Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged in Oakland under California AB 1750 (Rainwater Capture Act of 2012), which allows rooftop rainwater capture without a water rights permit, and EBMUD offers rebates for cisterns and rain barrels.
California Water Code Section 10574 and AB 1750 explicitly authorize residential and commercial rainwater capture from rooftops without a state water rights permit. Oakland follows this state framework and does not impose a separate permit for rain barrels, typically up to 100 gallons, used for outdoor irrigation. Larger cisterns or systems plumbed into a building's potable or non-potable plumbing must comply with the California Plumbing Code Chapter 15 (non-potable rainwater catchment) and obtain a building and plumbing permit through Oakland's Bureau of Building. Cross-connection controls are required if any connection to domestic water is possible. EBMUD offers a WaterSmart rebate for qualifying rain barrels and cisterns. Captured rainwater is limited to non-potable uses, such as landscape irrigation and toilet flushing in permitted systems.
Unpermitted installation of a plumbed cistern can trigger stop-work orders and require system disconnection. Cross-connections with the EBMUD potable supply are serious violations and may result in service shutoff and backflow-prevention retrofit orders. Simple rain barrels for outdoor irrigation rarely draw enforcement.
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