Davis, CA Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)
Key Facts
- Repair deadline
- 72 hours after city notice
- Governing section
- DMC § 39.02.045(c)(4)
- Criminal penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine, 30 days jail
- Civil liability cap
- Up to $10,000 per violation
- First-offense residential cap
- $1,000 absent aggravating factors
- Who can cite
- City manager, designee, or code enforcement officer
Summary
Davis property owners must repair any leak, break or malfunction in a water fixture or water-using device connected to city water as soon as they discover it, or within 72 hours of a written city notice. The duty sits inside the city's permanent Shortage Level 1 water-waste restrictions, which apply regardless of the current drought status.
All property owners must fix leaks, breaks or malfunctions in water fixtures or water-using or distributing devices to which city water is connected when they find them, or within seventy-two hours of receiving a notice from the City of Davis pursuant to Davis Municipal Code Section 30.02.040. ... Pursuant to Section 377 of the California Water Code and Section 1.01.110 of the Davis Municipal Code, violation of any of the provisions of this section is a misdemeanor. A person convicted shall be punished by imprisonment in the County Jail for not more than thirty days, or by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or by both.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4915048; v22 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
045 sets permanent water-use restrictions that match Shortage Level 1 (0 to 10% water shortage) of the city's Water Shortage Contingency Plan, so they apply at all times, not only during a declared drought. 040. The city's stated approach is educational first: the public works director maintains standard operating procedures for water-waste complaints that lay out a notification and step-up enforcement process, and staff are directed to work with the resident or property owner before escalating. If outreach fails, enforcement carries real teeth. 110, violating any water-waste provision, including the leak-repair duty, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to thirty days in county jail, a fine of up to one thousand dollars, or both, in addition to any other civil or criminal remedy.
Separately, Water Code Section 377 exposes a violator to civil liability of up to ten thousand dollars, though a residential user's first-violation civil liability is capped at one thousand dollars unless the court or city finds the user had actual notice, acted intentionally, and used a substantial amount of water. 5.
Violations & Fines
A first offense is charged as an educational contact under the public works director's standard operating procedures. If the leak is not fixed within 72 hours of notice and enforcement escalates, the violation becomes a misdemeanor under Water Code Section 377 and DMC Section 1.01.110, carrying up to 30 days in county jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Civil liability can reach $10,000 per violation, though a residential user's first offense is capped at $1,000 absent proof of actual notice, intentional conduct, and substantial water loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to fix a leak after Davis notifies me?
Does this rule only apply during a drought?
What happens the first time I get cited for an unfixed leak?
Who enforces the leak-repair rule in Davis?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Davis
California rules heatmap·Compare Davis to another location·View the California water use rules overview
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Leak Reporting Duty in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Yolo County handle leak reporting duty.