4. "Licensed professional" means a person authorized under California law to render an applicable certification to the property owner and the town regarding a specific question under this section.
5. "Sewage relief valve" means a device permanently installed on a building sewer lateral in such manner to allow sewage backflow to relieve to grade outside the building.
B. Backwater protection required prior to receiving a plumbing permit. with a date of issue between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2006. When an application is submitted for a plumbing permit, between the dates of January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2006 the applicant must certify the presence of backwater protection due to an inadequate height differential, or indicate request and receive an exemption from the need for backwater protection because no inadequate height differential exists, the flood level rim of the lowest drainage fixture units located on the property are at an elevation that is at least twelve inches or more above the nearest upstream manhole on the main sewer as determined by a licensed professional or the building official.
C. Backwater protection installation required by January 1, 2007. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, all properties with drainage unit fixtures at an inadequate height differential shall have backwater protection installed by January 1, 2007.
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D. Ongoing responsibility. Once installed, a property owner shall ensure that backwater protection is maintained, so as to be fully operable in the sewer lateral(s) serving the property owner's real property whenever an inadequate height differential exists on the property.
E. Proof of previous installation. A property owner may file a certification from a licensed professional demonstrating that backwater protection as approved by the building official has been installed on the property's sewage drainage system and is fully operable. This certification is subject to confirmation by the town.
F. Maintenance. Property owners are solely responsible for ensuring that backwater protection is properly maintained and functioning at all times. Backwater protection is subject to inspection by the town at any reasonable time. (Ord. No. 690, § 12, 12-13-2010; Ord. No. 712, § 12, 11-12-2013; Ord. No. 742, § 10, 11-14-2016)
15.16.090 (Reserved)
15.16.100 Amendment procedure.
When, in the judgment of the building department, it is reasonably necessary to amend the provisions of the California Plumbing Code due to local climatic, geological, topographical, or other statutorily permissibleenvironmental conditions, the building official shall prepare and submit the proposed amendments to the city council for consideration at the next regularly scheduled city council meeting. Before adopting any changes or modifications in the requirements contained in the provisions published in the California Plumbing CodeBuilding Standards Code, or in any other regulations adopted hereunder, the city council shall make an express finding that such modification or changes are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, topographical or other statutorily permissibleenvironmental conditions. Such findings shall be made available as a public record.
Upon approval by the city council and filing of the city council's findings with the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) or other governing bodyState Department of Housing and Community Development, such amendments shall be added to and become a part of the provisions of this chapter.
From October 1, 2025, through June 1, 2031, the Town is limited in its ability to modify provisions related to residential units.
Allowable findings for modifications during this time are limited to (1) modifications previously adopted and filed with the CBSC before Sept. 30, 2025, (2) administrative changes related to administration of the code, (3) emergency health and safety measures as deemed by the CBSC, (4) needed to implement a greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy as outlined in a general plan adopted before June 10, 2025, or (5) related to fire home hardening.
15.16.110 Promulgation of updated editions of the California Plumbing Code.
As successive editions of the California Plumbing Code are promulgated and incorporated by reference in the California Building Standards Code, the Building Department, under the guidance and direction of the building official, shall review the provisions of the new version(s) of such code(s) in order to determine whether they are consistent with the provisions of the California Plumbing Code then in force as modified by the provisions of this chapter. The building official shall submit a list of recommendations with respect to such changes (if any) to the city council. Upon review and adoption by the city council, according to the procedure set out at Section 15.16.100, such revised version of the California Plumbing Code with all amendments thereto which are recommended by the building official and/or required by the provisions of this chapter, shall govern all buildings and construction within town limits.
(Ord. No. 690, § 12, 12-13-2010; Ord. No. 712, § 12, 11-12-2013; Ord. No. 742, § 10, 11-14-2016) Chapter 15.17 CALIFORNIA REFERENCED STANDARDS CODE
15.17.010 Adoption.
The rules, regulations and standards printed in the California Referenced Standards Code, 20252022 Edition, contained in the California Building Standards Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24 Part 12), 20252022 Edition, are hereby adopted as the rules, regulations, and standards for the town as to all matters contained therein except as herein otherwise provided. (Ord. No. 758, § 42, 11-12-2019; Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023) -262-
Chapter 15.18 RECYCLING OF CONSTRUCTION WASTE REDUCTION, DISPOSAL AND RECYCLING ENFORCEMENTDEMOLITION DEBRIS2
15.18.010 Purpose.
The California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 (Public Resources Code Sections 40000 through 49620), created by AB 939 (chaptered as 1095) of the 1989 Legislative Session, declares that "the amount of solid waste generated in the state coupled with diminishing landfill space and potential adverse environmental impacts from landfilling constitutes an urgent need for state and local agencies to enact and implement an aggressive new integrated waste management program." (Public Resources Code Section 40000(d)) under Public Resources Code Section 41780, the town is required to divert fifty percent of all solid waste on and after January 1, 2000, through source reduction, recycling, and composting activities. Under Public Resources Code Section 41850, the California Integrated Waste Management Board may impose administrative civil penalties upon the town of up to ten thousand dollars per day for failure to make a good faith effort to implement the town's source reduction and recycling element adopted by the town as mandated by Section 41000 of the Public Resources Code.
The purpose of this chapter is to is to promote the recycling and/or salvage for reuse of nonhazardous construction and demolition wastedebris in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, and to meet the town's obligations under AB 939 and the current version of the California Green Buildings Standards Code (CALGreen). (Ord. No. 771, § 2, 9-13-2021)
15.18.020 AdoptionDiversion requirements.
The Town adopts and shall enforce the construction waste management requirements of CALGreen, including any successor provisions, andApplicants must divert from landfills a minimum of sixty-five percent, by weight, construction and demolition debris generated from the project or other amount established by state law, whichever is higher, by using recycling, reuse, and diversion programs. Applicants must also comply with California Green Building Standards Code in accordance with Chapter 15.19. (Ord. No. 771, § 2, 9-13-2021)
15.18.025 Enforcement Authority.
The Building Official is designated as the enforcing officer for purposes of this Chapter. Every person or entity to whom a building or demolition permit has been issued ("permittee") shall comply, and require their subcontractors to comply, with the provisions of this chapter.
15.18.030 Construction Wwaste managementreduction plan submittal.
If the construction waste management documentation method chosen to demonstrate compliance with CALGreen construction waste management requirements is a construction waste management plan, the applicant shall submit the plan in a manner no less restrictive than that prescribed in Section 4.408 of CALGreen and in a format as determined by the Building Official.
A. Applicants for any project must submit a properly completed waste reduction plan, identifying all waste materials expected to be generated as a result of the project at the time of demolition or building permit application. No building or demolition permit shall be issued until the applicant has submitted a waste reduction plan in the form required by the building official and until the waste reduction plan has been approved by the building official or his or her designee.
B. The waste reduction plan must contain, at a minimum, the following:
1. The type of project;
2. The total square footage of the project;
3. The estimated weight of project construction and demolition debris to be generated by material type; 2Editor's note(s)—Ord. No. 771, § 2, adopted September 13, 2021, repealed Ch. 15.18, §§ 15.18.010—15.18.090, and enacted a new Ch. 15.18 as set out herein and later amended. Former Ch. 15.18 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. 628, adopted 2001.
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4. The construction and demolition debris materials that will be diverted from disposal by recycling, reuse on the project or salvage for future use or sale;
5. If construction and demolition debris will be sorted on-site (source-separated) or bulk mixed (single stream);
6. Diversion facilities where the construction and demolition debris will be taken;
7. Construction methods taken to reduce the amount of construction and demolition debris generated; and,
8. The amount of construction and demolition debris diverted by weight.
C. Every person or entity to whom a building or demolition permit has been issued ("permittee") shall comply, and require their subcontractors to comply, with the provisions of the approved waste reduction plan applicable to the permit.
D. If the permittee subsequently wishes to amend the approved waste reduction plan, the permittee shall submit the request in writing to the building official. The building official or his or her designee shall approve or deny the requested amendment, as submitted or as modified by the building official or his or her designee, as appropriate.
E. The permittee shall collect and retain:
1. Weight tickets;
2. An inventory of reused items;
3. Receipts and other records from all recipients of discarded material that demonstrate the reuse, recycling, and disposal of all material generated by and hauled from the project; and
4. Such other documentation as necessary to establish compliance with the approved waste reduction plan.
F. The permittee shall, for commercial projects involving additions and alterations, verify that universal waste items, including fluorescent lamps and ballast and mercury containing thermostats are properly disposed of and diverted from the landfills. "Universal waste" means batteries, electronic devices, mercury-containing equipment, lamps, cathode ray tubes or glass, and aerosol cans. A list of prohibited universal waste materials shall be included in the construction documents.
G. Prior to final inspection of the project or as otherwise required by the waste reduction plan, the permittee shall complete and submit to the building official a diversion summary sheet and the documentation described in subsection E of this section. (Ord. No. 771, § 2, 9-13-2021)
15.18.035 Issuance of building permit.
No building or demolition permit shall be issued until the applicant has submitted verification of the compliance method to be utilized and not until the construction waste management compliance method has been verified by the building official or his or her designee.
15.18.040 Payment of monitoring costs.
Any person or entity which has previously failed to comply with CALGreen an approved construction waste management requirements reduction plan or with the other provisions of the ordinance codified in this chapter may, at the time of submitting any subsequent construction waste management documentationreduction plan for approval, be required to pay a monitoring fee in the amount set from time to time by resolution of the city council to cover the costs of monitoring compliance with the approved construction waste management reduction compliance methodplan. The decision as to whether the facts warrant the imposition of the monitoring fee shall be made by the building official. (Ord. No. 771, § 2, 9-13-2021)
15.18.050 Penalties.
Violation of any provision of this chapter, including, but not limited to:
A. Demolition or construction before having or without having an approved construction waste management methodreduction plan;
B. Failure to comply with the CALGreen construction waste management requirementsapproved waste reduction plan (as amended, if applicable);
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C. Failure to provide all required documentation prior to final inspection or as required by the waste reduction plan shall subject the violator to a penalty of up to ten times the permit fee for the building or demolition permit, as determined by the building official, as set forth in Sections 15.04.070 and 15.70.020(A) of this code. (Ord. No. 771, § 2, 9-13-2021)
Chapter 15.19 GREEN BUILDING REGULATIONS3
15.19.015 Adoption.
The rules, regulations, and standards printed in the California Green Building Standards Code, 20252022 Edition, as contained in the California Building Standards Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24 part 11), 20252022 Edition are hereby adopted as the rules, regulations, and standards for the town as to all matters contained therein, except as otherwise provided herein. (Ord. No. 758, § 24, 11-12-2019; Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023) Chapter 15.20 FIRE CODE4
15.20.010 Adoption of the 20252022 California Fire Code, 2024the 2021 International Fire Code Appendices, and Public Resources Code, Division 4, Section 4291.
There is adopted by the town for the purpose of prescribing regulations governing conditions hazardous to life and property from fire or explosion, that certain code which contains building standards known as the 20252022 California Fire Code and the all International Fire Code, 20242021 Edition, together with all appendices, except Appendices A, D, J and P, and the State of California amendments thereto, and the Public Resources Code, Division 4, Section 4291.
Sections within this Chapter include both local amendments to Title 24 as adopted therein and local development standards related to construction in the Town of Hillsborough that are not part of Title 24. (Ord. No. 758, § 25, 11-12-2019; Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023) Editor's note(s)—Ord. No. 758, § 25, adopted Nov. 12, 2019, amended § 15.20.010 to read as herein set out. Former § 15.20.010, pertained to adoption of text of the California Fire Code and the International Fire Code, and derived from Ord. No. 742, § 11, adopted Nov. 14, 2016.
15.20.020 Amendments to the California Fire Code (CFC) and International Fire Code (IFC).
The California Fire Code and the International Fire Code are is amended or modified as follows:
(Ord. No. 742, § 11, 11-14-2016)
15.20.025 Chapter 1, Section 105.3.3, CFCIFC is amended—Occupancy prohibited before approval.
Section 105.3.3, CFC is deleted in its entirety and replaced to read as follows with the following:
3Editor's note(s)—Ord. No. 758, § 24, adopted November 12, 2019, repealed §§ 15.19.010 and 15.19.020—15.19.080, which pertained to purpose, definitions, green building standards for compliance, incentives for compliance, design guidelines, green building regulation, payment of monitoring fee, and penalties, respectively, and derived from Ord. No. 686, adopted April 13, 2009 and Ord. No. 715, adopted June 9, 2014.
4Editor's note(s)—Ord. No. 742, § 11, adopted November 14, 2016, amended the Code by repealing former ch. 15.20, §§
15.20.010—15.20.105, and 15.20.155—15.20.170. Former ch. 15.20 pertained to the fire code, and derived from Ord. No. 712, § 13, adopted November 12, 2013.
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Section 105.3.3. No final inspection by the building official as to all or any portion of a development shall be deemed complete and no certificate of occupancy or temporary certificate of occupancy shall be issued unless and until the installation of the prescribed fire protection facilities and access ways have been completed and approved by the fire chief. (Ord. No. 742, § 11, 11-14-2016; Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023)
15.20.026 Chapter 1, Section 106.2, CFC is amended—Examination of Documents.
Section 106.2, CFC is deleted in its entirety and replaced to read as followswith the following:
Section 106.2. Examination of documents. When required by the fire code official, plans submitted to the Building Official for a permit shall be reviewed by the Fire Chief to determine compliance with the California Fire Code and the International Fire Code. Upon review a written report shall be returned to the Building Official listing deficiencies or compliance with the Code. (Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023)
15.20.030 Chapter 1, Sections 108.2107.1 and 107.2, CFC is amended – Permits and Fees.
Section 108.2107.1.2, CFC is deleted in its entirety and replacedis added to this code and shall to read as follows:
Section 180.2107.1.2. Permits and Fees
a. The fees for the permits and other services shall be as established by resolution of the Central County Fire Department as amended from time to time. The fee shall be set to cover the cost of the Fire Department to review and inspect the intended activities, operations or functions. The fees must be applied to the appropriate agency, Town of Hillsborough or Central County Fire Department, depending on the type of service.
EXCEPTION: (1) The applicant for a given permit shall be exempt from the payment when the work to be conducted is for the Town of Hillsborough under written contract to the town or for events sponsored or co-sponsored by the town. b. In the case of multiple permits for an applicant, the permit applicant will be charged the single highest listed rate of all the permits required. The other permittable items will be charged at a rate of 50% of the listed fee as long as the permits are for the same address.
c. Where processes or materials are inherent with a permittable item, subsequent fees may be waived at the discretion of fire chief.
d. All fire permits and fire construction permits shall have a set number of inspections per permit as set forth by the Central County Fire Department Fee Schedule. Additional inspections and additional re-inspections will be billed at an hourly rate consistent with the Central County Fire Department Fee Schedule. e. Application for "event" type fire code permits shall be submitted 14 days prior to the event date. Applications submitted within 13 days prior to the event date shall be charged double the regular permit rate as established by the Central County Fire Department Fee Schedule.
f. "After Hours" inspections shall be invoiced at a rate of one and one-half time the normal hourly rate of the inspecting fire personnel. "After Hours" inspections will be billed at a rate of three hours minimum. "After Hours" inspections are defined as follows: Inspections conducted outside of normal business hours, as defined on the Central County Fire Department website and based upon personnel availability. g. Any person, group, organization, institution or business failing to pay the applicable fees under this Article shall after 30 days of the due date, for either existing or new permit applicants, shall be issued a citation for non-payment of the required permit fee. The penalty for all permit payments delinquent after 30 days shall be a doubling of the original fee. (Ord. No. 758, § 26, 11-12-2019; Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023) Editor's note(s)—Ord. No. 758, § 26, adopted Nov. 12, 2019, amended § 15.20.030 to read as herein set out. Former § 15.20.030, pertained to Chapter 1, Section 105.8, IFC added—fees, and derived from Ord. No. 742, § 11, adopted Nov. 14, 2016.
15.20.031 Section 1078.4, CFC is amended – Work without permit investigation and fee.
Section 108.4, 107.4 CFC is deleted in its entirety and replaced to read as followswith the following:
Section 108.4107.4. Work Without Permit Investigation and Fee. -266-
Section 107.4. Investigation—Work without a permit
Investigation. Whenever construction or work for which a permit is required by this code and has been commenced without first obtaining a permit, a special investigation shall be made before a permit may be issued for the work. All work done without a required permit, including demolition of all or part of a structure or system shall be subject to the investigation and fees imposed by this section.
Section 107.4.1 is added to this code and shall read as follows:
Section 107.4.1. Fee—Work without a permit
In the event work is done without an issued permit, an investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, shall be collected as a civil penalty, whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall be up to 10 times the fire permit fee. The investigation fee shall be determined by the Fire Chief and shall be based on the staff time reasonably required to resolve all of the issues related to the work that has been performed without a permit. No construction work permit shall be issued until the investigation fee has been paid in full.
Nothing in this section shall relieve any persons from fully complying with the requirements of this code, in the execution of the work, or from any other fees or penalties prescribed by law. (Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023)
15.20.035 Chapter 1, Section 112111, CFC is amended—Board of Appeals.
Section 112111, CFC is deleted in its entirety and replaced to read as followswith the following:
Section 112111. Appeal and review.
(a) The chief of the fire department shall be charged with the duty and responsibility of administering the provisions of this chapter.
(b) Whenever it is provided herein that certain things shall be done in accordance with an order of the fire department, such order shall be complied with. Any person aggrieved thereby may appeal to the fire chief in writing within ten (10) days after the date of such order, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. The fire chief, or in his or her absence the deputy fire chief, shall issue a written decision to affirm, modify or reverse the order within two (2) business days of receipt of the appeal. The fire chief's written decision may be appealed to the Central County Fire Department Fire Board no later than ten (10) days from the date of the fire chief's written decision. The fire board's decision shall be final and conclusive and may not be appealed to the city council. Except in the case of immediate hazard, the enforcement of the order shall be suspended until such person has exhausted the appeal process as described above. (c) Any court action or proceeding to review or challenge a decision or order of the fire board shall be barred unless it is commenced within twenty (20) days of the date of service of the written decision or order (or such later date as may be specified by California Government Code Section 53069.4), and such decision or order shall contain a statement so advising the prospective appellant(s) of this time limit on seeking court review. A decision of the fire board shall be considered final for purposes of seeking court review, and no review or other consideration by the city council shall be necessary. However, no action or proceeding to review or challenge a fire board decision shall be permitted unless each ground or basis for such action or proceeding first has been asserted to the fire board pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 15.20.035.
(Ord. No. 758, § 27, 11-12-2019; Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023) Editor's note(s)—Ord. No. 758, § 27, adopted Nov. 12, 2019, amended § 15.20.035 to read as herein set out. Former § 15.20.035, pertained to Chapter 1, Section 108, IFC amended—board of appeals, and derived from Ord. No. 742, § 11, adopted Nov. 14, 2016.
15.20.040 Sections 315, CFC is amended—General Storage.
Section 315.2, CFC is amended and Section 315.3.5 is added to read as follows:
Section 315.2 Permit required. A permit for miscellaneous combustible materials shall be required as set forth in Section 105.5.
Exception:
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Storage of combustible materials other than motorized vehicles or vessels shall not be permitted in a public parking garage or in a garage or carport serving a Group R, Division 1 or Group R, Division 2 Occupancy, unless the method of storage is approved by the Fire Code Official.
Section 315.3.15, CFC is amended by adding the an additional provision following the first sentenceadded to read as follows:
Section 315.3.15. Ceiling clearanceDesignation of storage heights. …Where required by the fire code official, a visual method of indicating the maximum allowable storage height shall be provided and shall be a four (4") inch wide line in contrasting color along a wall or storage rack in accordance with Section 315.3.5.1, CFC.
Section 315.3.5.1, CFC added to read as follows:
Section 315.3.5.1. The approved visual method of indicating maximum allowable storage shall be a four (4") inch wide line in contrasting color along a wall or storage rack.
(Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023) Editor's note(s)—Ord. No. 758, § 28, adopted Nov. 12, 2019, repealed former § 15.20.040, which pertained to Chapter 1, Section 113.1, IFC added—investigation and fee and derived from Ord. No. 742, § 11, adopted Nov. 14, 2016.
15.20.045 Section 503.3.1, CFC is amended—Fire lane designation Mmarking.
Section 503.3, CFC is deleted and replaced in its entiretyamended by adding Section 503.3.1 to read as follows:
Section 503.3.1 Fire Lane Designation Marking. Where required by the fire code official, fire lanes and apparatus access roads shall be identified and prohibit obstruction thereof Designation of fire lanes shall be by one of the following means:
1. By outlining and hash marking the area in contrasting colors clearly marking it with the words "Fire Lane - No Parking.
2. By identifying the space with a red curb upon which the words "Fire Lane - No Parking" are stenciled every 15 feet. a. Both sides of fire lanes shall be red curbed when the fire lane is twenty (20) to twenty-eight (28) feet in width. b. At least one side of a fire lane shall be red curbed and stenciled when the fire lane is over twenty-eight (28) and up to thirty-six (36) feet in width.
c. Curbs need not be painted red nor stenciled when the fire lane is more than thirty-six (36) feet in width.
3. In areas where a red curb is not practical, and when approved by the fire official, white signs measuring 12 inches by 18 inches with red lettering not less than 1" in height stating the area is a fire lane and parking is prohibited, may be posted adjacent to the fire lanes.
The means by which fire lanes and access roads are designated shall be maintained in a clean and legible condition at all times and be replaced or repaired when necessary to provide adequate visibility. (Ord. No. 742, § 11, 11-14-2016; Ord. No. 758, § 29, 11-12-2019; Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023)
15.20.050 Section 505.1 through 505.1.4, CFC is amended—Premises identification.
Section 505.1.1, CFC is added to read as follows:
Section 505.1.1 Address identification. Size of numbers shall be as follows:New and existing buildings, including accessory dwelling units, shall be provided with and shall maintain address identification that is legible and placed in a position that is visible from the street or the road fronting the property; the characters shall contrast their background, be Arabic characters, not spelled out, and:
1. When the structure is thirty-six (36) to fifty (50) feet from the street or fire apparatus access, a minimum of one-half-inch (½") stroke by six inches (6") high is required.
2. When the structure is more than fifty (50) feet from the street or fire apparatus access, a minimum of one-inch (1") stroke by nine inches (9") high is required.
Sections 505.1.2, 505.1.3, and 505.1.4, CFC are added to read as follows:
Section 505.1.2 Multi-Tenant Buildings. Numbers or letters shall be designated on all occupancies within a building. Size shall be a minimum of one-half inch (1/2") stroke by four inches (4") high and on a contrasting background. Directional address -268-
numbers or letters shall be provided. Said addresses or numbers shall be posted at a height no greater than 5 feet, 6 inches (5' 6") above the finished floor and shall be either internally or externally illuminated in all new construction.
Section 505.1.3 Rear Addressing. When required by the fire official, approved numbers or addresses shall be placed on all new and existing buildings in such a position as to be plainly visible and legible from the fire apparatus road at the back of a property or where rear parking lots or alleys provide and acceptable vehicular access. Number stroke and size shall comply with 505.1.1.
Section 505.1.4 ADU Addressing. Address signage for Residential Accessory Dwelling Units shall meet Town of Hillsborough specifications.
The fire code official may require address identification in additional locations to facilitate emergency response, and where access is by means of a private road or not visible from the right-of-way, a monument shall be used to identify the structure.
(Ord. No. 758, § 30, 11-12-2019)
Editor's note(s)—Ord. No. 758, § 30, adopted Nov. 12, 2019, amended § 15.20.050 to read as herein set out. Former § 15.20.050 pertained to Sections 505.1 through 505.1.3, CFC—premises identification, and derived from Ord. No. 742, § 11, adopted Nov. 14, 2016.
15.20.055 Sections 506.1, CFC is amended—Key boxes.
Section 506.1, CFC is deleted in its entirety and replacedamended and 506.1.1.1, CFC is added to read as follows:
Section 506.1 is modified to add as follows:
Section 506.1 Where Required. To ensure access to or within a structure or an area that may be restricted because of secured openings or where immediate access is necessary for life-saving or firefighting purposes, a key box shall be required by the fire code official, including in the following instances The key box shall be of an approved type and shall contain contents as established in Section 506.1.1.1. A key box shall be installed in accordance with Fire Department standards for all new buildings. For existing buildings equipped with key box, it shall be upgraded to current Fire Department standards at the time the building permit is issued, which include modifications or alterations to front entrance of building.
An emergency gate key switch shall be installed on all new electronic driveway or entryway gates. The key switch shall conform to current Fire Department standards.
The key box shall be of an approved typed listed in accordance with UL 1307, and shall contain keys to gain necessary access as required.
