On July 28 the Public Service Committee reviewed a proposed policy requiring separate water and sewer services for detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) or conversions such as garages-to-units.

Staff said the policy aims to avoid service interruptions when the main residence is shut down or has internal plumbing issues. Under the proposal, new ADUs would be required to run separate services from the street rather than connecting to an existing home’s internal service. Committee members said the policy would help prevent problems if owners later condominiumize or otherwise separate units.

Committee staff said the proposal would function as an engineering specification administered by the Department of Public Works rather than as a city council–codified ordinance; the policy would allow ADU applicants to appeal to the Public Service Committee for case-by-case exceptions. No vote to codify the policy was recorded at the meeting; staff presented the draft and sought the committee’s feedback.

Committee members noted this approach adds design and installation work for applicants but said the requirement could avoid future infrastructure conflicts and liabilities if service lines serve more than one independently occupied unit.