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

Lakewood Municipal Code § 7511 bars every water customer from providing water regularly to anyone other than the occupants of their own premises and from knowingly permitting leaks or waste. 1, the Water Conservation Ordinance the City Council can activate by resolution after a public hearing on an anticipated shortage, defines a leak as any water that wastes more than half a gallon per minute and sets a sliding repair clock tied to the declared shortage phase. Under normal-demand conservation practices the deadline is seven days from written notice of an observed leak; it drops to six days once the City Council declares a Voluntary Phase shortage aiming to conserve up to 10% of supply, five days in Phase I (10% or more), four days in Phase II (up to 20%), three days in Phase III (up to 30%), two days in Phase IV (up to 40%), and just 24 hours in Phase V (up to 50%).

Notice can be delivered personally, left with a responsible person on-site with a mailed copy, or posted conspicuously with a mailed copy if no one is available. 1(L): a written warning for a first violation, a $100 fee for a second or third, a $200 fee plus a mandatory flow-restricting device for a fourth, and a $500 fee plus a longer flow restriction for a fifth. Customers facing a fourth or later violation can request a hearing before the City Manager within 15 days of the notice, which automatically stays installation of a flow restrictor while it is pending.