Section 506.1.1.1, CFC is added to read as follows:
Section 506.1.1.1 Key box contents requirements. Required keys include, but are not limited to: a master entry key, elevator control, fire alarm control panels, fire sprinkler control valve access, and building utilities. Contents inside key box shall follow approved fire department standards. If the business/operation is required to have a Hazardous Material Inventory Statement (HMIS), the HMIS shall be included in the key box. Electronic key cards or keyless remotes may be provided as long as the locking system has a failsafe feature at loss of building power and doors are operational without a key or special knowledge. (Ord. No. 742, § 11, 11-14-2016; Ord. No. 758, § 31, 11-12-2019)
15.20.060 Section 507.5.5, CFC is amended —Space around hydrants and markingsFire protection water supplies.
Section 507.5.54.1, CFC is amendedadded to read as follows:
Section 507.5.54.1. Clear space around hydrantsPrivate Hydrants. A 3-foot (914 mm) clear space shall be maintained around the circumference of fire hydrants, except as otherwise required or approved. Whenever any on-site fire protection equipment or access ways have been installed as provided in this section, the following provision shall be applicable:
With respect to hydrants located along private access ways where curbs exist, said curbs shall be painted red or otherwise appropriately marked by the owner, lessee or other person in charge of the premises, to prohibit parking for a distance of 10 feet in either direction from such hydrant. In such cases where curbs do not exist, there shall be appropriate markings painted on the pavement, or signs erected, or both giving notice that parking is prohibited for a distance of 10 feet from any such -269-
hydrant. Hydrant caps shall be color-coded in accordance with NFPA 291 (National Fire Protection Association). The base of the hydrant shall be painted reflective red or yellow.
(Ord. No. 742, § 11, 11-14-2016; Ord. No. 758, § 32, 11-12-2019)
15.20.065 Section 508, CFC is amended —Fire command center.
Section 508.1.1.1, CFC is replaced in its entiretyadded to read as follows:
Section 508.1.1.1. Fire Command Center Location and Access Requirements. Fire command center shall be equipped with an exterior door and be located at the exterior of the building at a location approved by the fire chief.
Section 508.2 CFC is added to read as follows:
Section 508.2 Fire control room. AIn Addition to a fire command center, an approved fire control room shall be provided for all new buildings or occupancies undergoing a substantial improvement and requiring protection by an automatic fire sprinkler system. The room shall only contain all main system control valves, fire alarm control panels ERRCS equipment, and other fire equipment required by the Fire Chief. Fire control rooms shall be located within the building at a location approved by the Fire Chief and shall be provided at grade with a means to access the room directly from the exterior. Durable signage shall be provided on the exterior side of the access door to identify the fire control room. Fire Control Rooms shall not be less than 35 square feet.
Exceptions:
1. Group R, Division 3 Occupancies.
2. Occupancies with a fire pump shall have a fire control room that is a minimum of 200 square feet.
3. In high-rise buildings, the fire control room shall not be less than 200 square feet.
Section 508.1.6, CFC is amended by adding the following feature to the end of list to read as follows:
Section 508.1.6 Required features.
20. When a garage contains electrical charging stations, the required Fire Command Center and/or Fire Control Room shall include a manually operated control switch that controls ventilation operations (Ord. No. 742, § 11, 11-14-2016; Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023)
15.20.070 (Reserved)
Editor's note(s)—Ord. No. 786, § 3, adopted November 28, 2022, and Ord. No. 788, § 3, adopted January 9, 2023, repealed §
15.20.070 which pertained to Section 603, CFC—Fuel-fired appliances, and derived from Ord. No. 742, adopted November 14, 2016.
15.20.075 (Reserved)Section 604.8, CFC—Shunt Trip.
Section 604.8 is deleted and replaced in its entirety with the following:
Section 604.8. Shunt Trip Prohibited. Where elevator hoistways and/or elevator machine rooms containing elevator control equipment are located within non-residential buildings equipped with automatic fire sprinklers, the following is required in lieu of a shunt trip:
1. The elevator machine room shall be constructed with the same minimum fire rating as the hoistway. For non-rated hoistways, the minimum rating shall be one hour throughout in accordance with Section 707 of California Building Code for fire barriers.
2. Fire sprinklers at the top of the hoistway and inside the elevator machine room shall not be installed.
3. Means for elevator shutdown shall not be installed.
(Ord. No. 758, § 33, 11-12-2019; Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023) Editor's note(s)—Ord. No. 758, § 33, adopted Nov. 12, 2019, amended § 15.20.075 to read as herein set out. Former § 15.20.075 pertained to Section 607.9, CFC—shunt trip, and derived from Ord. No. 742, § 11, adopted Nov. 14, 2016. -270-
15.20.080 Section 903.1.2, CFC—Additions and alterations – automatic fire sprinkler system trigger calculations.
The standard for calculating whether additions and/or alterations of an existing building exceed the thresholds as described in
15.20.082 triggering automatic fire sprinkler system installation, shall be based on the following criteria:
1. Culminative square footage of each room being added or altered. a. A room is considered added or altered when fifty percent (50%) or more of interior wall sheeting covering the wall planes of the room (including ceilings) is removed, replaced, or new. b. Wall plane area of a room does not include the area of windows, doors, and openings.
2. Aggregated additions and alterations.
Culminative added or altered square footage or replacement costs of additions or alterations are aggregated to include any room square footage added or altered within a two (2) year period from the closure date of any previous additions or alterations.
Exceptions:
Interior wall sheeting removal necessitated for:
1. Building roof repair/replacement;
2. Fire damage repair;
3. Building heating and/or cooling unit repair/replacement; and
4. Any other federal, state and local construction code upgrade requirements including but not limited to the seismic retrofit requirements, asbestos, and other hazardous material abatement.
Section 903.1.2, CFC is added to read as follows:
Section 903.1.2 Additions and Alterations. The standard for calculating the size of addition and/or alteration for determining the threshold for fire sprinkler systems shall be:
1. The square footage of every room being added and/or altered shall be included in the calculation of total square footage of addition and/or alteration.
2. The entire square footage shall be considered added or altered when at least fifty percent (50%) or greater of interior wall sheeting or ceiling within a room or area is new, removed, or replaced. Windows, doors and openings are excluded from the calculations.
(Ord. No. 742, § 11, 11-14-2016; Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023)
15.20.081 Section 903.1, CFC amended—GeneralExisting Sprinkler buildings retrofits.
Section 903.1.3, CFC is added to read as follows:
Section 903.1.3 PThe following provisions apply tofor all sprinklered buildings:
1. When a non-residential building is partially retrofitted with an approved automatic sprinkler fire extinguishing system pursuant to this section, the building owner shall complete the fire extinguishing system retrofit throughout the unprotected building interior areas within six (6) years of completing the initial partial retrofit or within every tenant space where a building permit is obtained, whichever is less.
2. When a residential building is partially retrofitted with an approved automatic sprinkler fire extinguishing system pursuant to this section, the building fire extinguishing system retrofit shall be completed throughout the unprotected building interior areas within two (2) years from completing the initial partial retrofit.
3. When a property owner or responsible party of a commercial or residential building chooses option 1 or 2 from above, the property owner shall file a deed restriction with San Mateo County Assessor's Office and obtain a performance bond with Central County Fire Department to ensure compliance with Section 15.20.081. (Ord. No. 742, § 11, 11-14-2016)
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15.20.082 Section 903.2, CFC is amended—Where required.
Section 903.2, CFC shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced to read as follows:
Section 903.2 Where required. Approved automatic fire sprinkler systems shall be installed in all new occupiable and/or habitable buildings and structures. In addition, approved automatic fire sprinkler systems shall be provided in locations described in Sections 903.2.1 through 903.2.23. and be installed in:
1. All new occupiable and/or habitable buildings and structures.
2. An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) when must be protected with an automatic residential fire sprinkler system throughout the unit if the primary dwelling is required to have or has an existing an automatic residential fire sprinkler system. If an existing primary dwelling is required to have an automatic residential fire sprinkler system, fire sprinklers must be provided throughout both dwellings.
3. All existing buildings and structures shall be retroactively protected by an approved automatic extinguishing system when the following conditions exist:
a. Non-residential buildings with a total building floor area in excess of 2,000 square feet or more than two stories in height, and when additions or alterations for which a building permit is required will exceed 1,500 square feet in area. b. Residential one- and two-family dwellings and structures with a total building floor area in excess of 2,000 square feet or more than two stories in height, and when additions or alterations for which a building permit is required will exceed 1,500 square feet in area
Exceptions:
1. When approved by the fire chief, canopy structures used solely for vehicular parking which have a photovoltaic system attached are not required to be equipped with a fire sprinkler system as long as the structure meets distance requirements to other structures and property lines.
2. Group U occupancies less than 1,200 square feet and separated from the primary structure by a minimum of 10 feet.
3. Additions or alterations of non-residential and multi-family residential, multi-family residential, and single family residential buildings that do not exceed 20% of the entire completed building.
4. Additions and/or alterations necessitated for:
a. Building roof repair/replacement;
b. Fire damage repair;
c. Building heating and/or cooling unit repair/replacement; and/or d. Any other federal, state and local construction code upgrade requirements including but not limited to the seismic retrofit requirements, asbestos, and other hazardous material abatement Section 15.20.080 outlines the standard used to calculate additions and/or alterations for purposes of determining applicability of this section.
Section 903.2.10.3, CFC is amended by adding the following subsectionadded to read as follows:
Section 903.2.10(4).3 Lithium-ion batteries in vehicles. Areas which contain electric vehicle charging stations, and thus could contain lithium-ion batteries in vehicles, shall have a fire sprinkler density design of a minimum Extra Hazard, Group 2 for the coverage of charging stations and for 15' in any direction of charging stations. (Ord. No. 742, § 11, 11-14-2016; Ord. No. 758, § 34, 11-12-2019; Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023)
15.20.083 Sections 903.2.22 and 903.2.23, CFC are added—Existing Buildings and Structures.
Section 903.2.22 is added to read as follows:
Section 903.2.22, CFC Existing Buildings and Structures. All existing buildings and structures shall be retroactively protected by an approved automatic extinguishing system when the following conditions exist:
a. Non-residential buildings with a total building floor area in excess of 2,000 square feet or more than two stories in height, and when additions or alterations for which a building permit is required will exceed 1,500 square feet in area. -272-
Exception: Group U occupancies less than 1,200 square feet and separated from primary structure by a minimum of 10 feet. b. Residential one- and two-family dwellings and structures with a total building floor area in excess of 2,000 square feet or more than two stories in height, and when additions or alterations for which a building permit is required will exceed 1,500 square feet in area.
Exceptions:
1. Additions or alterations of non-residential and multi-family residential, multi-family residential, and single family residential buildings that do not exceed 20% of the entire completed building.
2. The following scopes of work are excluded from calculations to determine area of alteration: building roof repair/replacement; fire damage repair; building heating and/or cooling unit repair/replacement; and any other federal, state and local construction code upgrade requirements including but not limited to the seismic retrofit requirements, asbestos, and other hazardous material abatement.
Section 903.2.23, CFC is added with the following:
Section 903.2.23 Aggregate. When more than one (1) addition and/or alteration for which building permits are required are submitted within a two (2) year period from the closure date of the initial permit, the sum of the square footage of these additions and/or alterations shall be aggregated for the purpose of determining calculations in Section 15.20.083. (Ord. No. 758, § 35, 11-12-2019; Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023) Editor's note(s)—Ord. No. 758, § 15.20.083, adopted Nov. 12, 2019, amended § 15.20.083 to read as herein set out. Former §
15.20.083 pertained to section 903.2.20 and 903.2.21, CFC added—existing buildings and structures, and derived from Ord.
No. 742, § 11, adopted Nov. 14, 2016.
15.20.084 Section 903.53.1.4, CFC is amended—Inspector's test valves.
Section 903.53.1.4, CFC is amendedadded to read as follows:
Section 903.3.1.4 Inspections, testing and maintainanceors Test Valves. Automatic sprinkler systems shall be inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with the California Fire Code. Single-family residential fire sprinkler systems within buildings greater than 3,600 square feet shall be equipped with an inspectors test valve for each system and located the furthest point away from the sprinkler riser.
(Ord. No. 742, § 11, 11-14-2016)
15.20.085 Section 903.3.1.5 and 903.3.1.6, CFC is amended added—Residential carports, attached and detached garageAdditional Sprinkler Locations.
Section 903.2.183.1.5, CFC is deleted in its entirety and replacedadded to read as follows:
Section 903.2.183.1.5 Group U private garages and carports accessory to Group R-3 occupancies Additional Residential Sprinkler Locations. The installation of a residential fire sprinkler system shall conform to the following:
1. Sprinklers shall be required throughout carports and garages. The required residential fire sprinkler shall be in accordance with this section. Residential fire sprinklers shall be connected to, and installed in accordance with, an automatic residential fire sprinkler system that complies with Section R313 of the 2025 California Residential Code or with NFPA 13D. Fire sprinklers shall be residential sprinklers or quick-response sprinklers, designed to provide a minimum density of 0.05 gpm/ft2 (2.04 mm/min) over the area of the garage and/or carport, but not exceed two sprinklers for hydraulic calculation purposes. Garage doors shall not considered obstructions with respect to sprinkler placement.
Exception: Detached carports and garages less than 2,000 square feet in area and separated from residential buildings by a minimum of 10 feet.
(Ord. No. 758, § 36, 11-12-2019; Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023) Editor's note(s)—Ord. No. 758, § 36, adopted Nov. 12, 2019, amended § 15.20.085 to read as herein set out. Former § 15.20.085 pertained to Section 903.3.1.5, CFC added—additional residential sprinkler locations, and derived from Ord. No. 742, § 11, adopted Nov. 14, 2016.
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15.20.086 Section 903.4.1, CFC amended – Monitoring System Specifications.
Section 903.4.1, CFC is amended by adding the additional provision following the first sentence to read as follows:
Section 903.4.1. Electronic supervisionMonitoring.
…For new fire sprinkler monitoring systems, the approved supervisory station shall be defined as a UL approved central receiving station.
(Ord. No. 742, § 11, 11-14-2016)
15.20.087 Section 905.4, CFC is amended – Location of class I hose connections.
Section 905.4(1), CFC subsection 1 is deleted and replaced in its entirety to read as followswith the following:
1. In every required interior exit stairway, a hose connection shall be provided for each story above and below plane grade.
Hose connections shall be located at an intermediate floor level landing between floors. See Section 909.20.2.3 of the California Building Code for additional provisions in smoke-proof enclosures. (Ord. No. 758, § 37, 11-12-2019)
15.20.088 Section 907.7, CFC is amended—Acceptance Tests and Certification.
Section 907.7, CFC is amended to read as followswith the following:
907.7 Acceptance Tests and Certification. Upon completion of the installation, the fire alarm system and all fire alarm components shall be tested in accordance with NFPA 72. New fire alarm systems installed in commercial and multi-family buildings shall be UL-Certified. Certificate shall be posted next to fire alarm control panel at time of final inspection. (Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023)
15.20.089 Section 905.8, CFC is amended – Operational Standpipes Section 905.8, CFC is amended to read as follows:
905.1 Operational Standpipes. Where a standpipe is required in accordance with Section 905, that standpipe is required to remain wet and operational. Dry standpipes shall not be installed.
Section 4906.3.1 CFC is amended—Vegetation Management.
Section 4906.3.1 CFC is amended with the following:
4906.3.1 1. Delineation of the 30-foot (9144mm) 100-foot (30.5) fuel management zones from all structures. The 100-foot zone will extend to the property line on parcels less than five (5) acres. Parcels greater than five (5) acres will delineate the 30- foot, 100- foot zones around structures and the 100-foot vegetation management zone around the perimeter of the parcel as required by (HMC § 15.21.100).
(Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023)
15.20.090 – 15.20.092 (Reserved) Section 4906.4.2 Trees.
Section 4906.4.2.1 is deleted in its entirety.
(Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023) Editor's note(s)—Ord. No. 786, § 3, adopted November 28, 2022, and Ord. No. 788, § 3, adopted January 9, 2023, repealed former §
15.20.090 and enacted a new § 15.20.090 as set out above and later amended. Former § 15.20.090 pertained to Section 5003.5, CFC amended—Hazard Identification Signs and derived from Ord. No. 742, adopted November 14, 2016. -274-
15.20.091 Section 4907.2 Defensible Space is amended.
Section 4907.2 #4 is added
4. Land designated per HMC § 15.21.070 shall provide fuel modification of combustible vegetation for defensible space as indicated in 2018 IWUIC and adopted with amendments in HMC § 15.21 (a) All parcels less than fire (5) acres in size shall provide fuel modification to the entire parcel in accordance with HMC §
15.21 (Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023) Editor's note(s)—Ord. No. 786, § 3, adopted November 28, 2022, and Ord. No. 788, § 3, adopted January 9, 2023, repealed former §
15.20.091 and enacted a new § 15.20.091 as set out above and later amended. Former § 15.20.091 pertained to Section 5707, CFC On-demand mobile fueling operations and derived from Ord. No. 758, adopted November 12, 2019.
15.20.092 Section 4907.3 is amended—Requirements.
Section 4907.3 #5 is added
4907.3 #5 Hazardous vegetation and fuels around all buildings and structures shall be maintained in accordance with HMC §
15.21 (Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023)
15.20.093 Section 5003.5, CFC is amended—Hazard Identification Signs.
Section 5003.5.62, CIFC is amendedadded to read as follows:
5003.5.2 Signs - specificationssize and locations. Signs and markings required by Sections 5003.5 and 5003.5.1 shall not be obscured or removed, shall be in English as a primary language or in symbols allowed by this code, shall be durable, and the size, color, lettering shall be approved. Two NFPA 704 diamonds shall be placed on buildings so that they are clearly visible from at least two directions of travel.
1. The signs shall be at least fifteen inches by fifteen inches (15" x 15"). The signs shall not be placed on windows.
2. When NFPA 704 diamonds are required for the interior doors, the signs shall be applied to the doors at a level no higher than the doorknob. The signs for the interior doors shall be at least six inches by six inches (6"x6").
3. The fire code official may require fewer or more NFPA diamonds if the building configuration or size makes it reasonably necessary."
(Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023)
15.20.094 Section 5707, CFC is amended – On-Demand Mobile Fueling Operations.
Section 5707.6.5, CFC is deleted in its entirety and replaced to read as followswith the following:
Section 5707.6.5 Adequate lighting. Adequate site lighting shall be provided for all mobile fueling operations which are performed in dim or dark outdoor conditions. Acceptable means of lighting are flood or box lights which are self-standing or mountable.
(Ord. No. 786, § 3, 11-28-2022; Ord. No. 788, § 3, 1-9-2023)
15.20.095 Unlawful burning and deposits of hazardous materials—Liability for costs. (a) The fire department is authorized to clean up or abate the effects of any hazardous material deposited upon or into property or facilities of the town; and any person or persons who intentionally or negligently caused such deposit shall be liable for the payment of all costs incurred by the fire department as a result of such cleanup or abatement activity. The remedy provided by this section shall be in addition to any other remedies provided by law. -275-
(b) For the purposes of this section, "hazardous materials" shall be defined as any substances or materials, in a quantity or form which, in the determination of the fire chief or his/her authorized representative, poses an unreasonable and imminent risk to life, health or safety of persons or property or to the ecological balance of the environment, and shall include, but not be limited to, such substances as explosives, radioactive materials, petroleum or petroleum products or gases; poisons, etiologic (biologic) agents, flammables and corrosives. (c) Any person whose violation of this chapter results in fire damage to persons or property shall be charged with unlawful burning and is liable for costs incurred by the fire department and other responding county or state fire agencies for suppression activities.
(d) For purposes of this section, costs incurred by the fire department shall include, but shall not necessarily be limited to, the following: actual labor costs of city personnel, including workers' compensation benefits, fringe benefits, administrative overhead; cost of equipment operation, cost of materials obtained directly by the city; and cost of any contract labor and materials. (Ord. No. 742, § 11, 11-14-2016)
15.20.100—15.20.150 (Reserved)
15.20.155 Fire lanes which are not fire apparatus access roads.
Nothing in the California Fire Code shall prevent the town from designating or maintaining a street as a "fire lane" which does not meet the requirements of a fire apparatus access road under the California Fire Code. (Ord. No. 742, § 11, 11-14-2016)
15.20.160 Amendment procedure.
When, in the judgment of the fire chief, it is reasonably necessary to amend the provisions of the California Fire Code due to local climatic, geological or topographical conditions, or other statutorily permissible conditions, the fire chief shall prepare and submit the proposed amendments to the city council for consideration at the next regularly scheduled council meeting. Before adopting any changes or modifications in the requirements contained in the provisions published in the California Fire Code, or in any other regulations adopted hereunder, the city council shall make an express finding that such modifications or changes are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical, or other statutorily permissible conditions. Such finding shall be made available as a public record. Upon approval by the city council and filing of the council's findings with the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) or other governing bodyState Department of Housing and Community Development, such amendments shall be added to and become a part of the provisions of this chapter.
From October 1, 2025, through June 1, 2031, the Town is limited in its ability to modify provisions related to residential units.
Allowable findings for modifications during this time are limited to (1) modifications previously adopted and filed with the CBSC before Sept. 30, 2025, (2) administrative changes related to administration of the code, (3) emergency health and safety measures as deemed by the CBSC, (4) needed to implement a greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy as outlined in a general plan adopted before June 10, 2025, or (5) related to fire home hardening. (Ord. No. 742, § 11, 11-14-2016)
15.20.165 Severability.
A. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be held to modify, amend, repeal, or otherwise supersede, whether in whole or in part, those certain laws and regulations of the town generally and customarily known as the Hillsborough zoning laws and regulations (which, inter alia, establishes a base zoning district known as the residence district, encompassing all the territory of the town; regulates the use, size and location of buildings or improvements; regulates the minimum area and frontage of residential lots; and provides for enforcement and penalties for violation thereof), as originally passed and adopted July 11, 1955, with all amendatory laws and regulations adopted thereafter.
B. This chapter shall not modify, amend, repeal, or otherwise affect any laws of the town hereafter enacted in substitution or amendment of the zoning regulations.
C. Whenever any provision of this chapter is found to conflict with the zoning regulations, or of any laws hereafter enacted in amendment or substitution thereof, the provisions of such zoning regulations or of any such amendatory or superseding laws shall control over this chapter.
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D. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency within the provisions of the Town of Hillsborough Municipal Code, that requirement which establishes the higher degree of safety in the good faith judgement of the fire chief shall apply. (Ord. No. 742, § 11, 11-14-2016; Ord. No. 758, § 39, 11-12-2019)
15.20.170 Regulations of other agencies.
The fire chief or his or her duly authorized representatives are empowered and directed to invoke the requirements and regulations of the National Board of Fire Underwriters, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., the California State Fire Marshal, the United States Bureau of Standards, the Industrial Accident Commission of the State of California, and the California Health and Safety Code or any other recognized authority, in any and all cases of fire hazards not specifically covered in any provisions of this chapter or other laws and regulations of the town, all of which have been published in code form and copies of which are on file with the fire chief and the city clerk.
(Ord. No. 742, § 11, 11-14-2016)
Chapter 15.21 WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE, 2018 EDITION5
15.21.010 Adoption of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
There is adopted by the town for the purpose of promoting the public health, safety, and welfare by helping prevent the spread of fire from the town's wildland areas to the town's inhabited areas and vice versa and to provide a system for the issuance of permits and collection of fees in furtherance of these purposes, all of which is consistent with Action PS-1.3 of the town's general plan, which provides, inter alia, that "The Town will work with the Central County Fire Department to review and update, if necessary, the Town's and Department's regulations and approach regarding defensible space, fire resistive vegetation, wildland mitigation, and fire protection within Hillsborough to ensure adequate fire protection”, that certain code which contains building standards known as the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, together with Appendix B of the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, and amendments thereto.
15.21.020 Amendments to the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (CWUIC).
The 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, as adopted by this chapter, is hereby amended in its application to the town as set forth in Sections 15.21.025 through 15.21.040.
15.21.025 Chapter 1, Section 101.1 — Scope and General Requirements.
Section 101.1 is amended to read “Town of Hillsborough”
15.21.026 Chapter 1, Section 103.1 —Code Compliance Agency.
Section 103.1 is amended to read “Central County Fire Department”
15.21.030 Chapter 1, Sections 108.2 – Fees.
Section 108.2 is deleted in its entirety and replaced to read as follows:
Section 108.2. Permits and Fees
a. The fees for the permits and other services shall be as established by resolution of the Central County Fire Department as amended from time to time. The fee shall be set to cover the cost of the Fire Department to review and inspect the intended activities, operations or functions. The fees must be applied to the appropriate agency, Town of Hillsborough or Central County Fire Department, depending on the type of service. 5Editor's note(s)—Ord. No. 755, § 2, adopted June 10, 2019, amended Ch. 15.21 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Ch.
15.21, §§ 15.21.010—15.21.110, pertained to wildland-urban interface code, 2009 edition, and derived from Ord. No. 690, § 14, adopted Dec. 13, 2010; Ord. No. 712, § 14, adopted Nov. 12, 2013; and Ord. No. 742, § 12, adopted Nov. 14, 2016. -277-
EXCEPTION: (1) The applicant for a given permit shall be exempt from the payment when the work to be conducted is for the Town of Hillsborough under written contract to the town or for events sponsored or co-sponsored by the town. b. In the case of multiple permits for an applicant, the permit applicant will be charged the single highest listed rate of all the permits required. The other permittable items will be charged at a rate of 50% of the listed fee as long as the permits are for the same address.
c. Where processes or materials are inherent with a permittable item, subsequent fees may be waived at the discretion of fire chief.
d. All permits required under Chapter 15.21 shall have a set number of inspections per permit as set forth by the Central County Fire Department Fee Schedule. Additional inspections and additional re-inspections will be billed at an hourly rate consistent with the Central County Fire Department Fee Schedule. e. Application for "event" type fire code permits shall be submitted 14 days prior to the event date. Applications submitted within 13 days prior to the event date shall be charged double the regular permit rate as established by the Central County Fire Department Fee Schedule.
f. "After Hours" inspections shall be invoiced at a rate of one and one-half times the normal hourly rate of the inspecting fire personnel. "After Hours" inspections will be billed at a rate of three hours minimum. "After Hours" inspections are defined as follows: Inspections conducted outside of normal business hours, as defined on the Central County Fire Department website and based upon personnel availability. g. Any person, group, organization, institution or business failing to pay the applicable fees under this Article shall after 30 days of the due date, for either existing or new permit applicants, shall be issued a citation for non-payment of the required permit fee. The penalty for all permit payments delinquent after 30 days shall be a doubling of the original fee.
