The downtown commercial district
The Town of Los Gatos designated the Downtown Commercial Historic District under ordinance 1843. It covers an area along North Santa Cruz Avenue and West Main Street, and the Town describes it as the town's nineteenth-century commercial center.
The Town lists Victorian, Queen Anne, Richardsonian Romanesque and Mission Revival styles in the district, with some Art Deco influence. This page is about the commercial buildings. The Town's residential historic districts, such as Almond Grove and the Broadway Historic District, are covered on their own pages.
Why plumbing in an older commercial building needs a plan
Buildings in a historic district carry two sets of questions: the plumbing itself, and what the Town allows on the outside. The Town's approval process applies to properties in a historic district, and exterior changes go to the Historic Preservation Committee. The Town's page says this includes interior work that affects the exterior.
The same page says minor repairs that replace materials in kind need only a building permit. For a rooftop vent, a wall penetration or any change visible from the street, ask the Town before work starts.
Running a business or managing a building downtown? Describe the problem and call (855) 575-2890.
Call (855) 575-2890Who decides what on a downtown plumbing job
| Question | Who to ask | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Does this repair need a permit? | Town of Los Gatos Building Division | The Town accepts building permit applications through its online portal only |
| Does the change show from outside? | Town planning and the Historic Preservation Committee | Exterior changes in a historic district go to the committee |
| Is a grease device required? | West Valley Sanitation District | Food service connected to the district sewer needs an approved grease control device |
| Who pays, tenant or owner? | Your lease | Responsibility for building plumbing is set by the lease, not by this page |
General guidance only. Confirm requirements with each agency before you commit to work.
Grease, drains and the sewer district
West Valley Sanitation District's code requires food service establishments connected to the district sewer to have a grease control device approved by the district manager. Grease traps may not have chemical or bacteria injection ports.
The district also says to flush only toilet paper and human waste and to keep so-called flushable wipes out of the toilet, a rule that matters in any busy restroom. Repeated slow drains in a kitchen or restroom line call for hydro jetting or drain cleaning, with a camera look if the problem returns.
Where the lowest fixture floor sits less than one foot above the nearest upstream manhole, the district code requires an owner-funded backflow protective device. Ask the district whether it applies to your building.
Water heaters and restrooms
The Town says replacing a water heater with the same type in the same location needs a Town permit that can be requested online. A change of type or location needs a regular building permit application.
For a shop, office or restaurant, plan a water heater replacement for a time when the business can work without hot water. A wet ceiling or floor with no obvious source is a case for leak detection before anyone opens a wall.
Before the plumber arrives
If a pipe or drain fails during business hours, these steps limit the damage.
- Close the main water shutoff if water is flowing, and tell the property manager.
- For a sewage backup, stop using the restrooms and sinks and call West Valley Sanitation District first.
- If you smell gas, get everyone out, call 911 from a safe distance, then call PG&E.
- Protect stock and equipment from the water and photograph the damage.
Where to go from here
The commercial plumbing page explains how we handle business calls in general. The service areas page lists every town we dispatch to.
Downtown Los Gatos plumbing questions
It is a Town-designated historic district under ordinance 1843, along North Santa Cruz Avenue and West Main Street. The Town describes it as the nineteenth-century commercial center of Los Gatos.
West Valley Sanitation District's code requires food service establishments connected to the district sewer to have a grease control device approved by the district manager. Ask the district about your specific building.
The Town says replacing a water heater with the same type in the same location needs a Town permit that can be requested online. A different type or location needs a regular building permit application.
The Town says minor repairs that replace materials in kind need only a building permit. Exterior changes, including interior work that affects the exterior, go to the Historic Preservation Committee.
Call (855) 575-2890 and describe the building and the problem. The dispatcher will explain what service is available for your address before anything is scheduled.