CHAPTER 6. Vessel Sanitation [775. - 786.]

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC 6.
in effect

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 775. Section 775.

(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following: (1) Marine sanitation devices should be regulated pursuant to uniform standards and procedures, and California vessel owners should not be subject to any local or state regulation as to the type of marine sanitation devices installed on their vessels. (2) The proper use of marine sanitation devices is critical to the protection of water quality throughout California, and use of marine sanitation devices is required to be in conformance with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. Sec. 1321 et seq.). (3) For proper utilization of retention-type marine sanitation devices installed in conformance with the federal Water Pollution Control Act and for the protection of the quality of the waters of this state, adequate vessel pumpout facilities are essential. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that every vessel with a toilet shall comply with federal standards for marine sanitation devices.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 775.5. Section 775.5.

The definitions in this section govern the construction of this chapter: (a) “Vessel terminal” means any private or public shoreside installation on any waters of this state which provides mooring, docking, berthing, and other facilities for the use of vessels. (b) “Marine sanitation device” means any equipment on board a vessel which is designed to receive, retain, treat, or discharge sewage and any process to treat the sewage. (c) “Promulgation date” means the date upon which the initial standards and regulations for marine sanitation devices are promulgated by an appropriate federal agency in accordance with Section 312 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended (33 U.S.C. Sec. 1322). (d) “Sewage” means human body wastes and the wastes from toilets and other receptacles intended to receive or retain body waste. (e) “Vessel” means every watercraft or other contrivance used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on the waters of the state, excepting foreign and domestic vessels engaged in interstate or foreign commerce upon the waters of the state. (f) “State board” means the State Water Resources Control Board. (g) “Regional board” means a California regional water quality control board. (h) “Waters of this state” shall mean all waters of the state except waters beyond three nautical miles of any shore of the state. (i) “Department” means the Department of Boating and Waterways. (j) “No-discharge area” means a body of water designated as a no-discharge area under subsection (f) of Section 312 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. Sec. 1322 (f)). (k) “Discharge” means spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, or dumping. ( l ) “Secured” means, for a marine sanitation device not approved for use in a no-discharge area, mechanically controlling valves or facilities in an identifiable manner to prevent any overboard discharge of sewage.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 776. Section 776.

(a) Every vessel terminal shall, as required by the regional board for the protection of the quality of the waters of this state, be equipped with vessel pumpout facilities for the transfer and disposal of sewage from marine sanitation devices. In imposing this requirement, the regional board shall take into account the number and type of vessels that use or are berthed at the vessel terminal and whether there exists at other locations pumpout facilities that have a total capacity sufficient for, and are convenient and accessible to, vessels that use or are berthed at the vessel terminal. In addition, the regional board may require any vessel pumpout facility to be equipped with a meter for the purpose of measuring use of the facility. All pumpout facilities installed after the operative date of the statute adding this section shall be equipped with a meter. (b) This section does not apply to the following: (1) Small craft launching facilities. (2) Dockage adjacent to and serving private residences in areas where vessel pumpout facilities are conveniently available to vessels so docked, as determined by the regional board. (3) Other types of facilities designated by the regional board after consulting with the department. (c) Any violation of this section is a misdemeanor. In addition, any violation of this section is subject to any remedy provided for in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 13300) of Division 7 of the Water Code.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 777. Section 777.

(a) Vessel pumpout facilities for the transfer and disposal of sewage from marine sanitation devices, floating restrooms, and onshore toilets shall be operated and maintained in a manner that will prevent the discharge of any sewage to the waters of the state and shall be maintained in good working order and regularly cleaned. (b) Every vessel pumpout facility shall have a notice posted on the facility identifying the city, county, local public health officer, or boating law enforcement officer responsible for enforcing this chapter pursuant to Section 779, with the telephone number where a violation of subdivision (a) may be reported. (c) Any violation of this section is a misdemeanor. In addition, any violation of this section is subject to any remedy provided for in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 13300) of Division 7 of the Water Code.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 779. Section 779.

Every peace officer of the state and of any city, county, or other public agency, all state and local public health officers, and all boating law enforcement officers shall enforce this chapter and any regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 780. Section 780.