15.21.031 Section 108.4 – Investigation of Work Without Permit.
Section 108.4 is deleted in its entirety and replaced to read as follows:
Section 108.4. Investigation. Whenever construction or work for which a permit is required by this code and has been commenced without first obtaining a permit, a special investigation shall be made before a permit may be issued for the work.
All work done without a required permit, including demolition of all or part of a structure or system shall be subject to the investigation and fees imposed by this section.
Section 108.4.1 is added and shall read as follows:
Section 108.4.1. Work without a permit. In the event work is done without an issued permit, an investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, shall be collected as a civil penalty, whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall be up to 10 times the fire permit fee. The investigation fee shall be determined by the Fire Chief and shall be based on the staff time reasonably required to resolve all of the issues related to the work that has been performed without a permit.
No construction work permit shall be issued until the investigation fee has been paid in full.
Nothing in this section shall relieve any persons from fully complying with the requirements of this code, in the execution of the work, or from any other fees or penalties prescribed by law.
15.21.035 Chapter 1, Section 112 —Board of Appeals.
Section 112 is deleted in its entirety and replaced to read as follows:
Section 112.1. Appeal and review.
a. The chief of the fire department shall be charged with the duty and responsibility of administering the provisions of this chapter.
b. Whenever it is provided herein that certain things shall be done in accordance with an order of the fire department, such order shall be complied with. Any person aggrieved thereby may appeal to the fire chief in writing within ten (10) days after the date of such order, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. The fire chief, or in his or her absence the deputy fire chief, shall issue a written decision to affirm, modify or reverse the order within two (2) business days of receipt of the appeal. The fire chief's written decision may be appealed to the Central County Fire Department Fire Board no later than ten (10) days from the date of the fire chief's written decision. The fire board's decision shall be final and conclusive and may not be appealed to the city council. Except in the case of immediate hazard, the enforcement of the order shall be suspended until such person has exhausted the appeal process as described above. -278-
c. Any court action or proceeding to review or challenge a decision or order of the fire board shall be barred unless it is commenced within twenty (20) days of the date of service of the written decision or order (or such later date as may be specified by California Government Code Section 53069.4), and such decision or order shall contain a statement so advising the prospective appellant(s) of this time limit on seeking court review. A decision of the fire board shall be considered final for purposes of seeking court review, and no review or other consideration by the city council shall be necessary. However, no action or proceeding to review or challenge a fire board decision shall be permitted unless each ground or basis for such action or proceeding first has been asserted to the fire board pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 15.20.035.
15.21.040 Chapter 4, Section 403.1.5 – Access Radius
Section 403.1.5(a), is amended to read as follows:
Section 403.1.5(a) No road or road structure shall have less than a minimum horizontal inside radius of curvature of fifty (50) feet. An additional surface width of four (4) feet shall be added to curves of 50-100 feet radius; two (2) feet to those from 100- 200 feet.
15.21.150 Amendment procedure.
When, in the judgment of the fire chief, it is reasonably necessary to amend the provisions of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code due to local climatic, geological or topographical conditions, or other statutorily permissible conditions, the fire chief shall prepare and submit the proposed amendments to the city council for consideration at the next regularly scheduled council meeting. Before adopting any changes or modifications in the requirements contained in the provisions published in the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, or in any other regulations adopted hereunder, the city council shall make an express finding that such modifications or changes are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical, or other statutorily permissible conditions. Such finding shall be made available as a public record. Upon approval by the city council and filing of the council's findings with the Office of the State Fire Marshall or other governing body, such amendments shall be added to and become a part of the provisions of this chapter.
From October 1, 2025, through June 1, 2031, the Town is limited in its ability to modify provisions related to residential units.
Allowable findings for modifications during this time are limited to (1) modifications previously adopted and filed with the California Build Standards Commission (CBSC) before Sept. 30, 2025, (2) administrative changes related to administration of the code, (3) emergency health and safety measures as deemed by the CBSC, (4) needed to implement a greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy as outlined in a general plan adopted before June 10, 2025, or (5) related to fire home hardening.
15.21.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to promote the public health, safety, and welfare by helping prevent the spread of fire from the town's wildland areas to the town's inhabited areas and vice versa and to provide a system for the issuance of permits and collection of fees in furtherance of these purposes, all of which is consistent with Action PS-1.3 of the town's general plan, which provides, inter alia, that "The Town will work with the Central County Fire Department to review and update, if necessary, the Town's and Department's regulations and approach regarding defensible space, fire resistive vegetation, wildland mitigation, and fire protection within Hillsborough to ensure adequate fire protection. Since the town is mainly residential, the focus of this review will be on reducing the risk of fire to and resulting from individual residential properties. (Ord. No. 755, § 2, 6-10-2019)
15.21.020 Adoption.
A. The town adopts and incorporates, as fully as if set out at length herein, the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, 2018 Edition, known as the Wildland-Urban Interface Code ("WUI"), as published by the International Code Council, not including Chapter 5 and including Appendices A, B, and F (but not including Appendices C, D, E, G and H which are not adopted), for regulating and governing the mitigation of hazard to life and property from the intrusion of fire from wildland exposures and fire from adjacent structures and for preventing structure fires from spreading to wildland fuels and for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor. The provisions of the WUI (references to which shall be deemed to include the adopted Appendices), as amended herein, shall be controlling within the town.
B. A copy of the WUI, together with a copy of Section 15.21 of the Hillsborough Municipal Code (HMC), as may be amended from time to time, or successor provision, shall at all times be kept on file in the office of the city clerk of the town. -279-
C. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of the HMC and the WUI, that requirement which establishes the higher degree of safety, in the good faith judgment of the Fire Chief of the Central County Fire Department, shall control.
D. Any work approved by the architecture and design review board or having a valid building permit after the effective date of this chapter shall be subject to these requirements.
E. Specific parcels of wildland-urban interface areas shall be as shown on the wildland area interface map attached here to as Exhibit A as adopted by resolution of the city council, and shall be made a part of this chapter. The map shall be on file in the office of the city clerk. The legal description of such areas is as described as follows: (1) All parcels identified as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones as recommended by the Director of California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and as designated on a map titled Fire Hazard Severity Zones in LRA, Hillsborough, and (2) All parcels identified as High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones consistent with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection standards for determining Fire Hazard Severity Zones by the Town of Hillsborough's Community Assessment conducted in 2018. For the purposes of this chapter, those parcels shall be designated as "Wildland Urban Interface Areas." (Ord. No. 755, § 2, 6-10-2019; Ord. No. 762, § 1, 1-13-2020)
15.21.030 Amendment of International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, 2018 Edition.
The WUI is hereby amended in its application to the town as set forth in Sections 15.21.032 through 15.21.110. (Ord. No. 755, § 2, 6-10-2019)
15.21.032 Scope and general requirements.
Section 101.1 is amended to insert "Town of Hillsborough." (Ord. No. 755, § 2, 6-10-2019)
15.21.034 Enforcement agency.
Section 103.1 is amended to insert "Central County Fire Department." (Ord. No. 755, § 2, 6-10-2019)
15.21.040 Appeals.
Section 104.1 and 104.2 are deleted and replaced with the following:
104. General. If the code official disapproves an application or refuses to grant a permit applied for, or when it is claimed that the provisions of this chapter do not apply or that the true intent and meaning of this chapter have been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the applicant may appeal from the decision of the code official to the city manager of the town within thirty days from the date of the decision being appealed. (Ord. No. 755, § 2, 6-10-2019)
15.21.050 Penalties.
Section 110.4.7 is deleted and replaced with the following:
110.4.7 Penalties. Any person who violates any provision of this chapter, or who fails to comply therewith, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable as set forth in Chapter 1.08 of the HMC. The imposition of one penalty for any violation shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue, and the violator shall be required to correct or remedy such violation promptly.
(Ord. No. 755, § 2, 6-10-2019)
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15.21.052 Stop work order.
Section 114.4 is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
114.4. Failure to comply. Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be liable to applicable fines as outlined in the adopted Town of Hillsborough or Central County Fire Department fee schedules. (Ord. No. 755, § 2, 6-10-2019)
15.21.060 Definitions.
Section 202 is amended by adding the following definition:
Substantial Remodel: The renovation of any structure, which combined with any additions to the structure, affects the exterior wall plane surfaces greater than twenty-five percent of the existing exterior wall area of the structure. "Affects the exterior wall plane surfaces" means either that no studs remain or that if some studs remain, the wall except for the studs has been stripped bare such that one can see through the wall. Any portion of an exterior wall so described shall be included in the calculation. This definition does not apply to the replacement and upgrading of residential roof coverings, windows and doors.
(Ord. No. 755, § 2, 6-10-2019)
15.21.070 Declaration.
Section 302.1 is deleted and replaced with the following:
302.1. Declaration. The city council of the town shall declare the wildland-urban interface areas within the jurisdiction.
The wildland-urban interface areas shall be based on the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHZS) as recommended by the Director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. In addition to those VHFHZS areas, the town includes all parcels identified as High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones as identified consistent with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection standards for determining Fire Hazard Severity Zones by the Town of Hillsborough Community Assessment conducted in 2018.
(Ord. No. 755, § 2, 6-10-2019)
15.21.080 Driveways.
Section 403.2 is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
403.2 Driveways. Driveways shall be provided when any portion of an exterior wall of the first story of a building is located more than 150 feet (45,720 mm) from a fire apparatus access road. Driveways shall provide a minimum unobstructed width of 14 feet (4,268 mm) and a minimum unobstructed height of 13 feet 6 inches (4,115 mm). Driveways in excess of 150 feet (45,720 mm) in length shall be provided with turnarounds. Driveways in excess of 200 feet (60,960 mm) in length and less than 20 feet (6,096 mm) in width shall be provided with turnouts in addition to turnarounds.
Unless otherwise approved by the Fire Department, all new or reconfigured driveways shall have a minimum width of fourteen (14) feet (HMC §12.12.050(E)), with a maximum slope of 16%, except that the first fifteen (15) feet shall have a slope no greater than 5%.
A driveway shall not serve in excess of five structures.
Exception: When such driveways meet the requirements for an access road in accordance with the International Fire Code.
Driveway turnarounds shall have inside turning radii of not less than 30 feet (9,144 mm) and outside turning radii of not less than 45 feet (13,716 mm). Driveways that connect with a road or roads at more than one point may be considered as having a turnaround if all changes of direction meet the radii requirements for driveway turnarounds.
Driveway turnouts shall be an all-weather road surface at least 10 feet (3048 mm) wide and 30 feet (9,144 mm) long.
Driveway turnouts shall be located as required by the code official. -281-
Vehicle load limits shall be posted at both entrances to bridges on driveways and private roads. Design loads for bridges shall be designed to support the weight of apparatus at no less than 65,000 pounds. (Ord. No. 755, § 2, 6-10-2019)
15.21.090 Special building construction regulations.
Chapter 5 of the WUI is deleted in its entirety and replaced with Chapter 7A, Title 24, Part 2 California Building Code, 2016 Edition.
All new materials installed on buildings on any remodel within designated Wildland Urban Interface Areas shall be compliant with Chapter 7A, Title 24, Part 2 California Building Code, 2016 Edition. (Ord. No. 755, § 2, 6-10-2019)
15.21.100 Defensible space.
Section 603 is amended by amending 603.2 and by adding Sections 603.3 through 603.9. 603.2 Fuel Modification. All properties shall perform fuel modification of combustible vegetation for defensible space as follows:
(a) All parcels less than five (5) acres in size shall provide fuel modification to the entire parcel in accordance with 603.2.1 through 603.2.3.
(b) All parcels five (5) acres or larger in size shall provide fuel modification:
1. Around all structures for a distance of one-hundred (100) feet or to the lot line, whichever is less.
2. Around the perimeter of all parcel lines for a distance of one-hundred (100) feet in accordance with 603.2.1 through 603.2.3.
The fuel modification distance shall be measured on a horizontal plane from the perimeter or projection of the building or structure as shown in Figure 603.2. The distance of 100 feet is allowed to be increased by the code official because of a sitespecific analysis based on local conditions. 603.3 Maintenance of Defensible Space. All properties shall conduct property maintenance in accordance with Section 604 annually of each calendar year and whenever it is deemed necessary due to fire conditions as determined by the Chief. 603.4 Right of Entry. Where it is necessary to make an inspection to enforce the provisions of this code, or where the fire code official has reasonable cause to believe that there exists upon any parcel or premises any conditions or violations of this code that make the premises unsafe, dangerous or hazardous, the fire department shall have the authority to enter the parcel or premises at all reasonable times to inspect or to perform the duties imposed upon the fire code official by this code. If the parcel or premises is occupied, the fire code official shall first present credentials to the occupant and request entry. If such parcel or premises is unoccupied, the fire department official shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner, the owner's authorized agent or other person having charge or control of the parcel or premises and request entry. If entry is refused, the fire code official has recourse to every remedy provided by law to secure entry. 603.4.1 Warrant. Where the fire code official has first obtained a proper inspection warrant or other remedy provided by law to secure entry, an owner, the owner's authorized agent or occupant or person having charge, care of or control of the parcel or premises shall not fail or neglect, after proper request is made as herein provided, to permit entry therein by the fire code official for the purpose of inspection and examination pursuant to the code. 603.5 Authority to Inspect. The fire code official is authorized to enter and examine any parcel or premises in accordance with Section 603.4.1 for the purpose of enforcing this code. 603.5.1 The fire code official will enter properties or parcels without restricted access shall inspect only those areas of a property or parcel necessary to determine compliance with this code. 603.5.2 The fire code official is authorized to gain access to properties or parcels with restricted access utilizing fire department access key switches or locks as required by HMC §15.20.055. 603.5.3 The fire code official is authorized to utilize unmanned aerial vehicles whenever property conditions due to topography, vegetation density, pets, or landscape hinder inspection. -282-
603.6 Inspection. The fire code official is authorized to conduct such inspections as are deemed necessary to determine the extent of compliance with the provisions of this code and to approve reports of inspection by approved agencies or individuals. Reports of such inspections shall be prepared and submitted in writing for review and approval. Inspection reports shall be certified by a reasonable officer of such approved agency or by the responsible individual. The fire code official is authorized to engage such expert opinion as deemed necessary to report upon unusual, detailed or complex technical issues subject to the approval of the governing body.
603.7 Inspection Fee. Each property inspected in accordance with this chapter shall pay the cost of inspection at a rate consistent with the Town of Hillsborough Master Fee Schedule. Billing for inspections shall occur within 30 days of completion of the final inspection.
Exception: Properties that are in compliance with HMC §15.21.100 at the time of initial inspection shall be charged 50% less the cost of inspection.
603.8 Notice - Required.
(a) If any person owning, occupying, renting, managing or controlling real property in the town fails to remove therefrom and from the portions of streets adjoining such property all weeds and rubbish in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, it shall be the duty of the fire chief to notify such person to remove the same. Such notice shall be in writing and shall be deposited in the United States Post Office at Hillsborough, California, with first class postage prepaid and addressed to such owner, occupant, tenant, manager or controlling person at his or her last known place of address.
Notwithstanding the foregoing and in any event, a copy of such notice shall be mailed to the owner of such real property at his or her last known place of address as shown on the assessment roll of the San Mateo County assessor. If such real property is occupied and the mailing address thereof is different from that of the owner on such assessment roll, then an additional copy shall be similarly mailed to the occupant of such property at the mailing address thereof. (b) Any notice given pursuant to this section shall contain a description of such property, which description may be:
1. The number of the lot and block and the name of the map, tract or subdivision in which such real property lies; or
2. The street and number thereof; or
3. Any other description by which the property may be reasonably and readily identified. 603.9 Notice - Contents.
Notice required by this chapter shall be given by mailing of notice in substantially the following form:
NOTICE TO REMOVE COMBUSTIBLE VEGETATION AND
LIMB UP TREES—PUBLIC NUISANCE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Hillsborough Municipal Code Section 15.21.100 requires you as the [owner/occupant] of the real property identified as parcel # ____________ on the records of the San Mateo County Assessor's office, to remove the seasonal and recurrent brush, grass, debris, weeds, dead or dying trees and limb up trees so the lowest branch is trimmed at least six feet above the floor on your property if less than five (5) acres or for parcels in excess of five (5) acres along a swath of one-hundred (100) feet around all structures and along the perimeter of the property that pose a fire hazard to you and neighboring residents, and which are declared a public nuisance under the terms of Hillsborough Municipal Code Section
15.21.100.
If you do not remove such brush, grass, debris, weeds, dead or dying trees and other accumulations within thirty (30) days of the date of this notice, the property shall be declared a "Nuisance" in accordance with Section 8.16.035 of the Hillsborough Municipal Code, and a citation will be issued. If the nuisance condition(s) continue to exist for more than ten days after the citation has been issued, the property will be subject to review by an Administrative Abatement Hearing Panel in accordance with Section 8.16.050 of the Hillsborough Municipal Code, to determine whether the condition(s) do in fact constitute a public nuisance, the abatement of which is appropriate.
(Ord. No. 755, § 2, 6-10-2019)
15.21.110 Amendment procedure.
When, in the judgment of the building department or the Central County Fire Department, it is reasonably necessary to amend the provisions of the WUI due to local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions, the Fire Chief of the Central County Fire Department shall prepare and submit the proposed amendments to the city council for consideration. Before adopting any changes -283-
or modifications in the requirements contained in the provisions published in the WUI, or in any other regulations adopted hereunder, the city council shall make an express finding that such modifications or changes are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions. Each finding shall indicate which change or modification the finding applies to.
Upon approval by the city council and filing of the city council's findings with the State Department of Housing and Community Development, such amendments shall be added to and become a part of the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. No. 755, § 2, 6-10-2019)
Chapter 15.24 GRADING
NO CHANGES - CHAPTER RETAINED
Chapter 15.26 CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
NO CHANGES - CHAPTER RETAINED
Chapter 15.28 BUILDING SECURITY
15.28.010 Purpose.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the construction of new residential dwellings and to major remodeling, additions, or alterations to existing dwellings as defined throughout Title 24 CCR, 2025 in Chapter 2 of the California Uniform Building Code, 1997 Edition, or successor provision.
(Ord 618 § 5, 2001; Ord. 336 § 1, 1976: prior code § 110.1.14(a))
NO CHANGES - CHAPTER RETAINED
Chapter 15.29 WATER CONSERVATION IN LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS
NO CHANGES - CHAPTER RETAINED
Chapter 15.30 TIME LIMITS FOR COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION
NO CHANGES - CHAPTER RETAINED
Chapter 15.32 WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES
NO CHANGES - CHAPTER RETAINED
Chapter 15.6 TOWERS, AERIALS, ANTENNAE, WINDMILLS AND SOLAR PANELS
NO CHANGES - CHAPTER RETAINED
Chapter 15.37 PERMITTING OF SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
NO CHANGES - CHAPTER RETAINED
Chapter 15.40 CONSTRUCTION TRAILERS
NO CHANGES - CHAPTER RETAINED
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Chapter 15.44 FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT
NO CHANGES - CHAPTER RETAINED
Chapter 15.56 SWIMMING POOL SAFETY BARRIERS*
15.56.010 Barriers.
Every swimming pool, hot tub, and/or spa (constructed after September 7, 1993) shall be protected by barriers to prevent unauthorized entry into the pool, hot tub and/or spa. Such barriers shall be of the type described in, and otherwise comply with the provisions of, Appendix Chapter 4 of the California Uniform Building Code, 2001 Edition, or successor provision, and shall also be subject to the approval of the architecture and design review board, if applicable. (Ord. 654 § 22, 2004)
Chapter 15.60 BUILDING PERMITS AND PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS*
15.60.010 Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
"Building permit" means a permit which is required under the terms of Section 106.1 of the California Uniform Building Standards Code, 20251997 Edition, or successor provision. "Public improvements" means all of the improvements to streets, highways and public ways, or to any parcel intended to be offered for dedication to the town as a highway, street or public way, including, without limitation, curbs, gutters, sanitary sewers, storm drains, landscaping and utility supply lines, within the scope of Title 16. "Subdivision" means a subdivision as defined in Chapter 16.04. (Ord. 618 § 10 (part), 2001)
NO FURTHER CHANGES – REST OF CHAPTER RETAINED
Chapter 15.70 DEMOLITION PERMITS
15.70.020 Demolition permit—Issuance for nonhistoric structure.
A. Upon compliance, or assurance that there will be timely future compliance, with all applicable local, state and federal laws, standards and regulations, including but not limited to provisions of the California Building Standards CodeUniform Building Code and Regional Air Quality Act, the building official may issue a demolition permit for any structure (other than a historic structure) upon receipt of an application therefor, together with the nonrefundable fee determined from time to time by the city council to be a reasonable fee for covering the actual costs of processing such an application. It is further provided that the building official may require that a building permit or permits and any other necessary approvals has or have been obtained for a project or replacement structure for the subject property prior to issuing a demolition permit for a nonhistoric structure.
B. Notwithstanding anything contained in this chapter to the contrary, the building official shall not issue a demolition permit for any structure that is at least fifty years old and listed in the 1990 Town of Hillsborough Historic Building Survey (as the same has been or may be amended or otherwise updated from time to time) until the city council has been informed of such a request for a demolition permit and determined at a regularly scheduled city council meeting that no revisions to the definition of "historic structure" are being or will be made in the immediate future which would affect the subject property. (Ord. 558 § 2 (part), 1997)
NO FURTHER CHANGES – REST OF CHAPTER RETAINED
Chapter 15.80 REFERENCE STANDARDS
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15.80.010 Purpose.
This chapter lists the standards that are referenced in various sections of this document. The standards are listed herein by the promulgating agency of the standard, the standard identification, the effective date and title, and the section or sections of this document that reference the standard. The purpose of this chapter is to regulate materials. The codes and standards referenced in this code shall be considered part of the requirements of this code to the prescribed extent of each such reference. Where differences occur between provisions of this code and reference codes and standards, the provisions of this code shall apply. (Ord. No. 690, § 15, 12-13-2010; Ord. No. 712, § 15, 11-12-2013)
15.80.020 Adoption.
A. The rules, regulations, and standards printed in the 2025 California Reference Standards, as incorporated by reference in the California Building Standards Code are hereby adopted as the rules, regulations, and standards for the town of Hillsborough as to all matters contained therein, except as otherwise provided herein.
B. One copy of the 2025 California Reference Standards shall at all times be kept on file at the town of Hillsborough Building Department. The copy shall be accompanied by copies of Hillsborough Municipal Code Chapter 15.80 (as well as any additional, subsequent amendments) to show the town of Hillsborough amendments to the California Reference Standards C. In the event there is any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of the Hillsborough Municipal Code and the California Reference Standards when applied to any particular case, that requirement which establishes the higher degree of safety shall be complied with unless otherwise specifically stated in the Hillsborough Municipal Code.
D. No provision of the California Reference Standards, as amended hereby, shall be deemed to supersede any other provision of the Hillsborough Municipal Code.
(Ord. No. 690, § 15, 12-13-2010; Ord. No. 712, § 15, 11-12-2013)
15.80.030 Amendment of Reference Standards.
None
(Ord. No. 690, § 15, 12-13-2010; Ord. No. 712, § 15, 11-12-2013)
15.80.040—15.80.080 (Reserved)
15.80.090 Amendment procedure.
When, in the judgment of the Building Department, it is reasonably necessary to amend the provisions of the California Reference Standards due to local climatic, geological, topographical, or environmentalother statutorily permissible conditions, the building official shall prepare and submit the proposed amendments to the city council for consideration at the next regularly scheduled city council meeting. Before adopting any changes or modifications in the requirements contained in the provisions published in the California Reference Standards, or in any other regulations adopted hereunder, the city council shall make an express finding that such modifications or changes are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, topographical, or environmentalother statutorily permissible conditions. Such finding shall be made available as a public record. Upon approval by the city council and filing of the city council's findings with the State Department of Housing and Community DevelopmentCalifornia Building Standards Commission (CBSC) or other governing body, such amendments shall be added to and become a part of the provisions of this chapter.
From October 1, 2025, through June 1, 2031, the Town is limited in its ability to modify provisions related to residential units.
