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Yolo County, CA Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Level 3 deadline
48 hours after County notification
Level 4 deadline
24 hours after County notification
Applies to
4 named County Service Areas only
Alternative
Other arrangements with the Director
Max penalty
$1,000 fine or 30 days jail, per day

Summary

Under Yolo County Code Sec. 6-8.1104(d), customers in a Level 3 Drought Response must repair any leak within 48 hours of County notification unless other arrangements are made with the Director. Sec. 6-8.1105(d) tightens that to 24 hours once the Board escalates to a Level 4 Drought Response.

City-specific rules exist: West Sacramento has its own leak reporting duty rules that differ from Yolo County's county-level regulations. If you live in West Sacramento, check the city-specific page instead.

(d) Repair all leaks within forty-eight (48) hours of notification by the County unless other arrangements are made with the Director.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Supplement 2026 S-21 includes: Local legislation current through Ord. 1584, effective June 25, 2026).

Full Breakdown

These leak-repair deadlines sit inside Article 11 (Water Conservation) of Chapter 8 and apply only to customers of the four County Service Areas covered by Sec. 1101: El Macero CSA No. 1, North Davis Meadows CSA No. 10, Willowbank CSA No. 12, and Wild Wings CSA No. 15. The clock starts when the County notifies the customer of the leak, and a customer can avoid the deadline only by making other arrangements directly with the Director. The obligation stacks on top of the rest of that Drought Response Level's rules: at Level 3, landscape irrigation is capped at two days a week, new turf and hydroseed are prohibited, and ornamental ponds cannot be refilled except to sustain valuable aquatic animals; at Level 4, all landscape irrigation is prohibited except for trees or drought tolerant plantings, and pools and storage tanks cannot be filled or emptied with potable County water except for public health and safety.

A customer facing hardship completing repairs, or needing extra water to keep landscaping alive while repairs are made, can request a waiver in writing from the Community Services Director under Sec. 1110, which must be acted on within 15 business days and can include a temporary allocated increase in water use.

Violations & Fines

Missing the 48-hour (Level 3) or 24-hour (Level 4) repair window is a misdemeanor under Sec. 6-8.1111, carrying up to 30 days in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both, with every day the leak remains unrepaired counted as a separate offense; the County can alternatively pursue it as a public nuisance with administrative citations up to $1,000 per violation per day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to fix a leak once the County notifies me?
Sec. 6-8.1104(d) gives you 48 hours during a Level 3 Drought Response. If the Board has escalated to Level 4, Sec. 6-8.1105(d) shortens that window to 24 hours, in both cases unless you have made other arrangements with the Director.
Does this leak-repair rule apply to all Yolo County residents?
No. It only applies to customers of the four County Service Areas named in Sec. 6-8.1101: El Macero, North Davis Meadows, Willowbank, and Wild Wings, and only once the Board has declared the relevant drought level for that area.
What happens if I can't meet the 48-hour window?
Contact the Director to arrange a different timeline before the deadline passes; the ordinance allows other arrangements to be made with the Director, but missing the window without that agreement exposes you to misdemeanor penalties under Sec. 6-8.1111.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Yolo County

All Yolo County rules

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