Local Agency Management Program

Local Agency Management Program for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS)

Adopted Santa Cruz County Local Agency Management Program (LAMP) with All Appendices (8/23/22, 10/25/22)

Significant Changes in Local Agency Management Program (LAMP) from 2016 Standards

On August 23, 2022, The Board of Supervisors adopted the Local Agency Management Program (LAMP) and related changes to the County General Plan/Local Coastal Plan. On October 25, 2022, the Board adopted  amendments to the Santa Cruz County Code Chapter 7.38 (Sewage Disposal). These amendments are required to bring the county provisions into conformance with the State OWTS Policy and the County’s LAMP which  was adopted by the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board on October 14, 2021. A number of relatively minor changes were made to the LAMP and the code after Regional Board adoption. These provided greater clarification and some changes in implementation process and were approved by Regional Board staff.

Implementation of most provisions of the LAMP commenced in the county upon Regional Board adoption on October 14, 2021. Amendments to Santa Cruz County Code Chapter 7.38 went into effect outside the Coastal Zone on November 26, 2022. Those amendments will go into effect in the Coastal Zone on February 20, 2023, following Coastal Commission certification of those changes as a  Local Coastal Program amendment on February 10, 2023.

 

On October 14, 2021, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (CCRWRCB) approved the Santa Cruz County LAMP. The County Board of Supervisors authorized the submittal of the draft LAMP to the CCRWRCB on August 24, 2021. This draft was revised based on comments received on the June 2021 draft.

LAMP With Changes to the October 14, 2021 Adopted Version
Appendix A – Chapter 7.38 of Santa Cruz County Code: Sewage Disposal Ordinance with Proposed Changes Based on the Approved LAMP (10/14/21)
Appendix C - Summary of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) Requirements with Proposed Changes Based on the Approved LAMP (10/14/21)

View responses to comments that were received from the public comment draft of June 2021:
Summary of Comments Received on June 2021 Draft of LAMP and County and Regional Board Responses

A virtual public meeting was held Wednesday, June 23, 2021 from 5:30-7pm. Click on the links below to watch a recording of the meeting or review slides that were presented.

Recording of Santa Cruz Septic System Public Meeting (LAMP)
Santa Cruz County slides LAMP meeting 23 June 2021
Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board slides LAMP meeting 23 Jun 2021
Questions and Answers from LAMP Meeting 23 June 2021

Draft LAMP For Public Comment, June 2021

Local Area Management Plan
Appendix A - Chapter 7.38 of Santa Cruz County Code: Sewage Disposal Ordinance
Appendix A - Chapter 7.38 of Santa Cruz County Code: Sewage Disposal Ordinance (with changes)
Appendix B - Chapter 7.42 of Santa Cruz County Code: Septic Tank Pumping and Liquid Waste Transport
Appendix C - Summary of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) Requirements
Appendix D - Enhanced Treatment System Regulations
Appendix E - Septic Tanks, Distribution Boxes, and Chamber Leaching Systems Approved for Use in Santa Cruz County
Appendix F - Site Evaluation and Testing Procedures
Appendix G - State OWTS Policy
Summary of Comments Received on 11/12/2020 Draft of LAMP and County Responses
Significant Changes in Proposed June 6, 2021 LAMP from 2016 Standards

Previous Draft from November 2020

LAMP clean version
Draft LAMP (11/12/2020)
Summary of LAMP Changes
Appendices:
Appendix A - Chapter 7.38 of Santa Cruz County Code: Sewage Disposal (with proposed updates)
Appendix B - Chapter 7.42 of Santa Cruz County Code: Septic Tank Pumping and Liquid Waste Transport
Appendix C - Summary of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) Requirements
Appendix D - Enhanced Treatment System Regulations
Appendix E - Septic Tanks, Distribution Boxes, and Chamber Leaching Systems Approved for Use in Santa Cruz County
Appendix F - Site Evaluation and Testing Procedures
Appendix G - State OWTS Policy
Appendix H - LAMP Checklist
Regional Board Onsite Web page https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralcoast/water_issues/programs/septics/permits.html