Allowable findings for modifications during this time are limited to (1) modifications previously adopted and filed with the CBSC before Sept. 30, 2025, (2) administrative changes related to administration of the code, (3) emergency health and safety measures as deemed by the CBSC, (4) needed to implement a greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy as outlined in a general plan adopted before June 10, 2025, or (5) related to fire home hardening. (Ord. No. 690, § 15, 12-13-2010; Ord. No. 712, § 15, 11-12-2013) -286-
15.80.100 Promulgation of updated editions of the California Reference Standards.
As successive editions of the California Reference Standards are promulgated and incorporated by reference in the California Building Standards Code, the Building Department, under the guidance and direction of the building official, shall review the provisions of the new code in order to determine whether they are consistent with the provisions of the California Reference Standards then in force as modified by the provisions of this chapter. The building official shall submit a list of recommendations with respect to such changes (if any) to the city council. Upon review and adoption by the city council, according to the procedure set above, such revised version of the California Reference Standards, together with all amendments thereto which are recommended by the building official and/or required by the provisions of this chapter, shall govern all buildings and construction within town limits.
(Ord. No. 690, § 15, 12-13-2010; Ord. No. 712, § 15, 11-12-2013) -287-
DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM
BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION
2525 Natomas Park Drive, Suite 130
Sacramento, California 95833-2936
(916) 263-0916 FAX (916) 263-0959
CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION
INFORMATION BULLETIN 25-03
DATE: September 22, 2025
TO: LOCAL BUILDING DEPARTMENTS
STATE AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS
CBSC INTERESTED PARTIES
SUBJECT: AB 130 (Chapter 22, Statutes of 2025) and Impact on Process for Local Amendments to Title 24, California Building Standards Code
The purpose of this information bulletin is to alert local building departments, state agencies and departments, and interested parties of new requirements in the California Health & Safety Code (HSC) relating to changes in laws governing the Title 24 building standard local amendment process.
Background
Budget trailer bill AB 130 (Chapter 22, Statutes of 2025, see Sections 29-31 and 37-42 of the bill) became effective June 30, 2025, and enacted a moratorium on state and local building standards affecting residential units beginning October 1, 2025, and ending June 1, 2031. This bulletin seeks to provide local agencies guidance on these new laws now in effect.
Residential Units Not Defined
The scope of the moratorium on residential building standards enacted by AB 130 encompasses “residential units,” which is currently not defined in statute and regulation.
As such, the commission interprets this to mean all Residential Group R occupancies, as listed in Section 310 of the California Building Code (Part 2 of Title 24), as well as detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, as listed in the California Residential Code (Part 2.5 of Title 24). Specifically, the residential Group R occupancies listed in Section 310 of the CBC would include Residential Groups R-1, R-2, R-2.1, R2.2, R-3, R-3.1, and R-4. -288-
ATTACHMENT 3
6-year Moratorium on Local Amendments Affecting Residential Units AB 130 amends Health and Safety Code Sections 17958, 17958.5, 17958.7, and 18941.5 relative to local amendments to Title 24, and prohibits cities and counties from making changes that are applicable to residential units, unless one of the following conditions is met:
(1) The changes or modifications are substantially equivalent to changes or modifications that were previously filed by the governing body of the city or county and were in effect as of September 30, 2025.
The commission interprets this to mean a local amendment applicable to residential units being carried forward from a previously filed ordinance (i.e., an ordinance amending the 2022 edition of Title 24) with no material change in regulatory effect to the existing standards.
(2) The commission deems those changes or modifications necessary as emergency standards to protect health and safety.
The commission interprets this to mean a local ordinance that has been adopted on an emergency and/or urgency basis in order to protect the health and safety of the regulated community, and necessitates an emergency/urgency finding or justification be included with the ordinance along with other findings required by state law. (3) The changes or modifications relate to home hardening.
The term “home hardening” is not defined in statute or regulation. As such, the commission interprets this to mean local amendments to the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (Part 7 of Title 24). For local amendments that pertain to home hardening outside of Part 7, the commission may review in consultation with the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
(4) The building standards relate to home hardening and are proposed for adoption by a fire protection district pursuant to Section 13869.7.
As a reminder, local amendments made by fire protection districts are required to be filed with the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), not the California Building Standards Commission. If such ordinances are submitted to the commission, they will be referred to HCD for consideration. (5) The changes or modifications are necessary to implement a local code amendment that is adopted to align with a general plan approved on or before June 10, 2025, and that permits mixed-fuel residential construction consistent with federal law while also incentivizing all-electric construction as part of an adopted greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy.
The commission strongly recommends local agencies include the following information in their filed ordinance:
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1. Clearly identify the adopted greenhouse gas reduction strategy and general plan approved on or before June 10, 2025, and
2. Clearly explain how the ordinance incentivizes all-electric construction and complies with federal law in permitting mixed-fuel residential construction.
The commission, in determining that a modification or change meets any of the criteria contained in paragraphs (1) through (5) above, may rely on a statement by the local agency to that effect.
The commission strongly recommends local agencies include a statement that cites the specific exception(s) from AB 130 that authorize all code changes affecting residential units contained within the filed ordinance. The commission will review this statement, along with reviewing the details of each local ordinance submitted to ensure compliance with these new laws.
Local Administrative Standards
The definition of “Building Standard” in Health and Safety Code Section 18909 includes the following statement relative to administrative standards:
Health and Safety Code Section 18909(c) “Building standard” includes a regulation or rule relating to the implementation or enforcement of a building standard not otherwise governed by statute, but does not include the adoption of procedural ordinances by a city or other public agency relating to civil, administrative, or criminal procedures and remedies available for enforcing code violations.”
While the definition of “Building Standard” does not include specified administrative provisions, AB 130 authorizes changes or modifications related to administrative practices that are proposed for adoption during the intervening period pursuant to Section 18942, and exclusively result in any of the following:
(A) Reductions in time for a local agency to issue a postentitlement permit. (B) Alterations to a local agency’s postentitlement fee schedule. (C) Modernization of, or adoption of, new permitting platforms and software utilized by the local agency.
(D) Reductions in cost of internal operation for a local agency. (E) Establishment, alteration, or removal of local programs related to enforcement of building code violations or complaints alleging building code violations.
These administrative changes or modifications made may be filed with the commission and shall be reviewed by the commission, in consultation with the Department of Housing and Community Development, within 60 days of receipt, if requested by the local agency.
-290-
The commission interprets this to mean that a local jurisdiction is not required to include these or other administrative provisions which are not building standards within their ordinance, but they may if they choose. However, the commission and department will only review the administrative provisions specified in paragraphs (A) through (E) above if formally requested by the local agency, and requires the local agency to include this formal request in the cover letter or transmission email included with the ordinance filing.
Model Home Design Exception
AB 130 also amended Health and Safety Code 18938.5 relative to model home designs. Notwithstanding other laws, AB 130 authorizes that “the state and local building standards in effect at the time an application for a building permit is submitted, for a residential dwelling based on a model home design approved under those standards, shall apply to all future residential dwellings based on that approved model home design in the same jurisdiction, unless the model home design substantially changes at a later date or 10 years have passed since the building permit for the model home design was approved by the jurisdiction, whichever comes first.” The commission notes this new provision does not directly affect the programs, policies and laws under its purview (e.g., review/processing of state and local amendments, administration of the building standard code adoption process, codification and publication of Title 24, etc.). Therefore, the commission is unable to provide guidance on this statute and recommends local jurisdictions consult with their legal counsel and/or relevant industry associations.
Next Steps
In most cases, the commission cannot interpret statute on behalf of local authorities having jurisdiction. Due to the breadth and scope of AB 130 and its impact on the Title 24 local amendment process, the commission’s goal is to provide uniform guidance to local jurisdictions and the regulated community and will continue to do so in the months ahead. Once again, the commission recommends that local jurisdictions consult with their legal counsel when implementing these new laws.
If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact our office at (916) 263-0916 or email your inquiry to [email protected].
Stoyan Bumbalov
Stoyan Bumbalov
Executive Director
-291-
TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH
San Mateo County
1600 Floribunda Avenue
Hillsborough, CA 94010
10 PUBLIC HEARING
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
NOVEMBER 10, 2025
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
ITEM SUBJECT: Proposition 218 Hearing: Resolution Approving Maximum Rates for the Town of Hillsborough's Solid Waste Charges for a Five-Year Period SUMMARY: The Town of Hillsborough ("Town") undertook a solid waste study to review and determine the rates necessary to fund the revenue requirement in its solid waste system for the next five years starting on January 1, 2026. The study focuses on the funding necessary for the provision of solid waste, composting, and recycling services to customers. The proposed rate increases have been reviewed and presented at public meetings held in July, August and September 2025 at a Financial Advisory Committee meeting, City Council Study Session, and a regular City Council meeting. At the September 8, 2025 City Council meeting, the City Council accepted the Solid Waste Rate Study and authorized implementation of the recommendations.
Background
Solid waste, recyclable material, and organic collection services are provided to residential and business customers through a franchise agreement with Recology of San Mateo County (Recology). The franchise agreement expires December 31, 2035.
The Town is a member of Rethink Waste - South Bayside Waste Management Authority (“Rethink Waste”), and a party to the Rethink Waste Joint Powers Agreement (“Agreement”). Under the Agreement, each member agency sets its solid waste rates for residential and commercial customers. Each of the eleven Rethink Waste member jurisdictions has a franchise agreement with Recology of San Mateo County for collection of residential and commercial solid waste, recycling, and green waste. In addition, the Shoreway Environmental Center is owned by Rethink Waste and operated by contract with South Bayside Industries. The Shoreway facility serves as a regional solid waste and recycling facility for receiving, handling, and transferring refuse, recyclable, and organic materials.
The cost for collection and disposal of solid waste, recyclables, and organic materials in a manner that complies with State law is paid through the rates by the customers receiving the services. The City Council approves the rates to be charged for solid waste, recycling, and organics collection sufficient to cover the costs of the program.
Analysis
The total annual revenue requirement for the solid waste and recycling program is calculated based on the following components:
1. Collection Costs (Recology Compensation) – This category includes the costs of solid waste, recyclable, and organic materials collection by Recology, taken to the Shoreway facility for -293-
Agenda Staff Report - Hillsborough City Council
November 10, 2025
processing, staging, and shipment. The franchise agreement with Recology is a “fixed cost” contract where future costs are adjusted based on contractually approved indices.
2. Disposal and Processing Fees (also known as “tipping fees”) - This category includes the cost of processing at the Shoreway facility, disposal, commodity sales, and organics processing.
3. Franchise Fees - Fees are charged by the Town to Recology for the cost the Town incurs to grant the franchise to Recology, as well as compensation for physical, tangible government property used by Recology to provide solid waste service. Recology has determined to meet this obligation by billing Hillsborough customers directly.
The Balancing Account is used or replenished to ensure stability and a smoothing rate, where applicable.
Cost of Service Study
HF&H performed a cost of service and rate study (the “Study”) for the Town of Hillsborough with projections for the cost of service and revenue requirements for the rate years effective January 2026 through 2030. The study indicates an overall revenue requirement increase ranging from 5% to 6% annually over the five-year period. The customer rate increases vary based upon the cost of the specific service provided. The rate study aligns the rates (based on the size of cart) with the projected cost of service. The cart charges reflect the actual cost of service for each service level (20-gallon cart, 32-gallon cart, etc.).
The Town has judiciously used its positive balancing account to temper rate increases to customers over the past several years and has utilized a combination of rate increases and balancing account to provide stability over the proposed five-year schedule of rate increases.
Proposition 218 Process
The adoption of any new or increases in any existing solid waste charges are subject to the public hearing, notice and majority protest requirements of Proposition 218. The City Council on September 8, 2025 City Council meeting accepted the Proposition 218 process which outlines the procedures the City Council will follow for providing the notice and receiving and tabulating written protest to any property-related fees and charges it is proposing to consider adopting. In accordance with Proposition 218, the Town mailed a notice of a public hearing to be held on November 10, 2025, to consider the adoption of the proposed increase to its solid waste charges.
The notice was mailed to property owners and account holders directly responsible for the payment of solid waste charges. The information on the number of written protests to the proposed rates received by the Town will be presented by the City Clerk at the conclusion of the public hearing.
FISCAL IMPACT: Solid waste collection service costs in Hillsborough are covered by the solid waste rate paid by residential and commercial accounts. The costs of these services do not impact on the Town budget or the General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the CEQA Guidelines, the increases in the solid waste service charges are exempt from CEQWA pursuant to Section 15378 and Section 15273 of the CEQA Guidelines and Public -294-
Agenda Staff Report - Hillsborough City Council
November 10, 2025
Resources Code Section 21080(b0(8) because (i) the increase charges are for the purpose of meeting operational and maintenance expenses of the aforementioned services and (ii) the charges constitute the creation of a funding mechanism/other governmental fiscal activity which does not involve any commitment to any specific project that may result in potential significant physical impact on the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. HF&H Solid Waste Rate Study Report
PREPARED BY: Jan Cooke, Finance Director
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Open the public hearing and receive comments;
2. Close the public hearing;
3. Acknowledge information on protests received and presented by the City Clerk at the conclusion of the public hearing;
4. If a majority protest does not exist, adopt a resolution approving maximum rates for the Town of solid waste rates for the five-year period starting January 1, 2026. -295-
61236.02000\40798450.1
RESOLUTION NO. 25-
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH
APPROVING MAXIMUM RATES FOR THE TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH'S SOLID
WASTE CHARGES FOR A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD
WHEREAS, the Town of Hillsborough (Town) provides solid waste service to properties within the Town’s service area, and is authorized under Health and Safety Code section 5471 et seq. as well as other applicable law to impose fees and charges for such service; and
WHEREAS, the Town retained an independent consultant to conduct a cost-of-service analysis and rate study for the Town’s solid waste service, and based on such analysis and study, the Town has determined that it is necessary to adjust and increase the rates for solid waste charges within the Town, effective January 1, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the solid waste rates include two customer classes – Residential and Commercial; and
WHEREAS, the rates for Residential customers include a flat service charge, and a service level charge dependent upon the size and quantity of carts serving the parcel; and
WHEREAS, the rates for Commercial customers are determined based on the size and quantity of bins serving each parcel, and the frequency of service; and WHEREAS, the revenues derived from the solid waste charges will not exceed the funds required to provide the services and shall be used exclusively for the operation and maintenance of the solid waste system; and WHEREAS, the solid waste services are equitable to all customer classes; and WHEREAS, the amount of the solid waste charges will not exceed the proportional cost of the service attributable to each parcel upon which they are proposed for imposition; and
WHEREAS, article XIII D, section 6 of the California Constitution (“Article XIII D”) requires that prior to imposing any increase to the solid waste charges, the Town shall provide written notice (the “Notice”) by mail of the new or increased solid waste charges to the record owner of each parcel upon which the solid waste charges are proposed for imposition and any tenant directly liable for payment of the solid waste charges, the amount of the solid waste charges proposed to be imposed on each parcel, the basis upon which the solid waste charges were calculated, the reason for the solid waste charges, and the date, time, and location of a public hearing (the “Hearing”) on the proposed solid waste charges; and -296-
ATTACHMENT 1
61236.02000\40798450.1
WHEREAS, pursuant to Article XIII D such Notice is required to be provided to the affected property owners and any tenant directly liable for the payment of the solid waste charges not less than forty-five days prior to the Hearing on the proposed solid waste charges; and
WHEREAS, on September 10, 2025, the Town mailed such Notice to the affected property owners and tenants in compliance with Article XIII D; and WHEREAS, on November 10, 2025, the City Council conducted a public hearing in accordance with Proposition 218 and determined that a majority protest did not exist, and that the proposed solid waste rates could be implemented; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to adopt the maximum rates for the solid waste charges effective January 1, 2026.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the Town of Hillsborough hereby finds that the matters set forth in the Recitals to this Resolution are true and correct statements and are made legislative findings and determinations of the City Council, and by this reference made an operative part of this Resolution.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the Town of Hillsborough hereby adopts the maximum solid waste rates set forth in the tables below. The rates shall be imposed at or below the rates set forth below, on the effective dates in the tables set forth below.
Monthly Commercial Solid Waste Rates (eff. 1/1/2026)
Frequency
Container
Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week
32 Gallons $60.71 $88.71 $116.71 $144.72 $172.72 $200.72 64 Gallons $74.94 $117.17 $159.40 $201.63 $243.86 $286.08 96 Gallons $89.13 $145.55 $201.98 $258.40 $314.82 $371.25 1 CY $144.40 $265.29 $386.18 $507.07 $627.95 $748.84
2 CY $276.06 $528.60 $781.14 $1,033.68 $1,286.23 $1,538.77 3 CY $438.22 $852.93 $1,267.64 $1,682.35 $2,097.05 $2,511.76 6 CY $1,093.44 $2,163.37 $3,233.29 $4,303.22 $5,373.14 $6,443.07 Additional Container
32 Gallons $14.59 $42.60 $70.60 $98.60 $126.60 $154.60
Residential
Monthly Rates 1/1/2026 1/1/2027 1/1/2028 1/1/2029 1/1/2030 Flat fee per Parcel1 $33.52 $35.53 $37.31 $39.18 $41.14 Service Level2
20-Gallon Cart $35.31 $37.42 $39.29 $41.25 $43.31
32-Gallon Cart $41.63 $44.13 $46.34 $48.66 $51.09
64-Gallon Cart $63.37 $67.17 $70.53 $74.06 $77.76
96-Gallon Cart $91.76 $97.27 $102.13 $107.24 $112.60
Extra Organics Cart $27.04 $27.04 $27.04 $27.04 $27.04
1 Reflects monthly equivalent of annual charge via San Mateo County tax roll 2 Reflects monthly equivalent of quarterly charge billed by Recology -297-
61236.02000\40798450.1
64 Gallons $28.89 $71.12 $113.35 $155.58 $197.81 $240.03 96 Gallons $43.15 $99.57 $155.99 $212.42 $268.84 $325.26 1 CY $102.49 $223.37 $344.26 $465.15 $586.04 $706.93
2 CY $234.81 $487.35 $739.89 $992.43 $1,244.98 $1,497.52 3 CY $397.56 $812.26 $1,226.97 $1,641.68 $2,056.39 $2,471.09 6 CY $1,055.27 $2,125.20 $3,195.12 $4,265.05 $5,334.98 $6,404.90
6.0%
Monthly Commercial Solid Waste Rates (eff. 1/1/2027)
Frequency
Container
Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week
32 Gallons $64.35 $94.03 $123.72 $153.40 $183.08 $212.76 64 Gallons $79.43 $124.20 $168.96 $213.72 $258.49 $303.25 96 Gallons $94.48 $154.29 $214.10 $273.91 $333.71 $393.52 1 CY $153.07 $281.21 $409.35 $537.49 $665.63 $793.77
2 CY $292.62 $560.31 $828.01 $1,095.70 $1,363.40 $1,631.09 3 CY $464.52 $904.11 $1,343.70 $1,783.29 $2,222.88 $2,662.47 6 CY $1,159.05 $2,293.17 $3,427.29 $4,561.41 $5,695.53 $6,829.65 Additional Container
32 Gallons $15.47 $45.15 $74.83 $104.52 $134.20 $163.88 64 Gallons $30.62 $75.38 $120.15 $164.91 $209.67 $254.44 96 Gallons $45.74 $105.55 $165.35 $225.16 $284.97 $344.78 1 CY $108.64 $236.78 $364.92 $493.06 $621.20 $749.34
2 CY $248.90 $516.59 $784.28 $1,051.98 $1,319.67 $1,587.37 3 CY $421.41 $861.00 $1,300.59 $1,740.18 $2,179.77 $2,619.36 6 CY $1,118.59 $2,252.71 $3,386.83 $4,520.95 $5,655.07 $6,789.19
5.0%
Monthly Commercial Solid Waste Rates (eff. 1/1/2028)
Frequency
Container
Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week
32 Gallons $67.57 $98.74 $129.90 $161.07 $192.23 $223.40 64 Gallons $83.41 $130.41 $177.41 $224.41 $271.41 $318.41 96 Gallons $99.20 $162.00 $224.80 $287.60 $350.40 $413.20 1 CY $160.72 $295.27 $429.82 $564.36 $698.91 $833.46
2 CY $307.25 $588.33 $869.41 $1,150.49 $1,431.57 $1,712.65 3 CY $487.74 $949.31 $1,410.88 $1,872.45 $2,334.02 $2,795.59 6 CY $1,217.00 $2,407.83 $3,598.65 $4,789.48 $5,980.31 $7,171.13 Additional Container
32 Gallons $16.24 $47.41 $78.57 $109.74 $140.91 $172.07 64 Gallons $32.15 $79.15 $126.16 $173.16 $220.16 $267.16 96 Gallons $48.02 $110.82 $173.62 $236.42 $299.22 $362.02 1 CY $114.07 $248.62 $383.16 $517.71 $652.26 $786.81
2 CY $261.34 $542.42 $823.50 $1,104.58 $1,385.66 $1,666.74 3 CY $442.48 $904.05 $1,365.62 $1,827.19 $2,288.76 $2,750.33 6 CY $1,174.52 $2,365.35 $3,556.17 $4,747.00 $5,937.83 $7,128.65
5.0%
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61236.02000\40798450.1
Monthly Commercial Solid Waste Rates (eff. 1/1/2029)
Frequency
Container
Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week
32 Gallons $70.95 $103.67 $136.40 $169.12 $201.85 $234.57 64 Gallons $87.58 $136.93 $186.28 $235.63 $284.98 $334.33 96 Gallons $104.16 $170.10 $236.04 $301.98 $367.92 $433.86 1 CY $168.76 $310.03 $451.31 $592.58 $733.86 $875.13
2 CY $322.61 $617.75 $912.88 $1,208.01 $1,503.15 $1,798.28 3 CY $512.13 $996.78 $1,481.42 $1,966.07 $2,450.72 $2,935.37 6 CY $1,277.85 $2,528.22 $3,778.59 $5,028.95 $6,279.32 $7,529.69 Additional Container
32 Gallons $17.06 $49.78 $82.50 $115.23 $147.95 $180.68 64 Gallons $33.76 $83.11 $132.46 $181.81 $231.17 $280.52 96 Gallons $50.43 $116.36 $182.30 $248.24 $314.18 $380.12 1 CY $119.77 $261.05 $402.32 $543.60 $684.87 $826.15
2 CY $274.41 $569.54 $864.67 $1,159.81 $1,454.94 $1,750.07 3 CY $464.60 $949.25 $1,433.90 $1,918.55 $2,403.20 $2,887.84 6 CY $1,233.25 $2,483.61 $3,733.98 $4,984.35 $6,234.72 $7,485.09
5.0%
Monthly Commercial Solid Waste Rates (eff. 1/1/2030)
Frequency
Container
Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week
32 Gallons $74.50 $108.86 $143.22 $177.58 $211.94 $246.30 64 Gallons $91.96 $143.77 $195.59 $247.41 $299.23 $351.05 96 Gallons $109.37 $178.61 $247.84 $317.08 $386.32 $455.55 1 CY $177.19 $325.53 $473.87 $622.21 $770.55 $918.89
2 CY $338.74 $648.63 $958.52 $1,268.41 $1,578.30 $1,888.19 3 CY $537.73 $1,046.62 $1,555.50 $2,064.38 $2,573.26 $3,082.14 6 CY $1,341.74 $2,654.63 $3,967.51 $5,280.40 $6,593.29 $7,906.18 Additional Container
32 Gallons $17.91 $52.27 $86.63 $120.99 $155.35 $189.71 64 Gallons $35.45 $87.27 $139.09 $190.90 $242.72 $294.54 96 Gallons $52.95 $122.18 $191.42 $260.65 $329.89 $399.13 1 CY $125.76 $274.10 $422.44 $570.78 $719.12 $867.46
2 CY $288.13 $598.02 $907.91 $1,217.80 $1,527.69 $1,837.58 3 CY $487.83 $996.71 $1,505.59 $2,014.48 $2,523.36 $3,032.24 6 CY $1,294.91 $2,607.79 $3,920.68 $5,233.57 $6,546.45 $7,859.34 Monthly Commercial Organics Rates (eff. 1/1/2026)
Frequency
Container
Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week
32 Gallons $65.93 $99.16 $132.38 $165.61 $198.83 $232.06 64 Gallons $85.38 $138.06 $190.73 $243.41 $296.08 $348.76 96 Gallons $104.80 $176.89 $248.98 $321.08 $393.17 $465.26 1 CY $177.37 $331.23 $485.09 $638.95 $792.80 $946.66
2 CY $342.00 $660.48 $978.96 $1,297.44 $1,615.92 $1,934.41 3 CY $537.13 $1,050.75 $1,564.37 $2,077.98 $2,591.60 $3,105.22 6 CY $1,291.26 $2,559.00 $3,826.75 $5,094.49 $6,362.24 $7,629.99 Additional Container
32 Gallons $19.82 $53.04 $86.27 $119.49 $152.72 $185.94 64 Gallons $39.33 $92.01 $144.68 $197.36 $250.04 $302.71 -299-
61236.02000\40798450.1
96 Gallons $58.82 $130.91 $203.00 $275.09 $347.19 $419.28 1 CY $135.46 $289.31 $443.17 $597.03 $750.89 $904.74
2 CY $300.75 $619.23 $937.71 $1,256.19 $1,574.67 $1,893.16 3 CY $496.47 $1,010.08 $1,523.70 $2,037.32 $2,550.94 $3,064.55 6 CY $1,253.09 $2,520.84 $3,788.58 $5,056.33 $6,324.07 $7,591.82
6.0%
Monthly Commercial Organics Rates (eff. 1/1/2027)
Frequency
Container
Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week
32 Gallons $69.89 $105.11 $140.33 $175.54 $210.76 $245.98 64 Gallons $90.51 $146.34 $202.18 $258.01 $313.85 $369.69 96 Gallons $111.09 $187.51 $263.92 $340.34 $416.76 $493.18 1 CY $188.01 $351.10 $514.19 $677.28 $840.37 $1,003.46
2 CY $362.52 $700.11 $1,037.70 $1,375.29 $1,712.88 $2,050.47 3 CY $569.36 $1,113.79 $1,658.23 $2,202.66 $2,747.10 $3,291.53 6 CY $1,368.74 $2,712.55 $4,056.35 $5,400.16 $6,743.97 $8,087.78 Additional Container
32 Gallons $21.01 $56.22 $91.44 $126.66 $161.88 $197.10 64 Gallons $41.69 $97.53 $153.37 $209.20 $265.04 $320.87 96 Gallons $62.35 $138.76 $215.18 $291.60 $368.02 $444.43 1 CY $143.58 $306.67 $469.76 $632.85 $795.94 $959.03
2 CY $318.79 $656.38 $993.97 $1,331.56 $1,669.16 $2,006.75 3 CY $526.25 $1,070.69 $1,615.12 $2,159.56 $2,703.99 $3,248.43 6 CY $1,328.28 $2,672.09 $4,015.90 $5,359.71 $6,703.52 $8,047.33
5.0%
Monthly Commercial Organics Rates (eff. 1/1/2028)
Frequency
Container
Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week
32 Gallons $73.38 $110.36 $147.34 $184.32 $221.30 $258.28 64 Gallons $95.03 $153.66 $212.29 $270.91 $329.54 $388.17 96 Gallons $116.64 $196.88 $277.12 $357.36 $437.60 $517.83 1 CY $197.42 $368.66 $539.90 $711.15 $882.39 $1,053.63
2 CY $380.64 $735.11 $1,089.58 $1,444.05 $1,798.52 $2,152.99 3 CY $597.83 $1,169.48 $1,741.14 $2,312.80 $2,884.45 $3,456.11 6 CY $1,437.17 $2,848.17 $4,259.17 $5,670.17 $7,081.17 $8,492.17 Additional Container
32 Gallons $22.06 $59.04 $96.01 $132.99 $169.97 $206.95 64 Gallons $43.78 $102.41 $161.03 $219.66 $278.29 $336.92 96 Gallons $65.46 $145.70 $225.94 $306.18 $386.42 $466.66 1 CY $150.76 $322.01 $493.25 $664.49 $835.74 $1,006.98
2 CY $334.73 $689.20 $1,043.67 $1,398.14 $1,752.61 $2,107.08 3 CY $552.57 $1,124.22 $1,695.88 $2,267.53 $2,839.19 $3,410.85 6 CY $1,394.69 $2,805.69 $4,216.69 $5,627.69 $7,038.69 $8,449.69
5.0%
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61236.02000\40798450.1
Monthly Commercial Organics Rates (eff. 1/1/2029)
Frequency
Container
Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week
32 Gallons $77.05 $115.88 $154.71 $193.54 $232.37 $271.19 64 Gallons $99.78 $161.34 $222.90 $284.46 $346.02 $407.58 96 Gallons $122.48 $206.73 $290.98 $375.23 $459.48 $543.73 1 CY $207.29 $387.09 $566.90 $746.70 $926.51 $1,106.32
2 CY $399.67 $771.87 $1,144.06 $1,516.26 $1,888.45 $2,260.64 3 CY $627.72 $1,227.96 $1,828.20 $2,428.44 $3,028.68 $3,628.91 6 CY $1,509.03 $2,990.58 $4,472.13 $5,953.68 $7,435.23 $8,916.78 Additional Container
32 Gallons $23.16 $61.99 $100.82 $139.64 $178.47 $217.30 64 Gallons $45.97 $107.53 $169.09 $230.64 $292.20 $353.76 96 Gallons $68.74 $152.99 $237.24 $321.49 $405.74 $489.99 1 CY $158.30 $338.11 $517.91 $697.72 $877.52 $1,057.33
2 CY $351.47 $723.66 $1,095.86 $1,468.05 $1,840.24 $2,212.44 3 CY $580.19 $1,180.43 $1,780.67 $2,380.91 $2,981.15 $3,581.39 6 CY $1,464.43 $2,945.98 $4,427.53 $5,909.08 $7,390.63 $8,872.18
5.0%
Monthly Commercial Organics Rates (eff. 1/1/2030)
Frequency
Container
Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week
32 Gallons $80.91 $121.68 $162.44 $203.21 $243.98 $284.75 64 Gallons $104.77 $169.41 $234.05 $298.68 $363.32 $427.96 96 Gallons $128.60 $217.06 $305.52 $393.99 $482.45 $570.91 1 CY $217.65 $406.45 $595.24 $784.04 $972.84 $1,161.63
2 CY $419.66 $810.46 $1,201.27 $1,592.07 $1,982.87 $2,373.68 3 CY $659.11 $1,289.36 $1,919.61 $2,549.86 $3,180.11 $3,810.36 6 CY $1,584.48 $3,140.11 $4,695.74 $6,251.37 $7,806.99 $9,362.62 Additional Container
32 Gallons $24.32 $65.09 $105.86 $146.63 $187.39 $228.16 64 Gallons $48.27 $112.90 $177.54 $242.18 $306.81 $371.45 96 Gallons $72.17 $160.64 $249.10 $337.56 $426.03 $514.49 1 CY $166.22 $355.01 $543.81 $732.60 $921.40 $1,110.20
2 CY $369.04 $759.84 $1,150.65 $1,541.45 $1,932.26 $2,323.06 3 CY $609.20 $1,239.46 $1,869.71 $2,499.96 $3,130.21 $3,760.46 6 CY $1,537.65 $3,093.28 $4,648.90 $6,204.53 $7,760.16 $9,315.79 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Resolution is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Resolution. The City Council of the Town of Hillsborough hereby declares that it would have adopted the remainder of this ordinance, including each section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion irrespective of the invalidity of any other article, section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the CEQA Guidelines, the City Council has determined that the increases in the solid waste rates are exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15378 -301-
61236.02000\40798450.1
and Section 15273 of the CEQA Guidelines and Public Resources Code section 21080(b)(8) because: (i) the increased charges are for the purpose of meeting operational and maintenance expenses of the aforementioned services; and (ii) the charges constitute the creation of a funding mechanism/other governmental fiscal activity which does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. The documents and materials that constitute the record of proceedings on which these findings have been based are located in the Office of the City Clerk located at 1600 Floribunda Ave., Hillsborough, CA 94010. The custodian for these records is the City Clerk.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution shall take effect immediately, and that all resolutions, ordinances, or administrative actions by the City Council, or parts thereof that are inconsistent or in conflict with any provision of this Ordinance are hereby superseded only to the extent of such inconsistency or conflict.
