing a sanitary sewer, upon which lot or parcel one (1) or more buildings have been or shall be constructed for residential, commercial or industrial use, shall connect each building thereon to such sanitary sewer and shall cease to use any other method for the disposal of wastewater. Existing projects, served by on-site wastewater treatment and disposal systems that are operating in compliance with Chapter 64E-6, Florida Administrative Code, and F.S. § 381.0065, at the time city wastewater service becomes available, will be exempt from mandatory connection to city wastewater service unless it is determined that such connection is required in the public interest due to public health considerations. Exemptions will not be granted if any of the following conditions exist: (1) The site location, soil suitability, density, or setback criteria does not satisfy the repair requirements of Chapter 64E-6, Florida Administrative Code. (2) The specific site or area has exhibited a history of on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system violations or failures creating sanitary nuisance conditions. (3) There is a required change to the on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system due to a significant increase in flow requirements as requested by the owner. (4) The on-site wastewater treatment and disposal systems were approved as interim or transitional facilities. (5) Connection to the public utility system is a condition of zoning. (c) The existence of the conditions cited in (1) through (3) above will be determined by the Hillsborough County Health Department pursuant to Chapter 64E-6, Florida Administrative Code, and F.S. § 381.0065. (d) The director or his designee has the authority to waive mandatory connection to the public sanitary sewer system where it can be determined that such a connection is not required in the public interest due to public health considerations. (e) If at any time the director or his designee shall find that any such owner has not made or caused to have been made such connection as required by this section, it shall be the duty of the director or his designee to immediately direct such owner, by notice in writing by United States mail or by personal service, to make or cause to be made such connection within ninety (90) days from the date of such notification by the director. The director shall have the authority to make or cause to be made such connection, and the cost of making such connection shall become a lien on the property. (f) If capacity fees have not been paid and connection made in the above established time, the city or the person furnishing water for use on such premises shall discontinue furnishing water to such premises and shall disconnect the same from the waterworks system. (Ord. No. 89-253, § 2(58-124), 9-28-89; Ord. No. 2002-25, § 1, 1-17-02)

Source: City of Tampa, Code of Ordinances and Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/fl/tampa/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH26UT_ARTIIIWADE_S26-118REUSSASEFetched: 10/28/2026