Lynnwood, WA Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)
Key Facts
- Reporting deadline
- 60 days from actual discovery of leak
- Proof required
- Documentation of repair
- Frequency limit
- One adjustment per 24 months
- Excluded
- Irrigation system leaks
- Multi-unit cap
- One credit per city-owned meter
Summary
Lynnwood property owners who discover a plumbing leak must report it and apply for a billing adjustment within 60 days of discovery, with proof of repair, under LMC 13.34.090. Irrigation-system leaks are excluded from adjustment, and a property may receive only one credit every 24 months.
The public works director together with the finance director or designee shall establish regulations and procedures for making adjustments to the quantity of water and sewer from which billings are calculated in situations where a customer reports a leak in their plumbing. Irrigation systems are excluded for leak adjustment consideration. ... Property owners must provide proof of repair when applying for a leak adjustment and must apply within 60 days of the actual discovery of the leak. A property can only receive one water leak adjustment every 24 months, regardless of changes in property owners, residents, tenants, or occupants.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3512, passed May 26, 2026).
Full Breakdown
34 of the Lynnwood Municipal Code, the Waterworks Utility chapter, puts the burden of reporting a plumbing leak squarely on the property owner. " Miss that window and the adjustment is unavailable regardless of how much water was lost. " For multi-unit and commercial accounts, the credit is capped at one per city-owned meter no matter how many buildings or units that meter serves. Because the adjustment runs through utility billing rather than a code-enforcement process, a customer who wants relief must proactively contact Lynnwood public works billing and supply repair documentation; the city does not automatically discover or credit leaks.
Violations & Fines
LMC 13.34.090 does not itself carry a fine; the consequence of missing the 60-day window or the once-per-24-months limit is simply that the adjustment is denied and the customer remains responsible for the full metered charge. Related sections of Chapter 13.34 allow the city to place a lien on the property or discontinue water service for unpaid delinquent charges, including charges left unadjusted after a missed leak-reporting deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to report a leak to get a Lynnwood water bill adjustment?
Does Lynnwood adjust bills for irrigation leaks?
How often can I get a leak adjustment on the same property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lynnwood
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Leak Reporting Duty in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Snohomish County handle leak reporting duty.