Mayor of the Town of Hillsborough
Attest: City Clerk
This resolution was adopted by the City Council of the Town of Hillsborough at its regular meeting held on the 10th day of November 2025, by the following vote of the members thereof:
AYES: Councilmembers
NOES: Councilmembers
ABSENT: Councilmembers
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers
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Draft Report
THE TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH
2026 Solid Waste Rate Study
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ATTACHMENT 2
HF&H Consultants
590 Ygnacio Valley Rd. Suite 105
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Phone: (925) 977-6950
Web: hfh-consultants.com
July 31, 2025
Jan Cooke
Finance Director
Town of Hillsborough
1600 Floribunda Avenue
Hillsborough, CA 94010
Subject: 2026 Solid Waste Rate Study – Draft Report
Jan Cooke,
HF&H Consultants, LLC (HF&H) is pleased to submit this Cost of Service (COS) draft report to the Town of Hillsborough (Town). The report is organized beginning with determining how much projected revenue is needed from solid waste rates during the next five calendar years (CYs), CY 2026 through CY 2030. The report describes how the collection, processing, and disposal costs are apportioned between residential and commercial customers. The report concludes with a discussion of the rate design that is appropriate for each customer class to ensure that customers are paying their proportionate share. * * * * *
We are pleased to have had the opportunity to assist the Town with this study and would like to thank you for your support during the project.
If you have any questions, please call me at (925) 977-6957.
Sincerely,
HF&H CONSULTANTS, LLC
Rick Simonson
Senior Vice President
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2026 Solid Waste Rate Study
Table of Contents, Figures, and Acronyms
CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................1 Annual Revenue Reconciliation/Balancing Account.........................1 Proposition 218.........................................................................2 Study Purpose and Objectives ....................................................2 Findings and Recommendations ..................................................2 Implementation ........................................................................6 SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................7 Study Purpose ..........................................................................7 Billing Procedures and Current Rates ...........................................7 Legal Requirements...................................................................8 SECTION 2. REVENUE REQUIREMENT PROJECTIONS ................10 Balancing Account................................................................... 10 Expense Projections ................................................................ 10 Revenue Increases .................................................................. 15 SECTION 3. COST OF SERVICE ANALYSIS.................................16 Methodology........................................................................... 16 2026 Cost-of-Service............................................................... 16 SECTION 4. RATE DESIGN – 2026 COST OF SERVICE................19 Volumetric (Variable) Collection Costs........................................ 19 Fixed Collection Costs .............................................................. 22 Tipping Fees at the Shoreway Environmental Center.................... 23 Cost of Service ....................................................................... 23 Multiple Collections per Week ................................................... 25 Additional Solid Waste Containers ............................................. 26 Total Cost/Rate by Customer Class and Service Level - 1st Container ............................................................................ 26 SECTION 5. PROPOSED RATES .................................................29 -305-
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FIGURES
Figure ES-1. Current Rate Revenue Compared with the Cost of Service (2026) ........4 Figure ES-2. Current and Proposed Monthly Residential Rates ................................4 Figure ES-3. Current Monthly Commercial Solid Waste Rates .................................5 Figure ES-4. Proposed Monthly Commercial Solid Waste Rates (2026).....................5 Figure ES-5. Current Monthly Commercial Organics Rates .....................................6 Figure ES-6. Proposed Monthly Commercial Organics Rates (2026).........................6 Figure 1-1. – Current Monthly Residential Rates ...................................................7 Figure 1-2. Current Monthly Commercial Solid Waste Rates ...................................8 Figure 1-3. Current Commercial Organics Rates ...................................................8 Figure 2-1. Balancing Account Summary (2023 - 2025) ......................................10 Figure 2-2. Projected Expenses and Revenue at Current Rates (No Rate Increases) 11 Figure 2-3. Summary of 2026 Revenue Requirement Compensation .....................12 Figure 2-4. Recology’s 2026 Draft Compensation – Residential Services ................13 Figure 2-5. Recology’s 2026 Draft Compensation – Commercial Services ...............13 Figure 2-6. Recology’s 2026 Draft Compensation – Agency Facilities .....................14 Figure 2-7. Summary of Tipping Fees (2025-2030).............................................14 Figure 2-8. Projected Expenses and Revenue at Proposed Revenue Increases ........15 Figure 3-1. 2022 Net Revenue Requirement by Customer Class............................17 Figure 3-2. Current Rate Revenue Compared to Cost of Service ...........................18 Figure 4-1. Full Time Equivalent Route Factors ...................................................19 Figure 4-2. Equivalent Container Factors ...........................................................20 Figure 4-3. Equivalent Container Units ..............................................................21 Figure 4-4A. Solid Waste Variable Route Collection Costs per Month - Residential ...21 Figure 4-4B. Recycling, Organics Variable Route Collection Costs – Residential.......22 Figure 4-5. Solid Waste, Organics Variable Route Collection Costs – Commercial ....22 Figure 4-6. Fixed Cart and Bin Collection Costs ..................................................22 Figure 4-7. Cart and Bin Tipping Fees – Residential.............................................23 Figure 4-8. Cart and Bin Tipping Fees – Commercial ...........................................23 Figure 4-9A. Residential Solid Waste Cost of Service ...........................................24 Figure 4-9B. Residential Recycling Cost of Service ..............................................24 Figure 4-9C. Residential Organics Cost of Service ...............................................24 Figure 4.10A: Commercial Solid Waste Carts Cost of Service................................24 Figure 4.10B: Commercial Solid Waste Bins Cost of Service .................................24 Figure 4.11A: Commercial Organics Carts Cost of Service....................................25 Figure 4.11B: Commercial Organics Bins Cost of Service .....................................25 Figure 4-12. Example of Monthly Rate Calculation ..............................................25 Figure 4-13. Calculation of Monthly Rate – Multiple Containers.............................26 Figure 4-14. Residential Cost-of-Service (2026) and Monthly Rates.......................26 Figure 4-15. Commercial Solid Waste Cost-of-Service (2026) and Monthly Rates ....27 Figure 4-16. Commercial Organics Cost-of-Service (2026) and Monthly Rates ........28 Figure 5-1. Current and Proposed Monthly Residential Rates ................................29 Figure 5-2. Commercial Solid Waste and Recycling Cost-of-Service (2026) and Monthly Rates ..................................................................................................29 Figure 5-3. Commercial Solid Waste and Recycling Cost-of-Service (2027) and Monthly Rates ..................................................................................................30 -306-
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Figure 5-4. Commercial Solid Waste and Recycling Cost-of-Service (2028) and Monthly Rates ..................................................................................................30 Figure 5-5. Commercial Solid Waste and Recycling Cost-of-Service (2029) and Monthly Rates ..................................................................................................31 Figure 5-6. Commercial Solid Waste and Recycling Cost-of-Service (2030) and Monthly Rates ..................................................................................................31 Figure 5-7. Commercial Organics Cost-of-Service (2026) and Monthly Rates..........32 Figure 5-8. Commercial Organics Cost-of-Service (2027) and Monthly Rates..........32 Figure 5-9. Commercial Organics Cost-of-Service (2028) and Monthly Rates..........33 Figure 5-10. Commercial Organics Cost-of-Service (2029) and Monthly Rates ........33 Figure 5-11. Commercial Organics Cost-of-Service (2030) and Monthly Rates ........34
ACRONYMS
FY Fiscal Year
COS Cost-of-Service
ECU Equivalent Container Unit
ECF Equivalent Container Factor
Fixed Collection Costs Costs not dependent on the subscribed volume of service.
Frequency Surcharge Additional cost for receiving service multiple times per week. Routing is negatively impacted when trucks must
return to areas previously serviced.
FTE Full time equivalent
MRF Material Recovery Facility
Organics Refers primarily to food, green material, landscape and/or pruning waste.
SEC Shoreway Environmental Center
SFR Single-Family Residential
Volumetric charge Refers to the variable costs associated with the size of the container subscribed to by residential or commercial
customers.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
City Council
Sophie Cole, Mayor
Leslie Marden Ragsdale, Vice Mayor
Laurie Davies Adams, Councilmember
Marie Chuang, Councilmember
Christine Krolik, Councilmember
Financial Advisory Committee
Charles Adams, Chair
Jeffrey Baxter, Member
Roger Davis, Member
Joel Friedman, Member
Michele Gutierrez, Member
Tom Maloney, Member
Mike Quackenbush Member
D. Paul Regan, Emeritus Advisor
Town Staff
Doug Davis, City Manager
Mandy Brown, Assistant City Manager
Jan Cooke, Finance Director
Rich Santiago, Assistant Finance Director
Best Best & Krieger LLP
Lutfi Kharuf, Partner
HF&H Consultants, LLC
Rick Simonson, Senior Vice President
Gabe Sasser, Project Manager
Sarah Tam, Associate Analyst
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2026 Solid Waste Rate Study
Limitations
LIMITATIONS
This study was prepared solely for the Town of Hillsborough (Town) in accordance with the contract between the Town and HF&H and is not intended for use by any other party for any other purpose.
In preparing this study, HF&H relied on information from the Town’s franchised solid waste hauler, Recology of San Mateo County, which we consider to be accurate and reliable and did not independently verify.
The cost-of-service model and accompanying analyses contain projections of revenues and expenditures based on various assumptions and estimates. While we reviewed these projections with Town staff for reasonableness, actual results of operations will usually differ from projections because events and circumstances do not always occur as expected. Those differences may be significant and materially affect the analyses and findings presented in this report.
Rounding differences caused by stored values in electronic models may exist.
This study addresses relevant laws, regulations, and court decisions but should not be relied upon as legal advice. Questions concerning the interpretation of legal authorities referenced in this study should be referred to a qualified attorney. -309-
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Executive Summary
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Executive Summary
The Town is a member of Rethink Waste - South Bayside Waste Management Authority Joint Powers Agreement (Rethink Waste). Under this agreement, each member agency sets its own solid waste rates for residential and commercial customers. Each of the eleven Rethink Waste member jurisdictions has a franchise agreement with Recology of San Mateo County (Recology) for residential and commercial solid waste, residential recycling, and residential green waste collections. The current franchise agreement runs from January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2035. Recology provides service to approximately 3,800 residential accounts and 6 commercial accounts in the Town.
In addition, a contract with South Bayside Industries provides for operations at the Shoreway Environmental Center (SEC), which is owned by Rethink Waste. The Shoreway facility serves as a regional solid waste and recycling facility for the receipt, handling and transfer of refuse, recyclable, and organic materials.
For the annual contractors’ compensation review process, staff reviews the various cost components attributable to its solid waste services, which in turn determines the revenue required from its customers for subsequent rate years. Each member of Rethink Waste is responsible for establishing the rates in their respective jurisdictions. The rates are then applied based on the garbage cart/bin size of the customer and frequency of collection services.
The Town’s residential accounts are billed for services in two ways: 1) a flat $380.16 annual charge on the tax roll (which equates to $31.68/month); and, 2) a monthly charge, billed quarterly, by Recology, based on the size of solid waste container placed for collection (20- gallon, 32-gallon, etc.). Commercial customers are also billed quarterly by Recology based on the size of container placed for collection (32-gallon cart, 1 cubic yard bin, etc.) and the frequency of collection (1 time per week, 2 times per week, etc.) Rates are developed to cover costs for the following components:
• Recology's compensation to collect and deliver materials to the Shoreway Environmental Center
• Tipping (disposal and processing) fees at the SEC
ANNUAL REVENUE RECONCILIATION/BALANCING ACCOUNT
Annually, revenues collected are compared to Recology’s Rethink Waste-approved compensation for services to the Town. If actual revenues collected exceed the approved compensation, the excess revenue is held by Recology in a balancing account. When actual revenues collected are less than Recology’s approved compensation, the Town’s balancing account is decreased. As of December 31, 2024, the Town has a positive balancing account with Recology of $330,727. The balancing account can go negative if sufficient revenues are not collected. At the expiration of the franchise agreement, the Town will owe Recology if the -310-
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balancing account is negative or Recology will owe the Town if the balancing account is positive.
PROPOSITION 218
To increase rates for these services, the Town intends to comply with article XIII D, section 6 of the California constitution, which was added by Proposition 218 in 1996. Article XIII D, section 6 requires that: (1) revenues derived from fees or charges for property-related services do not exceed the cost to provide service; (2) revenues derived from fees or charges are not be used for any purpose other than that for which it was imposed; (3) the amount of a fee or charge imposed not exceed the proportional cost of the service attributable to the parcel; (4) no fee or charge may be imposed for a service unless that service is actually used by, or immediately available to, the owner of the property; and, (5) no fee or charge may be imposed for general governmental services. The analysis conducted in support of this study was conducted in consultation with the Town and its legal counsel.
STUDY PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this solid waste rate study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the Town’s solid waste rates, including documentation of the analysis, underlying assumptions, and the rationale for the recommended rates.
This study has several key objectives:
• Determine the revenue requirement (expenses) which the Town’s solid waste rates need to cover, including Recology’s compensation, tipping fees and the SEC, while maintaining an adequate balancing account balance with Recology;
• Determine the cost of service attributable to each parcel based upon the type and size of container serving the property and the subscribed service level; and, • Ensure that the proposed rate structure is compatible with Proposition 218 mandates.
These objectives are met by applying industry best practices and by complying with all applicable laws.
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
In preparing this solid waste rate update, the following findings were made. Note that these findings describe the results of the cost-of-service analysis for a five-year period, 2026-2030.
1. Operating Cost Increases.
a. Recology’s draft compensation for 2026 is increasing 1.8%. Recology’s allowable compensation is generally tied to the percentage increases in various consumer price indices (e.g., fuel, labor, vehicle repairs and maintenance) published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For 2027-2030, Recology’s compensation has been projected to increase by 4.0% per year. b. Tipping fees for materials collected and hauled to Rethink Waste’s SEC for processing or transfer to another processing facility or landfill, are projected to -311-
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increase by 5% in 2026. For 2027-2030, tipping fee expenses have been projected to increase by 5.0% per year, which is the combination of additional volume and anticipated costs increases to handle materials at the SEC.
2. Prior Year Revenue Shortfall. A review of current year-to-date revenue collected through May 2025 indicates that total allowable expenses will exceed rate revenue by approximately $163,709, an approximate 3.7% shortfall.
3. Projected Revenue Increases Needed. The cost-of-service (COS) study projects the rate increases needed to generate additional overall revenue to cover: 1) the recent cost increases and 2) the prior year revenue shortfall. Comparing the revenue required to cover the cost of providing service with the revenue from current rates indicates the need for rate increases sufficient to generate additional revenue, as follows:
2026 –6%*
2027 – 6%
2028 – 5%
2029 – 5%
2030 – 5%
The increases are lower than otherwise needed, as the Town currently has a positive balance in their balancing account with Recology. The increases reflect drawing the balancing account down by approximately $124,200 (to $206,520) over the five-year period. How the balancing account was established and how it is adjusted annually, is discussed in more detail in Section 2 of this report.
*The percentage increase in revenue needed for 2026 is not applied uniformly to all current rates. A cost-of-service analysis was done (see Section 4 of this report) to apportion costs to each customer class and service level within each of those customer classes. As a result, some service level rates will increase, and some will decrease.
4. 2026 Revenue Increases by Customer Class. Customer classes for the purpose of this study are residential and commercial. Figure ES-1 compares the revenue from current rates with the COS for 2026. This figure indicates how much revenue is needed from residential rates and commercial rates, respectively, to generate the 6% additional overall revenue needed in 2026. The percentage changes in revenue necessary for 2026 differ by the level of service provided (20-gallon cart, 32-gallon cart, 64-gallon cart, 1 cubic yard bin, etc.).
Historically, the Town has provided a discount to commercial organics rates to incentivize participation and reduce recyclable material entering the landfill. This has resulted in commercial organics rates being set at 50% of the commercial solid waste rates. With the passage of Senate Bill 1383, subscription to organics collection is required for commercial customers and therefore, it is recommended to immediately end the commercial organics rates discount.
The cost of service figure shows the costs specific to commercial organics service that have been factored into rate setting for 2026 such that all levels of service would meet -312-
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their cost of service. With commercial organics revenues meeting the cost of service, commercial solid waste rates would decrease slightly to realign to the cost of service.
Figure ES-1. Current Rate Revenue Compared with the Cost of Service (2026)
5. Current and Proposed Residential Rates. Based on the cost-of-service analysis (described in detail in Section 4 of this report), which apportions the cost to each level of service, the monthly charge in rates differs depending on container size.
Figure ES-2 compares the current and proposed residential rates by service level. A breakdown of the proposed rates is included in Section 4, Figure 4-14. Current and proposed rates include weekly solid waste, recycling, and organics collection services.
Figure ES-2. Current and Proposed Monthly Residential Rates
6. Current and Proposed Commercial Rates. Based on the cost-of-service analysis (described in detail in Section 4 of this report), which apportions the cost to service commercial customers to each level of service, the percentage change in rates differs by level of service. Figures ES-3 and Figure ES-4 summarize the current and 2026 proposed commercial solid waste rates by service level. Figure ES-5 and Figure ES6 summarize the current and 2026 proposed commercial organics collection rates by service level. To minimize the length of the Executive Summary, the respective proposed commercial rates for 2027-2030 are included in Section 5. Current and Revenue at 2026 Difference
Customer Class Current Rates Cost-of-Service $ %
Residential $4,062,343 $4,297,420 $235,077 5.8%
Commercial
Solid Waste/Recycling $92,302 $90,623 ($1,679) -1.8%
Organics $12,233 $29,089 $16,856 137.8%
Commercial Total $104,535 $119,712 $15,177 14.5%
Grand Total $4,166,878 $4,417,132 $250,254 6.0%
Residential Current 2026 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
Monthly Rates Rates Rates Change Rates Rates Rates Rates Annual % Increase: varies 6.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0%
Flat fee per Parcel $31.68 $33.52 $1.84 $35.53 $37.31 $39.18 $41.14 Service Level
20-Gallon Cart $31.95 $35.30 $3.35 $37.42 $39.29 $41.25 $43.31 32-Gallon Cart $39.01 $41.62 $2.61 $44.12 $46.33 $48.65 $51.08 64-Gallon Cart $60.61 $63.36 $2.75 $67.17 $70.53 $74.06 $77.76 96-Gallon Cart $88.43 $91.76 $3.33 $97.26 $102.12 $107.23 $112.59 Extra Organics Cart $27.04 $27.04 $0.00 $27.04 $27.04 $27.04 $27.04 -313-
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proposed solid waste rates include weekly solid waste and recycling collection services. (as shown in Figure ES-1).
Figure ES-3. Current Monthly Commercial Solid Waste Rates Figure ES-4. Proposed Monthly Commercial Solid Waste Rates (2026) Proposed commercial organics rates reflect the cost of service. Consequently, rates must increase significantly from current values to account for the 137.8% increase in commercial organics revenues necessary to obtain the cost of service, as previously shown in Figure ES-1.
