Los Angeles County, CA Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LA County Code § 11.38.640
- Companion duty
- § 11.38.630(D), outdoor leaks
- First violation
- Written warning only
- Repeat violation
- $500 fine per day
- Repair standard
- As soon as reasonably practicable
- Scope
- Unincorporated LA County only
Summary
In unincorporated Los Angeles County, County Code § 11.38.640 makes leak repair a legal duty, not a suggestion: anyone who owns or rents premises with accessible indoor plumbing or faucets must inspect for leaks and fix them 'as soon as is reasonably practicable.' A companion duty at § 11.38.630(D) covers outdoor hoses, faucets and sprinkler systems.
11.38.630 - Watering of Lawns and Landscaping. ... D. It shall be the duty of all persons who own or rent premises that have hoses, faucets and sprinkling systems to inspect for leaks, and to cause all leaks to be repaired as soon as is reasonably practicable. ... 11.38.640 - Indoor Plumbing and Fixtures. A. It shall be the duty of all persons who own or rent premises that have accessible indoor plumbing and faucets to inspect for leaks, and to cause all leaks to be repaired as soon as is reasonably practicable. B. Willful violation hereof shall be subject to a written warning for the first violation, and shall be an infraction punishable by a fine of $500.00 for each day thereafter on which a violation occurs.
Full Breakdown
The duty sits in Part 4 of Title 11 (Health and Safety), 'Water Conservation Requirements for the Unincorporated Los Angeles County Area,' adopted by Ordinance 91-0046U in 1991 and last amended by Ordinance 2015-0004. 630(D), in the same Part, imposes the identical inspect-and-repair duty on anyone whose premises has hoses, faucets or a sprinkler system used for lawn or landscape watering. Neither section sets a fixed repair deadline: the standard is 'reasonably practicable,' judged case by case rather than by a calendar count. 630(A)-(C)), so an unrepaired leak that causes runoff can trigger a separate violation on top of the leak duty itself.
680 requires the Director of Public Works, with the Director of Public Health's concurrence, to review these water-conservation provisions at least every two years, with the first review completed by December 31, 2010, and to recommend updates to the Board of Supervisors.
Violations & Fines
Willful violation of either leak duty draws a written warning for the first offense under §§ 11.38.630(E) and 11.38.640(B). After that warning, every additional day the leak goes unrepaired is charged as a separate infraction punishable by a $500 fine, so a plumbing or irrigation leak left unaddressed after notice becomes a recurring daily penalty rather than a one-time citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule apply within the City of Los Angeles?
How long do I have to fix a leak once I find one?
What happens if I ignore a leak after being warned?
Does the duty cover sprinklers and hoses too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles County
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