Chino Hills, CA Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)
Key Facts
- Repair deadline
- 48 hours after City notification
- Applies
- Only during declared Stage II-IV alert
- Governing section
- CHMC § 13.08.070(G)
- Penalty
- Infraction, up to $500 fine
- Enforcement tool
- Meter shutoff (§ 13.08.100(F))
Summary
Once Chino Hills has declared a water conservation alert under CHMC Chapter 13.08, letting water leak on your property becomes a prohibited water-waste practice, and § 13.08.070(G) gives owners a hard deadline: repair any leak within 48 hours of the City's notification or face enforcement.
13.08.070 - Stage II prohibitions and restrictions-Moderate water conservation alert. The following restrictions and exceptions shall be applicable during a moderate water conservation alert as declared by the City Council... G. Permitting water to leak on any premises. Such leak shall be repaired in a timely manner after notification by the City, but in no case in excess of forty-eight (48) hours after notification;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 61).
Full Breakdown
090(A)). ' The clock starts when the City notifies the property owner or water customer, not when the leak begins, so a leak that goes unnoticed by the City does not by itself violate the section. 100: any water customer who knowingly permits a prohibited use is guilty of an infraction, and the City Manager or designee can enforce compliance directly by placing a flow-restricting device on the service, locking or removing the meter, or shutting off water altogether, with the customer responsible for all associated costs. 110.
Violations & Fines
A leak not repaired within 48 hours of City notification is an infraction under § 13.08.100, carrying escalating fines under § 1.36.020: $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year, $500 for a third. The City Attorney or a Deputy District Attorney may pursue repeat violations as misdemeanors under Water Code § 377, and the City Manager may respond directly by restricting flow, locking or removing the meter, or shutting off water service, billing the customer for all costs incurred.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Chino Hills always require leaks to be fixed within 48 hours?
When does the 48-hour period start?
What happens if I don't fix a leak in time?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chino Hills
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