Container Size 1/week 2/week 3/week 4/week 5/week 6/week 32 Gallons $57.99 $86.89 $115.79 $144.69 $173.59 $202.49 64 Gallons $73.03 $116.98 $160.93 $204.87 $248.82 $292.76 96 Gallons $87.33 $145.58 $203.83 $262.07 $320.32 $378.57 1 CY $144.11 $269.35 $394.60 $519.85 $645.10 $770.35
2 CY $271.98 $525.11 $778.24 $1,031.36 $1,284.49 $1,537.61 3 CY $442.17 $865.48 $1,288.78 $1,712.09 $2,135.40 $2,558.71 6 CY $1,121.94 $2,225.02 $3,328.10 $4,431.18 $5,534.27 $6,637.35 Additional Container
32 Gallons $13.90 $42.80 $71.70 $100.60 $129.50 $158.40 64 Gallons $29.03 $72.98 $116.92 $160.87 $204.82 $248.76 96 Gallons $43.39 $101.63 $159.88 $218.13 $276.37 $334.62 1 CY $106.31 $231.56 $356.81 $482.05 $607.30 $732.55
2 CY $235.29 $488.42 $741.55 $994.67 $1,247.80 $1,500.92 3 CY $406.58 $829.89 $1,253.20 $1,676.51 $2,099.82 $2,523.13 6 CY $1,090.78 $2,193.86 $3,296.94 $4,400.02 $5,503.11 $6,606.19 Frequency
Container Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week 32 Gallons $60.71 $88.71 $116.71 $144.72 $172.72 $200.72 64 Gallons $74.94 $117.17 $159.40 $201.63 $243.86 $286.08 96 Gallons $89.13 $145.55 $201.98 $258.40 $314.82 $371.25 1 CY $144.40 $265.29 $386.18 $507.07 $627.95 $748.84
2 CY $276.06 $528.60 $781.14 $1,033.68 $1,286.23 $1,538.77 3 CY $438.22 $852.93 $1,267.64 $1,682.35 $2,097.05 $2,511.76 6 CY $1,093.44 $2,163.37 $3,233.29 $4,303.22 $5,373.14 $6,443.07 Additional Container
32 Gallons $14.59 $42.60 $70.60 $98.60 $126.60 $154.60
64 Gallons $28.89 $71.12 $113.35 $155.58 $197.81 $240.03 96 Gallons $43.15 $99.57 $155.99 $212.42 $268.84 $325.26 1 CY $102.49 $223.37 $344.26 $465.15 $586.04 $706.93
2 CY $234.81 $487.35 $739.89 $992.43 $1,244.98 $1,497.52 3 CY $397.56 $812.26 $1,226.97 $1,641.68 $2,056.39 $2,471.09 6 CY $1,055.27 $2,125.20 $3,195.12 $4,265.05 $5,334.98 $6,404.90 Frequency
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Figure ES-5. Current Monthly Commercial Organics Rates
Figure ES-6. Proposed Monthly Commercial Organics Rates (2026)
IMPLEMENTATION
After increasing rates effective January 1, 2026, the Town should monitor its rates before implementing subsequent rate increases. There are future events that will impact the Town’s solid waste operations.
In addition, Rethink Waste is contemplating capital improvement projects to support the Shoreway Environmental Center. The cost impacts to tipping fees are unknown at this time and will affect the proposed rates for 2026-2030 presented above.
Container Size 1/week 2/week 3/week 4/week 5/week 6/week 32 Gallons $28.99 $43.44 $57.90 $72.35 $86.80 $101.25
64 Gallons $36.52 $58.49 $80.46 $102.44 $124.41 $146.38 96 Gallons $43.67 $72.79 $101.91 $131.04 $160.16 $189.28 1 CY $72.05 $134.68 $197.30 $259.93 $322.55 $385.17
2 CY $135.99 $262.55 $389.12 $515.68 $642.24 $768.81
3 CY $221.08 $432.74 $644.39 $856.05 $1,067.70 $1,279.36 6 CY $560.97 $1,112.51 $1,664.05 $2,215.59 $2,767.13 $3,318.67 Additional Container
32 Gallons $6.95 $21.40 $35.85 $50.30 $64.75 $79.20
64 Gallons $14.52 $36.49 $58.46 $80.44 $102.41 $124.38
96 Gallons $21.69 $50.82 $79.94 $109.06 $138.19 $167.31 1 CY $53.16 $115.78 $178.40 $241.03 $303.65 $366.28
2 CY $117.65 $244.21 $370.77 $497.34 $623.90 $750.46
3 CY $203.29 $414.95 $626.60 $838.25 $1,049.91 $1,261.56 6 CY $545.39 $1,096.93 $1,648.47 $2,200.01 $2,751.55 $3,303.09 Frequency
Container Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week 32 Gallons $65.93 $99.16 $132.38 $165.61 $198.83 $232.06 64 Gallons $85.38 $138.06 $190.73 $243.41 $296.08 $348.76 96 Gallons $104.80 $176.89 $248.98 $321.08 $393.17 $465.26 1 CY $177.37 $331.23 $485.09 $638.95 $792.80 $946.66
2 CY $342.00 $660.48 $978.96 $1,297.44 $1,615.92 $1,934.41 3 CY $537.13 $1,050.75 $1,564.37 $2,077.98 $2,591.60 $3,105.22 6 CY $1,291.26 $2,559.00 $3,826.75 $5,094.49 $6,362.24 $7,629.99 Additional Container
32 Gallons $19.82 $53.04 $86.27 $119.49 $152.72 $185.94 64 Gallons $39.33 $92.01 $144.68 $197.36 $250.04 $302.71 96 Gallons $58.82 $130.91 $203.00 $275.09 $347.19 $419.28 1 CY $135.46 $289.31 $443.17 $597.03 $750.89 $904.74
2 CY $300.75 $619.23 $937.71 $1,256.19 $1,574.67 $1,893.16 3 CY $496.47 $1,010.08 $1,523.70 $2,037.32 $2,550.94 $3,064.55 6 CY $1,253.09 $2,520.84 $3,788.58 $5,056.33 $6,324.07 $7,591.82 Frequency
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Section 1. Introduction
The Town’s franchised hauler, Recology, provides solid waste, recyclable material, and organics collection services to all residents and businesses in Town In 2025, the Town requested HF&H to develop a cost-of-service rate model and rate structure based on the level of service received by each customer class. The purpose of this report is to document the analysis and summarize our assumptions, findings, and recommendations.
STUDY PURPOSE
The main purpose of this report is to document that the proposed rates comply with the relevant laws in California for setting solid waste rates. Another key purpose is to ensure that the rates generate sufficient revenue to fund the solid waste, recyclable material, and organics collection, processing, and disposal activities over the five-year planning period (2026-2030) operating and capital costs as well as to maintain adequate reserves.
BILLING PROCEDURES AND CURRENT RATES
Residents are billed for weekly collection of solid waste, recyclable material, and organics carts in two ways: 1) a flat $380.16 annual charge on the tax roll (which equates to $31.68/month); and, 2) a monthly charge, billed quarterly by Recology, based on the size of solid waste container placed for collection (20-gallon, 32-gallon, etc.) and the frequency of service.
Commercial customers are also billed quarterly by Recology, based on the size of solid waste and organics material containers placed for collection (1 cubic yard bin, 2 cubic yard bin, etc.) and how frequently it is collected (1x per week, 2x per week, etc.).
The current rates are summarized in Figure 1-1 through Figure 1-3. The amount billed on the tax roll for residential customers is an annual lump sum amount of $380.16. For analysis of monthly rates, it is reflected in Figure 1-1 as a $31.68 per month rate.
Figure 1-1. – Current Monthly Residential Rates
Residential Billed Billed Total
Monthly Rates by Recology on Tax Roll Charge
Solid Waste Subscription
20-Gallon Cart $31.95 $31.68 $63.63
32-Gallon Cart $39.01 $31.68 $70.69
64-Gallon Cart $60.61 $31.68 $92.29
96-Gallon Cart $88.43 $31.68 $120.11
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Figure 1-2. Current Monthly Commercial Solid Waste Rates Figure 1-3. Current Commercial Organics Rates
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
The Town is responsible for setting rates in compliance with California law. Voters passed Proposition 218 in November 1996, which added article XIII D to the California constitution.
Article XIII D section 6(b)(1-5) has five substantive requirements that must be met:
1. Revenue from rates must not exceed the cost of providing service.
2. Revenue from rates must be used for providing service.
3. Fees and charges imposed must be proportional to the cost of providing the service attributable to the parcel.
Container Size 1/week 2/week 3/week 4/week 5/week 6/week 32 Gallons $57.99 $86.89 $115.79 $144.69 $173.59 $202.49 64 Gallons $73.03 $116.98 $160.93 $204.87 $248.82 $292.76 96 Gallons $87.33 $145.58 $203.83 $262.07 $320.32 $378.57 1 CY $144.11 $269.35 $394.60 $519.85 $645.10 $770.35
2 CY $271.98 $525.11 $778.24 $1,031.36 $1,284.49 $1,537.61 3 CY $442.17 $865.48 $1,288.78 $1,712.09 $2,135.40 $2,558.71 6 CY $1,121.94 $2,225.02 $3,328.10 $4,431.18 $5,534.27 $6,637.35 Additional Container
32 Gallons $13.90 $42.80 $71.70 $100.60 $129.50 $158.40 64 Gallons $29.03 $72.98 $116.92 $160.87 $204.82 $248.76 96 Gallons $43.39 $101.63 $159.88 $218.13 $276.37 $334.62 1 CY $106.31 $231.56 $356.81 $482.05 $607.30 $732.55
2 CY $235.29 $488.42 $741.55 $994.67 $1,247.80 $1,500.92 3 CY $406.58 $829.89 $1,253.20 $1,676.51 $2,099.82 $2,523.13 6 CY $1,090.78 $2,193.86 $3,296.94 $4,400.02 $5,503.11 $6,606.19 Frequency
Container Size 1/week 2/week 3/week 4/week 5/week 6/week 32 Gallons $28.99 $43.44 $57.90 $72.35 $86.80 $101.25
64 Gallons $36.52 $58.49 $80.46 $102.44 $124.41 $146.38 96 Gallons $43.67 $72.79 $101.91 $131.04 $160.16 $189.28 1 CY $72.05 $134.68 $197.30 $259.93 $322.55 $385.17
2 CY $135.99 $262.55 $389.12 $515.68 $642.24 $768.81
3 CY $221.08 $432.74 $644.39 $856.05 $1,067.70 $1,279.36 6 CY $560.97 $1,112.51 $1,664.05 $2,215.59 $2,767.13 $3,318.67 Additional Container
32 Gallons $6.95 $21.40 $35.85 $50.30 $64.75 $79.20
64 Gallons $14.52 $36.49 $58.46 $80.44 $102.41 $124.38
96 Gallons $21.69 $50.82 $79.94 $109.06 $138.19 $167.31 1 CY $53.16 $115.78 $178.40 $241.03 $303.65 $366.28
2 CY $117.65 $244.21 $370.77 $497.34 $623.90 $750.46
3 CY $203.29 $414.95 $626.60 $838.25 $1,049.91 $1,261.56 6 CY $545.39 $1,096.93 $1,648.47 $2,200.01 $2,751.55 $3,303.09 Frequency
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4. Fee or charge may not be imposed for a service unless that service is used by, or immediately available to, the owner of the property.
5. No fee or charge may be imposed for general governmental services.
The basis for setting rates that are proportional to the cost of providing service was not prescribed in article XIIID; therefore, the analyst was responsible for meeting the requirements of Sections 6(b) 1-5.
We interpret these requirements to mean that rates must be proportionate to the COS across the range of subscribed service. We further interpret it to mean that the rates for each level of service must correlate with the actual demand that customers place on the collection vehicles and for which the system must be designed to provide the level of service customers require.
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Section 2. Revenue Requirement Projections
To determine whether additional rate revenue is required, projected operating expenses are compared with projected revenue from current rates. Rates are then increased so that projected expenses are covered.
BALANCING ACCOUNT
The franchise agreement with Recology includes an annual revenue reconciliation process where actual revenues billed are compared to Recology’s approved compensation. If there is a positive balancing account, the Town may keep rates flat or increase rates at a lower than necessary level, which draws down the balancing account. Excess revenues are accumulated and tracked by Recology on an annual basis and audited by Rethink Waste. If revenues are less than the approved compensation, the balancing account is reduced. The Town currently has a positive balancing account with Recology at $330,727 (as of December 31, 2024). Yearto-date projections for 2025 indicate that revenues will fall short of Recology’s approved compensation, resulting in a projected balancing account of $167,018 by December 31, 2025, as shown in the bottom row of Figure 2-1. This balancing account is available to keep future rate increases lower than they otherwise would need to be or cover unexpected cost increases that were not known at the time rates were set.
Figure 2-1. Balancing Account Summary (2023 - 2025)
EXPENSE PROJECTIONS
Rates are developed to cover costs for the following projected expenses over the five-year planning period: Recology’s approved collection compensation, including amounts collected for Recology to meet its obligation to pay the Town its franchise fee, as well as tipping fees at the SEC. Projected costs from 2026 through 2030 are summarized in Figure 2-2, Rows 9- 11).
In addition, Figure 2-2 summarizes the current revenue at current rates for the five-year period if rates remained the same. This illustrates the effect on the Town’s balancing account with Recology if rates were not changed during the next five-year planning period. With no 2023 2024 2025
Actual Actual Projected
Total Revenue (after rate adjustments) $3,885,144 $4,110,847 $4,274,475 Expenses
Recology Collection Costs $2,222,343 $2,345,635 $2,418,012 Disposal & Processing Fees $1,298,144 $1,522,314 $1,628,923 Agency Franchise & Other Fees $353,195 $373,680 $391,248 l Expenses $3,873,682 $4,241,629 $4,438,183
Surplus / (Shortfall) After Rate Increase $9,871 ($138,838) ($163,709) Balancing Acct. (Proj. Year-End Balance) $469,565 $330,727 $167,018 -319-
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rate increases, the balancing account is projected to be depleted by year-end 2026. A summary of expense projections follows Figure 2-2. The next subsection of this report discusses the necessary annual revenue increases to bridge the revenue shortfall, as compared to existing revenues.
Figure 2-2. Projected Expenses and Revenue at Current Rates (No Rate Increases) Recology's annual collection compensation (Row 9 in Figure 2-2) was calculated in accordance with the Franchise Agreement with the Town. Recology’s 2026 compensation calculation has been reviewed and is currently being audited by Rethink Waste. A summary of Recology’s 2026 compensation by customer class is provided in Figure 2-3 and further details are provided in Figure 2-4 through Figure 2-6. Costs are projected to increase by
4.0% per year for financial planning purposes, which is in line with the historical trend.
Franchise fees are levied by the Town on Recology pursuant to the Franchise Agreement.
The franchise fee is an obligation of Recology utilities paid out of the total amount imposed on ratepayers. (Row 11 in Figure 2-2). Franchise fees are calculated as four percent of net revenues collected by Recology. The fees account for Town staff time and various legal, financial, and printing services to cover franchise related programs and governance.
Tipping (disposal and processing) fees at the Shoreway Environmental Center (SEC) (Row 10 in Figure 2-2). 2026 tipping fees are estimated by Rethink Waste based on projected volumes collected within the Town and the approved per-ton tip charges by material type. A summary of Rethink Waste’s 2026 projections, by customer class, is provided in Figure 2-7.
Costs are projected to increase by 5.0% per year for financial planning purposes, based on discussions with Rethink Waste.
Figure 2-3 reports a summary of the three cost components of the revenue requirement.
Note, franchise fees in this figure account for an increase to revenues, as an increase in revenues collected leads to an increase in fees paid. Thus, the franchise fees values refer to Figure 2-8, which includes revenue increases.
2025 05 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
Estimated Projected
0 Projected
08 Projected
09 Projected
030
Projected
1 $4,110,847 $4,274,475 $4,514,466 $4,779,513 $5,021,506 $5,267,730 2 Base Charge Revenue - Recology (res) $2,620,212 $2,620,212 $2,620,212 $2,620,212 $2,620,212 $2,620,212 3 Base Charge Revenue - Tax Roll (res) $1,452,703 $1,484,670 $1,484,670 $1,484,670 $1,484,670 $1,484,670 4 Subtotal - Residential Revenue $4,072,916 $4,104,882 $4,104,882 $4,104,882 $4,104,882 $4,104,882 5 Base Charge Revenue - Recology (comm) $104,535 $104,535 $104,535 $104,535 $104,535 $104,535 6 Subtotal - Base Charge Revenue $4,177,451 $4,209,417 $4,209,417 $4,209,417 $4,209,417 $4,209,417 7 Sch Q "Extras" Rev. (i.e., backyard srvc) 97,024 $97,024 $97,024 $97,024 $97,024 $97,024 8 Total Revenue (after rate adjustments) $4,274,475 $4,306,441 $4,306,441 $4,306,441 $4,306,441 $4,306,441 Expenses
9 Recology Collection Costs (incl. Schedule Q) $2,418,012 $2,461,783 $2,558,241 $2,658,558 $2,762,888 $2,871,390 10 Disposal & Processing Fees $1,628,923 $1,710,369 $1,795,887 $1,885,682 $1,979,966 $2,078,964 11 Agency Franchise & Other Fees $391,248 $394,242 $394,242 $394,242 $394,242 $394,242 12 Total Expenses $4,438,183 $4,566,394 $4,748,371 $4,938,482 $5,137,096 $5,344,597 13 Surplus / (Shortfall) After Rate Increase ($163,709) ($259,953) ($441,930) ($632,041) ($830,655) ($1,038,156) 14 Balancing Acct. (Proj. Year-End Balance) $167,018 ($92,935) ($534,865) ($1,166,906) ($1,997,560) ($3,035,716)
COLLECTION COST PROJECTION
Estimated Revenue (Before Rate Increase)
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Figure 2-3. Summary of 2026 Revenue Requirement Compensation Rounding due to stored values may exist
1 Allocated based on percentage share of total number of accounts 2 Source: Figure 2-4 3 Source: Figure 2-5 4 Source: Figure 2-6 5 Revenue billed by Recology for non-base services which does not come from base rates. 6 Source: Figure 2-7 7 Source: Figure 2-8 Customer Direct Town
Class Costs Facilities¹ 2026 Total
Collection Compensation - Base Services
Residential $2,333,028 2 $13,489 $2,346,517
Commercial $66,679 3 $35 $66,714
Total $2,399,707 $13,524 4 $2,413,231
Plus: Recology Sch Q rate revenue for extra services5 $48,552 $2,461,783
Disposal & Processing Fees6
Residential $1,591,065 $75,834 $1,666,899
Commercial $43,273 $197 $43,470
Total $1,634,338 $76,031 $1,710,369
Agency Franchise & Other Fees7
Residential $402,288 $0 $402,288
Commercial $11,437 $0 $11,437
Total $413,725 $0 $413,725
Total Recology Compensation by Customer Class
Residential $4,326,382 $89,322 $4,415,704
Commercial $121,389 $232 $121,621
Total $4,447,771 $89,555 $4,537,326
Plus: Recology Sch Q rate revenue for extra services 48,552 Total Revenue Requirement $4,585,878
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Figure 2-4. Recology’s 2026 Draft Compensation – Residential Services Figure 2-5. Recology’s 2026 Draft Compensation – Commercial Services Targeted Two On-Call
S g e
Family
Solid Recyclable Organic Collection Dwelling
Cost Category Waste Materials Materials Events Total
Annual Cost of Operations
Total Direct Labor Related-Costs $404,645 $359,856 $350,002 $59,904 $1,174,407 Direct Fuel Costs $37,242 $39,241 $39,337 $2,369 $118,189 Other Direct Costs $36,066 $38,002 $38,570 $2,646 $115,284 Depreciation for Collection Equipment $43,818 $42,982 $53,009 $2,033 $141,842 Total Allocated Indirect Costs excluding Depreciation and Interest $163,710 $171,538 $186,485 $4,023 $525,756 Total Allocated Indirect Depreciation Costs (Form 9) $1,207 $1,297 $1,564 $24 $4,092 Annual Implementation Cost Amortization (Form A) $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Total Annual Cost of Operations $686,688 $652,916 $668,967 $70,999 $2,079,570 Profit (insert Operating Ratio below) $72,083 $68,538 $70,223 $7,453 $218,297
0.905
Total Proposed Costs before Pass-Through Cost Allocation $758,771 $721,454 $739,190 $78,452 $2,297,867 Total Contractor Pass-Through Costs $10,873 $10,664 $13,145 $479 $35,161 TOTAL BASE CONTRACTOR'S COMPENSATION $769,644 $732,118 $752,335 $78,931 $2,333,028 Targeted Two On-Call Multi Family &
Solid Recyclable Organic Drop Collection Commercial
Cost Category Waste Materials Materials Box Events Total Annual Cost of Operations
Total Direct Labor Related-Costs $11,602 $1,422 $9,010 $0 $9,411 $31,445 Direct Fuel Costs $1,160 $130 $1,152 $0 $879 $3,321
Other Direct Costs $1,182 $154 $1,025 $0 $845 $3,206
Depreciation for Collection Equipment $610 $238 $1,691 $0 $656 $3,195 Total Allocated Indirect Costs excluding Depreciation and Interest $1,879 $1,289 $12,933 $0 $1,654 $17,755 Total Allocated Indirect Depreciation Costs (Form 9) $16 $7 $139 $0 $10 $172 Annual Implementation Cost Amortization (Form A) $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Total Annual Cost of Operations $16,449 $3,240 $25,950 $0 $13,455 $59,094 Profit (insert Operating Ratio below) $1,727 $340 $2,724 $0 $1,412 $6,203
0.905
Total Proposed Costs before Pass-Through Cost Allocation $18,176 $3,580 $28,674 $0 $14,867 $65,297 Total Contractor Pass-Through Costs $270 $91 $721 $0 $300 $1,382 TOTAL BASE CONTRACTOR'S COMPENSATION $18,446 $3,671 $29,395 $0 $15,167 $66,679 -322-
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Figure 2-6. Recology’s 2026 Draft Compensation – Agency Facilities Figure 2-7. Summary of Tipping Fees (2025-2030)
Source: 2026 tip fee and tonnage projections reflect tonnages reported in the 2024 Recology Annual Report.
Subsequent tip fees were projected by HF&H based on Rethink Waste input.
Cart & Bin Cart & Bin Cart & Bin Venues Agency
Solid Recyclable Organic Drop and Facilities
Cost Category Waste Materials Materials Box Events Total Annual Cost of Operations
Total Direct Labor Related-Costs $115 $389 $711 $3,038 $139 $4,392 Direct Fuel Costs $12 $40 $73 $313 $15 $453
Other Direct Costs $16 $56 $102 $435 $21 $630
Depreciation for Collection Equipment $16 $78 $169 $778 $28 $1,069 Total Allocated Indirect Costs excluding Depreciation and Interest $77 $314 $693 $3,543 $805 $5,432 Total Allocated Indirect Depreciation Costs (Form 9) $1 $3 $6 $28 $1 $39 Annual Implementation Cost Amortization (Form A) $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Total Annual Cost of Operations $237 $880 $1,754 $8,135 $1,009 $12,015 Profit (insert Operating Ratio below) $25 $92 $184 $854 $106 $1,261
0.905
Total Proposed Costs before Pass-Through Cost Allocation $262 $972 $1,938 $8,989 $1,115 $13,276 Total Contractor Pass-Through Costs $4 $18 $39 $180 $7 $248 TOTAL BASE CONTRACTOR'S COMPENSATION $266 $990 $1,977 $9,169 $1,122 $13,524 Projected
Tip Fee Expense Projections 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 Per-Ton Tip Fees
Solid Waste $176.55 $185.38 $194.65 $204.38 $214.60 $225.33 Organics $190.46 $199.98 $209.98 $220.48 $231.51 $243.08 Agency C&D - Self-haul $186.00 $195.30 $205.07 $215.32 $226.08 $237.39 Tons
Residential
Solid Waste 2,653 2,653 2,653 2,653 2,653 2,653
Organics 5,497 5,497 5,497 5,497 5,497 5,497
Total Residential 8,150 8,150 8,150 8,150 8,150 8,150
Commercial
Solid Waste 165 165 165 165 165 165
Organics 63 63 63 63 63 63
Total Commercial 228 228 228 228 228 228
Agency
Solid Waste 227 227 227 227 227 227
Organics 168 168 168 168 168 168
Agency C&D - Self-haul 2 2 2 2 2 2
Total Agency 397 397 397 397 397 397
Total Tip Fee Expenses
Residential
Solid Waste $468,334 $491,751 $516,338 $542,155 $569,263 $597,726 Organics $1,046,966 $1,099,315 $1,154,280 $1,211,994 $1,272,594 $1,336,224 Total Residential $1,515,300 $1,591,065 $1,670,619 $1,754,150 $1,841,857 $1,933,950 Commercial
Solid Waste $29,201 $30,661 $32,195 $33,804 $35,494 $37,269 Organics $12,011 $12,611 $13,242 $13,904 $14,599 $15,329 Total Commercial $41,212 $43,273 $45,436 $47,708 $50,094 $52,598 Agency
Solid Waste - Coll Route $40,096 $42,101 $44,206 $46,416 $48,737 $51,174 Organics - Coll Route $32,019 $33,620 $35,301 $37,066 $38,919 $40,865 Agency C&D - Self-haul $296 $310 $326 $342 $359 $377
Total Agency $72,410 $76,031 $79,832 $83,824 $88,015 $92,416 Grand Total Tip Fees $1,628,923 $1,710,369 $1,795,887 $1,885,682 $1,979,966 $2,078,964 -323-
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REVENUE INCREASES
Working with staff, proposed revenue increases were derived to cover the cost of providing service to property within the Town (Rows 2, 3, and 5 of Figure 2-8). Figure 2-8 summarizes the projected revenue from proposed rate increases, annual revenue requirements, and the projected year-end balancing account balance by 2026. The revenue projections assume the full cost-of-service rate increases are implemented to meet the current year revenue requirement.
