San Benito County, CA Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)
Key Facts
- Fix deadline
- 3 days after county notice
- Meter access
- Owner must keep meter accessible
- Repair costs
- Reimbursed by owner to county
- Scope
- CSA 31 customers only
Summary
In County Service Area 31, unincorporated San Benito County requires water customers to fix leaks, breaks, or plumbing malfunctions within three days of county notice, or face a water-waste violation.
Obligations to fix leaks, breaks or malfunctions. Excessive use, loss or escape of water through breaks, leaks or other malfunctions in the water user's plumbing or distribution system for any period of time after such escape of water should have reasonably been discovered and corrected, and in no event more than three days after receiving notice from the county is prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-28: current through Ordinance 1078).
Full Breakdown
For water users on County Service Area 31 in unincorporated San Benito County, excessive use, loss, or escape of water through breaks, leaks, or other malfunctions in the customer's own plumbing or distribution system is prohibited once it should reasonably have been discovered, and in no case more than three days after the county gives notice. Owners are also responsible for keeping their water meter accessible for maintenance, repair, and reading, and must reimburse CSA 31 or the county for repair costs the district incurs on the owner's behalf. This duty applies only to CSA 31 customers, not countywide.
Violations & Fines
An unrepaired leak becomes a water-waste violation once discovered or three days after county notice, whichever is sooner, triggering the article's notice-and-cure process, possible flow restriction, civil fines of $100-$500, and service disconnection on repeat offenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast must I fix a leak once the county notifies me?
Who pays if the county has to repair a leak or meter issue?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Benito County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Benito County to another location·View the California water use rules overview
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