(a) A person shall not disconnect, bypass, or operate a marine sanitation device so as to discharge sewage into the waters of this state, unless the particular discharge is expressly authorized or permitted pursuant to state or federal law or regulations. A violation of this subdivision is a misdemeanor. (b) The following prohibitions apply in no-discharge areas: (1) A person shall not disconnect, bypass, or operate a marine sanitation device so as to potentially discharge sewage. (2) A person shall not occupy or operate a vessel in which a marine sanitation device is installed unless the marine sanitation device is properly secured. The first violation of this subdivision is an infraction punishable by a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500). A second or subsequent violation of this subdivision by any one person is a misdemeanor. (c) A person found guilty of a misdemeanor violation of subdivision (a) or (b) shall be subject to a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed six months, or both that fine and imprisonment.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 781. Section 781.

The Attorney General, at the request of the department, the state board, any regional board, or any aggreived person, shall petition the superior court for injunctive relief, as may be appropriate, to secure compliance with this chapter.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 782. Section 782.

(a) Excepting laws regulating the discharge of sewage into or upon the navigable waters of any lake, reservoir, or freshwater impoundment of this state, and notwithstanding Section 660, no vessel, as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 775.5, is subject to any other state or local government law, ordinance, or regulation with respect to the design, manufacture, installation, or use within any vessel of any marine sanitation device. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, nothing in this chapter precludes or restricts a city, county, or other public agency from adopting rules and regulations with respect to the discharge of sewage from vessels. (c) State and local peace officers may enforce state laws relating to marine sanitation devices and may inspect vessels if there is reasonable cause to suspect noncompliance with those laws. (d) A state or local peace officer who reasonably suspects that a vessel is discharging sewage in an area where the discharge is prohibited may board that vessel, if the owner or operator is aboard, for the purpose of inspecting the marine sanitation device for proper operation and placing a dye tablet in the holding tank.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 783. Section 783.

Nothing in this chapter precludes the regulation of houseboats, as defined in Section 13901 of the Water Code, under other provisions of law by the state board, any regional board, or any local agency.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 784. Section 784.

Nothing in this chapter is intended to affect the operation of Section 117505 of the Health and Safety Code. The state board and any regional board may also regulate nonsewage discharges excepting vessel washdown water, liquid galley, shower, or bath waste, or water discharges necessary for the propulsion or stability of a vessel.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 786. Section 786.

(a) Any loan made pursuant to Section 71.4 or 76.3, and any lease or concession contract entered into pursuant to Section 72, shall be subject to the express condition that the borrower comply with all applicable requirements of this chapter. (b) Any loan made pursuant to Section 71.4 or 76.3 for, respectively, a project or a recreational marina that is required, pursuant to Section 776, to provide vessel pumpout facilities shall be subject to the following express conditions: (1) The pumpout facility shall be opened to public use within six months of receiving any funds, or when any part of the project is opened to public use, whichever is later, unless the department determines that the facility cannot be opened to public use within this period due to circumstances beyond the control of the borrower. (2) The borrower shall agree to budget funds each year for the maintenance and operation of the pumpout facility for its expected life. (3) The location of the pumpout facility shall be publicized, by any convenient means available, and shall be marked with a distinctive and prominent sign that is readily identifiable from offshore locations. (4) Charges imposed for the use of the pumpout facility shall not, in the aggregate, exceed the cost of maintaining and operating the pumpout facility and a pro rata share of the amount necessary for repayment of the loan. (5) The portion of the loan equal to the cost of the pumpout facility shall become immediately due, if the borrower does not perform any requirement imposed pursuant to this subdivision. (c) Any lessee or concessionaire that is required, pursuant to Section 776, to provide vessel pumpout facilities, shall be required through the lease or concession contract to comply with requirements that are not less restrictive than the requirements imposed by paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, of subdivision (b). (d) Any loan made pursuant to Section 71.4 or 76.3, and any concession contract entered into pursuant to Section 72, shall be subject to the express condition that restrooms be opened to public use within six months of the date the project is opened to public use, unless the department determines that the facility cannot be opened to public use within this period due to circumstances beyond the control of the borrower.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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