The revenue increase strategy was to utilize a small portion of the balancing account each year to reduce the necessary rate increase (see Row 13 of Figure 2-8). The portion of the balancing account used to keep rate increases lower than necessary, was reduced each year until 2028 when revenues would slightly exceed expenses to keep from drawing the balancing account any lower. This strategy allows the Town to avoid a rate spike necessary to meet the Town’s updated cost of service, while also keeping a reasonable balancing account balance in case of higher than expected cost increases in the future. The proposed annual revenue increases are shown in Row 6 of Figure 2-8. These annual revenue increases can be achieved by increasing Recology’s base rates by the percentages shown on Rows 2, 3, and 5).
The 2026 base revenue increase, on Row 6, of 5.7% is a net increase; whereas, residential revenue and commercial revenue will increase by specific factors, as rates are being restructured to align with the cost to provide service. The COS calculations are presented in the next section of this report.
In years when rates are not being restructured to align with the cost of service (all years except 2026), residential and commercial rates would normally be increased by the percentages shown above. For example, the 6.0% revenue increase for 2027 (see Row 6 of Figure 2-8) would be achieved with a 6.0% across-the-board increase to all commercial rates and a 6.0% increase to residential rates. This same calculation is done for 2028-2030 to assure the total residential and commercial rate revenues increase by the same percentage change, so that neither customer class is subsidizing the other. the current rates at the various subscription levels.
Figure 2-8. Projected Expenses and Revenue at Proposed Revenue Increases 2025
Estimated
2026
Projected
2027
Projected
2028
Projected
2029
Projected
2030
Projected
2026
vs
2025
%
2027
vs
2026
%
2028
vs
2027
%
2029
vs
2028
%
2030
vs
2029
%
1 $4,110,847 $4,274,475 $4,514,466 $4,779,513 $5,021,506 $5,267,730 2 Base Charge Revenue - Recology (res) $2,620,212 $2,777,425 $2,944,071 $3,091,274 $3,245,838 $3,408,130 6.0% 6.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 3 Base Charge Revenue - Tax Roll (res) $1,452,703 $1,529,210 $1,620,962 $1,709,879 $1,795,373 $1,885,142 6.0% 6.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 4 Subtotal - Residential Revenue $4,072,916 $4,306,635 $4,565,033 $4,801,153 $5,041,211 $5,293,272 5.7% 6.0% 5.2% 5.0% 5.0% 5 Base Charge Revenue - Recology (comm) $104,535 $110,807 $117,455 $123,328 $129,495 $135,969 6.0% 6.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 6 Subtotal - Base Charge Revenue $4,177,451 $4,417,442 $4,682,489 $4,924,482 $5,170,706 $5,429,241 5.7% 6.0% 5.2% 5.0% 5.0% 7 Sch Q "Extras" Rev. (i.e., backyard srvc) 97,024 $97,024 $97,024 $97,024 $97,024 $97,024 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 8 Total Revenue (after rate adjustments) $4,274,475 $4,514,466 $4,779,513 $5,021,506 $5,267,730 $5,526,265 5.6% 5.9% 5.1% 4.9% 4.9% Expenses
9 Recology Collection Costs (incl. Schedule Q) $2,418,012 $2,461,783 $2,558,241 $2,658,558 $2,762,888 $2,871,390 1.8% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0% 10 Disposal & Processing Fees $1,628,923 $1,710,369 $1,795,887 $1,885,682 $1,979,966 $2,078,964 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 11 Agency Franchise & Other Fees $391,248 $413,725 $438,549 $461,213 $484,274 $508,488 5.7% 6.0% 5.2% 5.0% 5.0% 12 Total Expenses $4,438,183 $4,585,877 $4,792,678 $5,005,453 $5,227,128 $5,458,842 3.3% 4.5% 4.4% 4.4% 4.4% 13 Surplus / (Shortfall) After Rate Increase ($163,709) ($71,411) ($13,165) $16,053 $40,602 $67,423 14 Balancing Acct. (Proj. Year-End Balance) $167,018 $95,607 $82,442 $98,495 $139,097 $206,520
COLLECTION COST PROJECTION
Estimated Revenue (Before Rate Increase)
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Section 3. Cost of Service Analysis
METHODOLOGY
A COS Study determines the unit cost of the services provided to the Town’s solid waste customers. Each customer class is charged the same unit cost for its share of the services that it requires. In this way, the total revenue requirement is split between the fixed service charges and the volumetric charges; with the volumetric charges further allocated among the customer classes. The customer classes for this study are residential and commercial.
The majority of the Town’s solid waste services are related to meeting customer demands for the solid waste, recycling, and organics collection services.
The collection services vary based on the customer’s subscribed size and type of container (bin vs. cart vs. roll-off) used for the collection of solid waste materials.
The solid waste collection service levels are defined as follows:
1. Residential Customers – Cart customers receive service in a 20- 32-, 64- or 96- gallon cart for solid waste, a 64-gallon cart for recycling, and a 96-gallon cart for organics. Additional carts may be provided, if requested, for an additional fee. The carts are typically collected by an automated side loader truck. The complete costs of the collection, transportation, and disposal system include three main categories: 1) Recology’s approved collection expenses; 2) processing and disposal costs at Rethink Waste’s SEC; and, 3) Town franchise fees. The franchises cover the Town’s overhead costs to manage the contract with Recology, participate as a member of Rethink Waste, provide community outreach and education, etc.
2. Commercial Customers – Commercial customers typically receive service in bins (ranging from 1 – 6 cubic yards) as they produce more materials than a typical household. The bins are collected by a front-loader truck. Commercial customers can choose their containers size, including carts, and how frequently the container is collected each week (up to 6 times per week). The size and frequency of collection will differ between container type (solid waste, recycling, organics) and by customer. 2026 COST-OF-SERVICE
Figure 3-1 summarizes the net revenue requirement by customer class. As shown in Figure 3-1, the Town’s tax roll billing and Recology’s quarterly billing based on service levels is not the only source of revenue to cover the $4,585,877 cost-of-service for 2026 (Row 12, Figure 2-8). With the addition of revenues from backyard service charges kept by the Town, use of the balancing account, and factoring in for Recology disincentives, rates for 2026 must generate $4,417,442.
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Figure 3-1. 2022 Net Revenue Requirement by Customer Class Rounding due to stored values may exist.
¹Cost of providing backyard service is included in Recology’s direct costs. Residents with backyard collection service are billed directly. This revenue is removed to avoid double counting. ²Allocated to each customer class based on their respective share of the Recology collection costs. ³Commercial customer class includes both solid waste and organics.
The customer class allocations and the expenses attributable to customer accounts are compared with the estimated revenue from current rates in Figure 3-2. The net 6.0% increase in revenue is not shared equally between residential services, commercial solid waste, and commercial organics.
Customer Direct Town
Class Costs Facilities¹ 2026 Total
Recology Compensation
Collection Costs
Residential $2,333,028 $13,489 $2,346,517
Commercial $66,679 $35 $66,714
Disposal & Processing Fees
Residential $1,591,065 $75,834 $1,666,899
Commercial $43,273 $197 $43,470
Franchise Fees
Residential $402,288 $0 $402,288
Commercial $11,437 $0 $11,437
Total Base Services $4,447,771 $89,555 $4,537,326
Plus: Recology Sch Q rate revenue for extra services 48,552 Total Compensation $4,585,878
Recology Compensation by customer Class
Residential $4,326,382 $89,322 $4,415,704
Commercial $121,389 $232 $121,621
$4,447,771 $89,555 $4,537,326
Plus: Recology Sch Q rate revenue for extra services 48,552 Gross Revenue Requirement (Figure 2-8, row 12) $4,585,878 Net Revenue Requirement by Customer Class
Residential Commercial Total
Gross Rev. Requirement $4,415,704 $121,621 $4,537,326
Less: Backyard Svc Rev.¹ ($46,702) $0 ($46,702)
Less: Use of Balancing Acct.² ($69,503) ($1,908) ($71,411) Less: Recology disincentives ($1,770) $0 ($1,770)
Net Revenue from Rates $4,297,729 $119,713 $4,417,442
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Figure 3-2. Current Rate Revenue Compared to Cost of Service Rates need to be designed to generate each class’s share of the revenue requirement. Section 4 provides a recommended rate structure to meet the COS.
Revenue at 2026 Difference
Customer Class Current Rates Cost-of-Service $ %
Residential $4,062,343 $4,297,729 $235,386 5.8%
Commercial
Solid Waste/Recycling $92,302 $90,624 ($1,678) -1.8%
Organics $12,233 $29,089 $16,856 137.8%
Commercial Total $104,535 $119,713 $15,178 14.5%
Grand Total $4,166,878 $4,417,442 $250,565 6.0%
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Section 4. Rate Design – 2026 Cost of Service
This section discusses the design of volumetric charges for the various sizes of carts, bins, and roll-off customers, as well as the fixed service charges for each customer class. All cost categories were evaluated to determine if the cost would fluctuate (variable) or remain constant (fixed) and if there were variances in the subscribed level of service and type of container. The following methodology was used to calculate the cost-of-service by service level and customer class for all solid waste, recycling, and service level organics.
VOLUMETRIC (VARIABLE) COLLECTION COSTS
Volumetric (variable) collection costs are proportional costs based on the subscribed size and type of container for carts and bins. To properly allocate the variable costs, the various factors identified below were calculated based on existing subscription levels of the Town’s residents and businesses. The variable collection costs exclude transfer and disposal and fixed costs, which are calculated separately.
Full Time Equivalent Route Factors
The subscribed level of service of each customer, in essence, reserves that equivalent volume of space in the collection vehicle. Recology must route its drivers and vehicles in order to ensure the collection trucks on those routes have sufficient capacity to accept the amount of material set out for collection by the customer. The size of the containers multiplied by the number of containers will determine the amount of truck capacity required. Therefore, a “Full Time Equivalent Route Factor” (FTE Route Factor) was calculated for each container size based on Recology’s actual collection trucks capacity, average route hours, and disposal trip time.
Figure 4-1 lists the FTE Route Factors for Carts and Bins:
Figure 4-1. Full Time Equivalent Route Factors
Equivalent Container Factor – Residential and Commercial An Equivalent Container Factor (ECF) was calculated to determine the variable component of the monthly rates as follows:
Customer Class FTE Route
and Container Size Factor
Residential
20 Gallons 1.00
32 Gallons 1.16
64 Gallons 1.66
96 Gallons 2.15
Commercial
32 Gallons 1.00
64 Gallons 1.00
96 Gallons 1.00
1 CY 1.20
2 CY 1.59
3 CY 1.99
6 CY 2.97
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1. An adjusted number of loads for each size of container were calculated assuming 100% of customers subscribed to one size.
2. An adjusted loads cost was determined based on the actual collection costs divided by actual loads multiplied by the adjusted Loads.
3. The ECF was calculated by dividing the adjusted Loads Costs (step 2) by the minimum cost per load.
Figure 4-2 lists the ECF for each customer class:
Figure 4-2. Equivalent Container Factors
Note, the ECF for Residential organics is the same for all customers, as the base level of service provides one 96-gallon container per subscription. Therefore, all residential organics containers are assumed to have an ECF of 1.00. This methodology was also applied to Residential recycling such that all Residential recycling containers are assumed to have an ECF of 1.00, since the base level of service provides one 64-gallon container per subscription.
The ECF for Commercial organics are the same as the ECF for Commercial solid waste above, as these ratios were developed while including both Commercial solid waste containers and Commercial organics container costs.
Equivalent Container Units –Carts and Bins
Equivalent Container Units (ECU) were calculated to properly allocate the variable collection costs, excluding the solid waste transfer, disposal, and processing costs. ECUs were calculated by multiplying the number of containers by size, by the applicable ECF. Current containers in service were provided by Recology’s billing system and operational data. Figure 4-3 shows the calculation of the ECUs for each customer class.
Customer Class Equivalent
and Container Size Container Factor
Residential
20 Gallons 1.00
32 Gallons 1.86
64 Gallons 5.32
96 Gallons 10.34
Commercial
32 Gallons 1.00
64 Gallons 2.00
96 Gallons 3.00
1 CY 7.56
2 CY 20.28
3 CY 37.65
6 CY 115.53
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Figure 4-3. Equivalent Container Units
Note: Totals may vary due to rounding.
Variable Route Collection Costs Calculations
Annual variable costs were determined based on the review of Recology’s 2026 draft compensation (which includes the Town franchise fee). These variable costs vary based on the size, type, and number of containers and frequency of service. Costs include items such as labor, equipment operation, and maintenance.
Residential Customers
Figure 4-4A and Figure 4-4B show the calculation of the monthly variable route collection costs per month for residential services.
Figure 4-4A. Solid Waste Variable Route Collection Costs per Month - Residential Customer Class Equivalent Containers in
and Container Size Container Factor Service ECUs
a b c = a x b
Residential
20 Gallons 1.00 554 554
32 Gallons 1.86 1,637 3,050
64 Gallons 5.32 1,170 6,220
96 Gallons 10.34 482 4,982
Total Residential ECUs 14,806
Commercial
32 Gallons 1.00 0 0
64 Gallons 2.00 1 2
96 Gallons 3.00 2 6
1 CY 7.56 8 61
2 CY 20.28 9 183
3 CY 37.65 4 151
6 CY 115.53 4 462
Total Commercial ECUs 864
Variable Route Collection Cost Analysis 20 gallons 32 Gallons 64 Gallons 96 Gallons Annual Variable Costs $753,361 a
Equivalent Container Units (ECUs) 14,806 b
Annual Variable Costs per ECU $50.88 c = a / b
Monthly Variance Cost per ECU $4.24 d = c / 12
Equivalent Container Factor by Container Size e 1.00 1.86 5.32 10.34 Variable Route Cost per Month by Container Size f = d x e $4.24 $7.90 $22.54 $43.83 -330-
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Figure 4-4B. Recycling, Organics Variable Route Collection Costs – Residential Commercial Customers
Figure 4-5 shows the calculation of the monthly variable route collection costs per month for commercial services. Both commercial solid waste and organics variable collection costs were considered in this analysis.
Figure 4-5. Solid Waste, Organics Variable Route Collection Costs – Commercial Note: Annual Variable costs include solid waste, recycling and organics costs for commercial subscriptions.
FIXED COLLECTION COSTS
Fixed collection costs (Fixed Costs) are determined based on Recology’s draft 2026 compensation and are not dependent on the subscribed service volume. Costs include such items as: customer service representatives, billing costs, on-call collection costs, cost to collect for Town facilities, etc. These costs are borne equally by each rate payer, regardless of the level of service. Figure 4-6 shows the calculation of Fixed Costs for carts and bins of various residential material streams and for the commercial collection.
Figure 4-6. Fixed Cart and Bin Collection Costs
Variable Route Collection Cost Analysis Recycling Organics Annual Variable Costs $751,374 $734,436
Equivalent Container Units (ECUs) 3,843 3,843
Annual Variable Costs per ECU $195.52 $191.11
Monthly Variance Cost per ECU $16.29 $15.93
ECF by Container Size 64 gallons 96 gallons
20 gallons 32 Gallons 1.00 1.00
- -
Variable Route Cost per Month by Container Size
64 gallons 96 gallons
$16.29 $15.93
Variable Route Collection Cost Analysis
a Annual Variable Costs $67,903
b Equivalent Container Units (ECUs) 864
c = a / b Annual Variable Costs per ECU $78.61
d = c / 12 Monthly Variance Cost per ECU $6.55
Equivalent Container Factor by Container Size
32 Gallons 64 Gallons 96 Gallons 1 CY 2 CY 3 CY 6 CY
e 1.00 2.00 3.00 7.56 20.28 37.65 115.53
f = d x e Variable Route Cost per Month by Container Size 32 Gallons 64 Gallons 96 Gallons 1 CY 2 CY 3 CY 6 CY
$6.55 $13.12 $19.65 $49.55 $132.85 $246.67 $756.83
Residential Combined
Fixed Collection Cost Analysis MSW Recycling Organics Commercial Total Annual Fixed Costs $258,793 $93,579 $36,781 $6,696 Number of Accounts 3,843 3,843 3,843 12
Fixed Cost per Year $67.34 $24.35 $9.57 $558.00
Fixed Cost per Month $5.61 $2.03 $0.80 $46.50
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TIPPING FEES AT THE SHOREWAY ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
All material is collected by Recology or direct-hauled to Rethink Waste’s SEC for further processing, transfer, and disposal. The projected costs are based on anticipated volume of materials delivered to the facility at the Rethink Waste-approved rates (see Figure 2-7).
The cost per gallon or cubic yard of service is calculated by dividing the projected disposal costs by the number of subscribed gallons or cubic yards. Figure 4-7 and Figure 4-8 summarize the cost per month to dispose of the collected materials at the Shoreway Environmental Center (on a per pull per week basis). The per-gallon tip fee calculated for each material stream is multiplied by the size of the container to determine the overall disposal/processing cost per month by container size.
Figure 4-7. Cart and Bin Tipping Fees – Residential
Figure 4-8. Cart and Bin Tipping Fees – Commercial
COST OF SERVICE
Figure 4-9A and 4-11B summarize the cost to service residential carts, commercial carts, and commercial bins collected one time per week (first container) based on the calculations in Figure 4-4A to Figure 4-8 above. All customers receive at least weekly collection of all three container types: solid waste, recycling, and organics. These figures are for illustrative Residential
Disposal/Processing Cost Analysis MSW Recycling Organics Total Annual Disposal/Processing Costs $491,751 $0 $1,099,315 Total Volume (gallons) 184,616 245,952 451,488
Tip Fees/Gallon/Year $2.66 $0.00 $2.43
Tip Fees/Gallon/Month $0.22 $0.00 $0.20
Disposal/Processing Cost per Month by Container Size
20 Gallons $4.44 N/A N/A
32 Gallons $7.10 N/A N/A
64 Gallons $14.21 $0.00 N/A
96 Gallons $21.31 N/A $19.48
Commercial
Disposal/Processing Cost Analysis MSW Organics
Total Annual Disposal/Processing Costs $29,591 $11,971
Total Volume (gallons) 10,302 2,478
Tip Fees/Gallon/Year $2.87 $4.83
Tip Fees/Gallon/Month $0.24 $0.40
Disposal/Processing Cost per Month by Container Size
32 Gallons $7.66 $12.88
64 Gallons $15.32 $25.77
96 Gallons $22.98 $38.65
1 CY $48.35 $81.32
2 CY $96.70 $162.64
3 CY $145.05 $243.96
6 CY $290.11 $487.93
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purposes to document the methodology for calculating the cost-of-service by customer class and container type.
Figure 4-9A. Residential Solid Waste Cost of Service
(Service 1/ Week)
Figure 4-9B. Residential Recycling Cost of Service
(Service 1/Week)
Figure 4-9C. Residential Organics Cost of Service
(Service 1/Week)
Figure 4.10A: Commercial Solid Waste Carts Cost of Service (Service 1x per Week, First Container)
Figure 4.10B: Commercial Solid Waste Bins Cost of Service (Service 1/ Week, First Container)
Residential Cost of Service 20 gallons 32 Gallons 64 Gallons 96 Gallons Variable $4.24 $7.90 $22.54 $43.83
Fixed $5.62 $5.62 $5.62 $5.62
Disposal/Processing $4.44 $7.10 $14.21 $21.31
Cost per Month $14.30 $20.62 $42.36 $70.76
Residential Cost of Service 64 gallons
Variable $16.29
Fixed $2.03
Disposal/Processing $0.00
Cost per Month $18.32
Residential Cost of Service 96 gallons
Variable $15.93
Fixed $0.80
Disposal/Processing $19.48
Cost per Month $36.20
Commercial MSW COS 32 Gallons 64 Gallons 96 Gallons
1st container collection
Variable $6.55 $13.12 $19.65
Fixed $46.50 $46.50 $46.50
Disposal/Processing $7.66 $15.32 $22.98
Cost per Month $60.71 $74.94 $89.13
Commercial MSW COS 1 CY 2 CY 3 CY 6 CY
1st container collection
Variable $49.55 $132.85 $246.67 $756.83
Fixed $46.50 $46.50 $46.50 $46.50
Disposal/Processing $48.35 $96.70 $145.05 $290.11
Cost per Month $144.40 $276.06 $438.22 $1,093.44
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Figure 4.11A: Commercial Organics Carts Cost of Service (Service 1/ Week, First Container)
Figure 4.11B: Commercial Organics Bins Cost of Service
(Service 1/ Week, First Container)
MULTIPLE COLLECTIONS PER WEEK
A rate for service that is provided to the same customer multiple times per week has the following components:
• First Service Day during a week - Base rate, which includes the variable, fixed, and disposal/processing components.
• Next Service Day during a week – Variable rate component, disposal/processing rate component, plus a frequency surcharge. The frequency surcharge is the additional cost (based on the driver’s hourly compensation and additional route time) for the driver to return to the area another day of the week, which results in less efficient routes.
Figure 4-12 is an example of the calculation of the COS rate for a 1-yard bin of solid waste serviced 2 times per week. The fixed portion is removed for each additional service day of service.
Figure 4-12. Example of Monthly Rate Calculation
(1 Cubic Yard Bin Collected 2/Week)
This calculation was done for each container type (carts and bins) and size.
Commercial Organics COS 32 Gallons 64 Gallons 96 Gallons 1st container collection
Variable $7.56 $20.28 $37.65
Fixed $46.50 $46.50 $46.50
Disposal/Processing $12.88 $25.76 $38.65
Cost per Month $66.95 $92.54 $122.80
Commercial Organics COS 1 CY 2 CY 3 CY 6 CY
1st container collection
Variable $49.55 $132.85 $246.67 $756.83
Fixed $46.50 $46.50 $46.50 $46.50
Disposal/Processing $81.32 $162.64 $243.96 $487.92
Cost per Month $177.37 $342.00 $537.13 $1,291.26
Service Amount
1st container collection (1st pick-up) $144.40
2nd pick-up
Variable $49.55
Disposal/Processing $48.35
Frequency Surcharge $22.99
$120.89
Total Bill - 1 CY Bin, Collected 2x per week $265.29
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ADDITIONAL SOLID WASTE CONTAINERS
There are occasions, due to service demands, where a customer may have more than one solid waste container. A rate for the additional container includes the disposal component, the variable component, and only a portion of the fixed container component. The rate for an additional container at a customer’s property should not include those fixed costs which they have already paid for in the first container. The only portion of fixed costs that are included in the rate for an additional container is the cost of the container (i.e., depreciation) itself. Figure 4-13 shows a calculation for an additional 96-gallon commercial solid waste cart serviced one time per week of $43.15 per month, which is lower than the cost of the first container ($89.13 per month, see Figure 4-13).
Figure 4-13. Calculation of Monthly Rate – Multiple Containers (Commercial Customer Subscribed to Two 96-gallon Solid Waste Containers) This calculation was done for each container type (carts and bins) and size.
TOTAL COST/RATE BY CUSTOMER CLASS AND SERVICE LEVEL - 1ST
CONTAINER
Residential
Figure 4-14 summarizes the monthly costs for Recology to provide weekly solid waste, recyclable material, and organics collection, processing, and disposal services using the COS values determined in Figure 4-9A, Figure 4-9B, and Figure 4-9C. The costs are broken down by container type for illustrative purposes; however, customers are billed the total monthly rate based on the size of their solid waste container. Figure 4-14 also reflects the fact that a portion of each customer’s rate for their first container is billed annually on the tax roll ($402.24 per year = $33.52 per month). The remaining costs are included in the monthly rate billed quarterly by Recology.
Figure 4-14. Residential Cost-of-Service (2026) and Monthly Rates Service Amount
1st container collection $89.13
2nd container collection
Variable $19.65
Disposal/Processing $22.98
Depreciation of additional container $0.52
$43.15
Toal Bill - 2 96-gallon carts, collected 1x per week $132.28 Size of Residential Solid Waste Cart 20 gallons 32 Gallons 64 Gallons 96 Gallons Solid Waste $14.30 $20.62 $42.36 $70.76
Recycling $18.32 $18.32 $18.32 $18.32
Organics $36.20 $36.20 $36.20 $36.20
Total $68.82 $75.15 $96.89 $125.28
(Less) Tax Roll Billing ($33.52) ($33.52) ($33.52) ($33.52) Monthly Rate billed by Recology $35.30 $41.63 $63.37 $91.76 -335-
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Commercial
Figure 4-15 summarizes the monthly costs for Recology to provide solid waste and recyclable material collection services, which is billed quarterly by Recology and based on each commercial customer’s specific number of solid waste containers, the size of container, and frequency of collection. Recycling collection is provided at no additional charge. The cost to provide recycling services is included in the solid waste rates. Recology bills customers on a monthly basis.
Figure 4-15. Commercial Solid Waste Cost-of-Service (2026) and Monthly Rates Figure 4-16 summarizes the monthly costs for Recology to provide organics collection services, which are billed quarterly by Recology and based on each commercial customer’s specific number of containers, the size of container, and frequency of collection. Rates reflect the removal of the existing commercial organics discount.
Container Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week 32 Gallons $60.71 $88.71 $116.71 $144.72 $172.72 $200.72 64 Gallons $74.94 $117.17 $159.40 $201.63 $243.86 $286.08 96 Gallons $89.13 $145.55 $201.98 $258.40 $314.82 $371.25 1 CY $144.40 $265.29 $386.18 $507.07 $627.95 $748.84
2 CY $276.06 $528.60 $781.14 $1,033.68 $1,286.23 $1,538.77 3 CY $438.22 $852.93 $1,267.64 $1,682.35 $2,097.05 $2,511.76 6 CY $1,093.44 $2,163.37 $3,233.29 $4,303.22 $5,373.14 $6,443.07 Additional Container
32 Gallons $14.59 $42.60 $70.60 $98.60 $126.60 $154.60
64 Gallons $28.89 $71.12 $113.35 $155.58 $197.81 $240.03 96 Gallons $43.15 $99.57 $155.99 $212.42 $268.84 $325.26 1 CY $102.49 $223.37 $344.26 $465.15 $586.04 $706.93
2 CY $234.81 $487.35 $739.89 $992.43 $1,244.98 $1,497.52 3 CY $397.56 $812.26 $1,226.97 $1,641.68 $2,056.39 $2,471.09 6 CY $1,055.27 $2,125.20 $3,195.12 $4,265.05 $5,334.98 $6,404.90 Frequency
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Figure 4-16. Commercial Organics Cost-of-Service (2026) and Monthly Rates Container Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week 32 Gallons $65.93 $99.16 $132.38 $165.61 $198.83 $232.06 64 Gallons $85.38 $138.06 $190.73 $243.41 $296.08 $348.76 96 Gallons $104.80 $176.89 $248.98 $321.08 $393.17 $465.26 1 CY $177.37 $331.23 $485.09 $638.95 $792.80 $946.66
2 CY $342.00 $660.48 $978.96 $1,297.44 $1,615.92 $1,934.41 3 CY $537.13 $1,050.75 $1,564.37 $2,077.98 $2,591.60 $3,105.22 6 CY $1,291.26 $2,559.00 $3,826.75 $5,094.49 $6,362.24 $7,629.99 Additional Container
32 Gallons $19.82 $53.04 $86.27 $119.49 $152.72 $185.94 64 Gallons $39.33 $92.01 $144.68 $197.36 $250.04 $302.71 96 Gallons $58.82 $130.91 $203.00 $275.09 $347.19 $419.28 1 CY $135.46 $289.31 $443.17 $597.03 $750.89 $904.74
2 CY $300.75 $619.23 $937.71 $1,256.19 $1,574.67 $1,893.16 3 CY $496.47 $1,010.08 $1,523.70 $2,037.32 $2,550.94 $3,064.55 6 CY $1,253.09 $2,520.84 $3,788.58 $5,056.33 $6,324.07 $7,591.82 Frequency
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Section 5. Proposed Rates
This section lists all proposed residential and commercial rates for FY 2026-2030, resulting from this COS study.
Figure 5-1 summarizes the proposed monthly rates for residential customers based on applying the revenue increases to the cost of service rates calculated in Section 4. Annual revenue increases are shown in Figure 2-8.
Figure 5-1. Current and Proposed Monthly Residential Rates Figure 5-2 through Figure 5-6 summarize the proposed five-year schedule of commercial solid waste monthly rates. Rates for 2027-2030 were calculated by applying revenue increases to the 2026 rates calculated in Figure 4-16.
Figure 5-2. Commercial Solid Waste and Recycling Cost-of-Service (2026) and Monthly Rates
Residential Current 2026 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
Monthly Rates Rates Rates Change Rates Rates Rates Rates Annual % Increase: varies 6.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0%
Flat fee per Parcel $31.68 $33.52 $1.84 $35.53 $37.31 $39.18 $41.14 Service Level
20-Gallon Cart $31.95 $35.30 $3.35 $37.42 $39.29 $41.25 $43.31 32-Gallon Cart $39.01 $41.62 $2.61 $44.12 $46.33 $48.65 $51.08 64-Gallon Cart $60.61 $63.36 $2.75 $67.17 $70.53 $74.06 $77.76 96-Gallon Cart $88.43 $91.76 $3.33 $97.26 $102.12 $107.23 $112.59 Extra Organics Cart $27.04 $27.04 $0.00 $27.04 $27.04 $27.04 $27.04 PROPOSED Monthly Commercial Solid Waste Rates (eff. 1/1/2026) Container Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week 32 Gallons $60.71 $88.71 $116.71 $144.72 $172.72 $200.72 64 Gallons $74.94 $117.17 $159.40 $201.63 $243.86 $286.08 96 Gallons $89.13 $145.55 $201.98 $258.40 $314.82 $371.25 1 CY $144.40 $265.29 $386.18 $507.07 $627.95 $748.84
2 CY $276.06 $528.60 $781.14 $1,033.68 $1,286.23 $1,538.77 3 CY $438.22 $852.93 $1,267.64 $1,682.35 $2,097.05 $2,511.76 6 CY $1,093.44 $2,163.37 $3,233.29 $4,303.22 $5,373.14 $6,443.07 Additional Container
32 Gallons $14.59 $42.60 $70.60 $98.60 $126.60 $154.60
64 Gallons $28.89 $71.12 $113.35 $155.58 $197.81 $240.03 96 Gallons $43.15 $99.57 $155.99 $212.42 $268.84 $325.26 1 CY $102.49 $223.37 $344.26 $465.15 $586.04 $706.93
2 CY $234.81 $487.35 $739.89 $992.43 $1,244.98 $1,497.52 3 CY $397.56 $812.26 $1,226.97 $1,641.68 $2,056.39 $2,471.09 6 CY $1,055.27 $2,125.20 $3,195.12 $4,265.05 $5,334.98 $6,404.90 Frequency
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Figure 5-3. Commercial Solid Waste and Recycling Cost-of-Service (2027) and Monthly Rates
Figure 5-4. Commercial Solid Waste and Recycling Cost-of-Service (2028) and Monthly Rates
PROPOSED Monthly Commercial Solid Waste Rates (eff. 1/1/2027) Container Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week 32 Gallons $64.35 $94.03 $123.72 $153.40 $183.08 $212.76 64 Gallons $79.43 $124.20 $168.96 $213.72 $258.49 $303.25 96 Gallons $94.48 $154.29 $214.10 $273.91 $333.71 $393.52 1 CY $153.07 $281.21 $409.35 $537.49 $665.63 $793.77
2 CY $292.62 $560.31 $828.01 $1,095.70 $1,363.40 $1,631.09 3 CY $464.52 $904.11 $1,343.70 $1,783.29 $2,222.88 $2,662.47 6 CY $1,159.05 $2,293.17 $3,427.29 $4,561.41 $5,695.53 $6,829.65 Additional Container
32 Gallons $15.47 $45.15 $74.83 $104.52 $134.20 $163.88 64 Gallons $30.62 $75.38 $120.15 $164.91 $209.67 $254.44 96 Gallons $45.74 $105.55 $165.35 $225.16 $284.97 $344.78 1 CY $108.64 $236.78 $364.92 $493.06 $621.20 $749.34
2 CY $248.90 $516.59 $784.28 $1,051.98 $1,319.67 $1,587.37 3 CY $421.41 $861.00 $1,300.59 $1,740.18 $2,179.77 $2,619.36 6 CY $1,118.59 $2,252.71 $3,386.83 $4,520.95 $5,655.07 $6,789.19 Frequency
PROPOSED Monthly Commercial Solid Waste Rates (eff. 1/1/2028) Container Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week 32 Gallons $67.57 $98.73 $129.91 $161.07 $192.23 $223.40 64 Gallons $83.40 $130.41 $177.41 $224.41 $271.41 $318.41 96 Gallons $99.20 $162.00 $224.81 $287.61 $350.40 $413.20 1 CY $160.72 $295.27 $429.82 $564.36 $698.91 $833.46
2 CY $307.25 $588.33 $869.41 $1,150.49 $1,431.57 $1,712.64 3 CY $487.75 $949.32 $1,410.89 $1,872.45 $2,334.02 $2,795.59 6 CY $1,217.00 $2,407.83 $3,598.65 $4,789.48 $5,980.31 $7,171.13 Additional Container
32 Gallons $16.24 $47.41 $78.57 $109.75 $140.91 $172.07 64 Gallons $32.15 $79.15 $126.16 $173.16 $220.15 $267.16 96 Gallons $48.03 $110.83 $173.62 $236.42 $299.22 $362.02 1 CY $114.07 $248.62 $383.17 $517.71 $652.26 $786.81
2 CY $261.35 $542.42 $823.49 $1,104.58 $1,385.65 $1,666.74 3 CY $442.48 $904.05 $1,365.62 $1,827.19 $2,288.76 $2,750.33 6 CY $1,174.52 $2,365.35 $3,556.17 $4,747.00 $5,937.82 $7,128.65 Frequency
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2026 Solid Waste Rate Study
Section 5. Proposed Rates
HF&H Consultants, LLC | July 31, 2025 | Page 31 of 34
Figure 5-5. Commercial Solid Waste and Recycling Cost-of-Service (2029) and Monthly Rates
Figure 5-6. Commercial Solid Waste and Recycling Cost-of-Service (2030) and Monthly Rates
Figure 5-7 through Figure 5-11 summarize the proposed five-year schedule of commercial solid waste monthly rates. Rates for 2027-2030 were calculated by applying revenue increases to the 2026 rates calculated in Figure 4-17.
PROPOSED Monthly Commercial Solid Waste Rates (eff. 1/1/2029) Container Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week 32 Gallons $70.95 $103.67 $136.41 $169.12 $201.84 $234.57 64 Gallons $87.57 $136.93 $186.28 $235.63 $284.98 $334.33 96 Gallons $104.16 $170.10 $236.05 $301.99 $367.92 $433.86 1 CY $168.76 $310.03 $451.31 $592.58 $733.86 $875.13
2 CY $322.61 $617.75 $912.88 $1,208.01 $1,503.15 $1,798.27 3 CY $512.14 $996.79 $1,481.43 $1,966.07 $2,450.72 $2,935.37 6 CY $1,277.85 $2,528.22 $3,778.58 $5,028.95 $6,279.33 $7,529.69 Additional Container
32 Gallons $17.05 $49.78 $82.50 $115.24 $147.96 $180.67 64 Gallons $33.76 $83.11 $132.47 $181.82 $231.16 $280.52 96 Gallons $50.43 $116.37 $182.30 $248.24 $314.18 $380.12 1 CY $119.77 $261.05 $402.33 $543.60 $684.87 $826.15
2 CY $274.42 $569.54 $864.66 $1,159.81 $1,454.93 $1,750.08 3 CY $464.60 $949.25 $1,433.90 $1,918.55 $2,403.20 $2,887.85 6 CY $1,233.25 $2,483.62 $3,733.98 $4,984.35 $6,234.71 $7,485.08 Frequency
PROPOSED Monthly Commercial Solid Waste Rates (eff. 1/1/2030) Container Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week 32 Gallons $74.50 $108.85 $143.23 $177.58 $211.93 $246.30 64 Gallons $91.95 $143.78 $195.59 $247.41 $299.23 $351.05 96 Gallons $109.37 $178.61 $247.85 $317.09 $386.32 $455.55 1 CY $177.20 $325.53 $473.88 $622.21 $770.55 $918.89
2 CY $338.74 $648.64 $958.52 $1,268.41 $1,578.31 $1,888.18 3 CY $537.75 $1,046.63 $1,555.50 $2,064.37 $2,573.26 $3,082.14 6 CY $1,341.74 $2,654.63 $3,967.51 $5,280.40 $6,593.30 $7,906.17 Additional Container
32 Gallons $17.90 $52.27 $86.63 $121.00 $155.36 $189.70 64 Gallons $35.45 $87.27 $139.09 $190.91 $242.72 $294.55 96 Gallons $52.95 $122.19 $191.42 $260.65 $329.89 $399.13 1 CY $125.76 $274.10 $422.45 $570.78 $719.11 $867.46
2 CY $288.14 $598.02 $907.89 $1,217.80 $1,527.68 $1,837.58 3 CY $487.83 $996.71 $1,505.60 $2,014.48 $2,523.36 $3,032.24 6 CY $1,294.91 $2,607.80 $3,920.68 $5,233.57 $6,546.45 $7,859.33 Frequency
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2026 Solid Waste Rate Study
Section 5. Proposed Rates
HF&H Consultants, LLC | July 31, 2025 | Page 32 of 34
Figure 5-7. Commercial Organics Cost-of-Service (2026) and Monthly Rates Figure 5-8. Commercial Organics Cost-of-Service (2027) and Monthly Rates COS Monthly Commercial Organics Rates (eff. 1/1/2026)
Container Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week 32 Gallons $65.93 $99.16 $132.38 $165.61 $198.83 $232.06 64 Gallons $85.38 $138.06 $190.73 $243.41 $296.08 $348.76 96 Gallons $104.80 $176.89 $248.98 $321.08 $393.17 $465.26 1 CY $177.37 $331.23 $485.09 $638.95 $792.80 $946.66
2 CY $342.00 $660.48 $978.96 $1,297.44 $1,615.92 $1,934.41 3 CY $537.13 $1,050.75 $1,564.37 $2,077.98 $2,591.60 $3,105.22 6 CY $1,291.26 $2,559.00 $3,826.75 $5,094.49 $6,362.24 $7,629.99 Additional Container
32 Gallons $19.82 $53.04 $86.27 $119.49 $152.72 $185.94 64 Gallons $39.33 $92.01 $144.68 $197.36 $250.04 $302.71 96 Gallons $58.82 $130.91 $203.00 $275.09 $347.19 $419.28 1 CY $135.46 $289.31 $443.17 $597.03 $750.89 $904.74
2 CY $300.75 $619.23 $937.71 $1,256.19 $1,574.67 $1,893.16 3 CY $496.47 $1,010.08 $1,523.70 $2,037.32 $2,550.94 $3,064.55 6 CY $1,253.09 $2,520.84 $3,788.58 $5,056.33 $6,324.07 $7,591.82 Frequency
COS Monthly Commercial Organics Rates (eff. 1/1/2027)
Container Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week 32 Gallons $69.89 $105.11 $140.33 $175.54 $210.76 $245.98 64 Gallons $90.51 $146.34 $202.18 $258.01 $313.85 $369.69 96 Gallons $111.09 $187.51 $263.92 $340.34 $416.76 $493.18 1 CY $188.01 $351.10 $514.19 $677.28 $840.37 $1,003.46
2 CY $362.52 $700.11 $1,037.70 $1,375.29 $1,712.88 $2,050.47 3 CY $569.36 $1,113.79 $1,658.23 $2,202.66 $2,747.10 $3,291.53 6 CY $1,368.74 $2,712.55 $4,056.35 $5,400.16 $6,743.97 $8,087.78 Additional Container
32 Gallons $21.01 $56.22 $91.44 $126.66 $161.88 $197.10 64 Gallons $41.69 $97.53 $153.37 $209.20 $265.04 $320.87 96 Gallons $62.35 $138.76 $215.18 $291.60 $368.02 $444.43 1 CY $143.58 $306.67 $469.76 $632.85 $795.94 $959.03
2 CY $318.79 $656.38 $993.97 $1,331.56 $1,669.16 $2,006.75 3 CY $526.25 $1,070.69 $1,615.12 $2,159.56 $2,703.99 $3,248.43 6 CY $1,328.28 $2,672.09 $4,015.90 $5,359.71 $6,703.52 $8,047.33 Frequency
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2026 Solid Waste Rate Study
Section 5. Proposed Rates
HF&H Consultants, LLC | July 31, 2025 | Page 33 of 34
Figure 5-9. Commercial Organics Cost-of-Service (2028) and Monthly Rates Figure 5-10. Commercial Organics Cost-of-Service (2029) and Monthly Rates COS Monthly Commercial Organics Rates (eff. 1/1/2028)
Container Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week 32 Gallons $73.38 $110.37 $147.35 $184.32 $221.30 $258.28 64 Gallons $95.04 $153.66 $212.29 $270.91 $329.54 $388.17 96 Gallons $116.64 $196.89 $277.12 $357.36 $437.60 $517.84 1 CY $197.41 $368.66 $539.90 $711.14 $882.39 $1,053.63
2 CY $380.65 $735.12 $1,089.59 $1,444.05 $1,798.52 $2,152.99 3 CY $597.83 $1,169.48 $1,741.14 $2,312.79 $2,884.46 $3,456.11 6 CY $1,437.18 $2,848.18 $4,259.17 $5,670.17 $7,081.17 $8,492.17 Additional Container
32 Gallons $22.06 $59.03 $96.01 $132.99 $169.97 $206.96 64 Gallons $43.77 $102.41 $161.04 $219.66 $278.29 $336.91 96 Gallons $65.47 $145.70 $225.94 $306.18 $386.42 $466.65 1 CY $150.76 $322.00 $493.25 $664.49 $835.74 $1,006.98
2 CY $334.73 $689.20 $1,043.67 $1,398.14 $1,752.62 $2,107.09 3 CY $552.56 $1,124.22 $1,695.88 $2,267.54 $2,839.19 $3,410.85 6 CY $1,394.69 $2,805.69 $4,216.70 $5,627.70 $7,038.70 $8,449.70 Frequency
COS Monthly Commercial Organics Rates (eff. 1/1/2029)
Container Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week 32 Gallons $77.05 $115.89 $154.72 $193.54 $232.37 $271.19 64 Gallons $99.79 $161.34 $222.90 $284.46 $346.02 $407.58 96 Gallons $122.47 $206.73 $290.98 $375.23 $459.48 $543.73 1 CY $207.28 $387.09 $566.90 $746.70 $926.51 $1,106.31
2 CY $399.68 $771.88 $1,144.07 $1,516.25 $1,888.45 $2,260.64 3 CY $627.72 $1,227.95 $1,828.20 $2,428.43 $3,028.68 $3,628.92 6 CY $1,509.04 $2,990.59 $4,472.13 $5,953.68 $7,435.23 $8,916.78 Additional Container
32 Gallons $23.16 $61.98 $100.81 $139.64 $178.47 $217.31 64 Gallons $45.96 $107.53 $169.09 $230.64 $292.20 $353.76 96 Gallons $68.74 $152.99 $237.24 $321.49 $405.74 $489.98 1 CY $158.30 $338.10 $517.91 $697.71 $877.53 $1,057.33
2 CY $351.47 $723.66 $1,095.85 $1,468.05 $1,840.25 $2,212.44 3 CY $580.19 $1,180.43 $1,780.67 $2,380.92 $2,981.15 $3,581.39 6 CY $1,464.42 $2,945.97 $4,427.54 $5,909.09 $7,390.64 $8,872.19 Frequency
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2026 Solid Waste Rate Study
Section 5. Proposed Rates
HF&H Consultants, LLC | July 31, 2025 | Page 34 of 34
Figure 5-11. Commercial Organics Cost-of-Service (2030) and Monthly Rates COS Monthly Commercial Organics Rates (eff. 1/1/2030)
Container Size 1/ week 2/ week 3/ week 4/ week 5/ week 6/ week 32 Gallons $80.90 $121.68 $162.46 $203.22 $243.99 $284.75 64 Gallons $104.78 $169.41 $234.05 $298.68 $363.32 $427.96 96 Gallons $128.59 $217.07 $305.53 $393.99 $482.45 $570.92 1 CY $217.64 $406.44 $595.25 $784.04 $972.84 $1,161.63
2 CY $419.66 $810.47 $1,201.27 $1,592.06 $1,982.87 $2,373.67 3 CY $659.11 $1,289.35 $1,919.61 $2,549.85 $3,180.11 $3,810.37 6 CY $1,584.49 $3,140.12 $4,695.74 $6,251.36 $7,806.99 $9,362.62 Additional Container
32 Gallons $24.32 $65.08 $105.85 $146.62 $187.39 $228.18 64 Gallons $48.26 $112.91 $177.54 $242.17 $306.81 $371.45 96 Gallons $72.18 $160.64 $249.10 $337.56 $426.03 $514.48 1 CY $166.22 $355.01 $543.81 $732.60 $921.41 $1,110.20
2 CY $369.04 $759.84 $1,150.64 $1,541.45 $1,932.26 $2,323.06 3 CY $609.20 $1,239.45 $1,869.70 $2,499.97 $3,130.21 $3,760.46 6 CY $1,537.64 $3,093.27 $4,648.92 $6,204.54 $7,760.17 $9,315.80 Frequency
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TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH
San Mateo County
1600 Floribunda Avenue
Hillsborough, CA 94010
11 OLD BUSINESS
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
NOVEMBER 10, 2025
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
ITEM SUBJECT: Resolution Adopting the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Under CEQA Guideline 15306
SUMMARY: The Town of Hillsborough ("Town") currently does not have a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (BPMP). While the Town has extensive open space, it lacks public recreational access such as walking paths and bicycle facilities due to steep terrain and deed restrictions limiting public use of Town-owned land. Over the past year, the Town worked with Alta Planning + Design, Inc. to develop the Town’s first BPMP, which identifies network gaps, prioritizes safety-focused improvements, and supports grant eligibility for future projects. This BPMP provides a framework to improve active mobility, safety, and connectivity throughout the community while supporting policies in the Town’s General Plan Update and County and regional transportation plans.
The BPMP was developed under a multi-phased contract previously authorized by the City Council. Phase 1 established baseline conditions and community needs, while Phase 2 developed conceptual improvement, program, and policy recommendations, implementation priorities, and preliminary funding strategies. The Plan identifies projects and network enhancements aimed at improving safety, reducing gaps, and encouraging walking and bicycling for recreation, health, and local access.
Public outreach included two community workshops, online surveys and engagement, and stakeholder coordination to gather input that informed the draft recommendation. The Final Draft Plan was posted on the Current Project page on the Town website and made available for public review for approximately four weeks preceding this City Council meeting, allowing the opportunity for review and feedback.
Adoption of the BPMP does not authorize construction of any improvements. Future projects and programs, depending on their complexity, may require additional study, design, or environmental review, and all will be subject to the Town’s purchasing policies and procedures. Staff recommends adoption of the BPMP to enable the Town to move forward with project development and pursue grant funding opportunities.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this project was previously approved in the FY 2023-24 Bicycle and Pedestrian Pathway budget (CIP #412) in the amount of $179,605.00. The Town also secured $100,000.00 in Transportation Development Act (TDA) grant funding through the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, used to reimburse a portion of the previously approved project amount. Additionally, the FY 2025-26 budget includes an ongoing annual allocation of $50,000.00 to support continued bicycle and pedestrian pathway planning and improvements. -345-
Agenda Staff Report - Hillsborough City Council
November 10, 2025
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: This project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per Section 15306 of the California Code of Regulations.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
PREPARED BY: Natalie Gribben, Deputy Director of Public Works RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the resolution adopting the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan under CEQA Guideline 15306.
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RESOLUTION NO. 25-
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH
ADOPTING THE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN UNDER CEQA GUIDELINE SECTION 15306
WHEREAS, the Town of Hillsborough (“Town”) maintains the Town’s roadway and traffic system; and
WHEREAS, the Town retained Alta Planning + Design, Inc. to assist in developing the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (“BPMP”) to be used as a guidance document for the Town to find opportunities for new bicycle and pedestrian friendly pathways; and
WHEREAS, the BPMP was developed through a multi-phased approach previously authorized by the City Council, including Phase 1 to assess existing conditions and community needs, and Phase 2 to develop conceptual improvements, policies, implementation priorities, and preliminary funding strategies; and
WHEREAS, public outreach for the BPMP included two community workshops, online surveys and engagement, and stakeholder coordination to gather input that informed the draft recommendations; and
WHEREAS, adoption of the BPMP does not authorize construction of any improvements and all potential future projects will need to be authorized, studied, and will be subject to future environmental review and procurement under the Town’s purchasing policies and procedures; and WHEREAS, funding for the BPMP was previously approved in the FY 2023-24 Bicycle and Pedestrian Pathway budget (CIP #412) in the amount of $179,605.00, with $100,000.00 reimbursed through Transportation Development Act (TDA) grant funds, and the FY 2025-26 budget includes an ongoing annual allocation of $50,000.00 to support continued bicycle and pedestrian pathway planning and improvements.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the Town of Hillsborough hereby adopts the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan under CEQA Guideline Section 15306.
______________________________________
Mayor of the Town of Hillsborough
Attest: City Clerk
This resolution was adopted by the City Council of the Town of Hillsborough at its regular meeting held on the 10th day of November 2025, by the following vote of the members thereof:
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ATTACHMENT 1
2 AYES: Councilmembers
NOES: Councilmembers
ABSENT: Councilmembers
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers
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ATTACHMENT 2
The following documents are available on the Town’s website provided:
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (Final Draft October 2025) https://www.hillsborough.net/168/Current-Town-Projects
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