Redlands, CA Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Redlands City Code ch. 13.06
- Leak-repair rule
- 13.06.080.B.8, Stage II alert
- 3rd violation surcharge
- 25-75% of commodity charge
- Relief decision window
- 14 days, city manager
- Appeal window
- 10 days to city council
- Hearing request window
- 15 days after 2nd+ notice
Summary
Redlands prohibits customers from failing to repair controllable leaks once the city has declared a Stage II water conservation alert. The duty sits inside the city's tiered mandatory conservation ordinance, enforced through a three-strike notice, warning and surcharge system on the water bill.
B. Stage II, Mandatory Compliance; Water Alert: ... the following restrictions shall apply to the use of water supplied by the city in addition to the recommendations of stage I: ... 8. ... Failure to repair controllable leaks is prohibited. 9. Use of running water to wash driveways, sidewalks, parking areas, patios, tennis courts and other paved areas is prohibited. 10. Failure to prevent excessive runoff from irrigation activities is prohibited.
Full Breakdown
06 sets up a four-stage water conservation system administered by the public works department and city manager. A) is voluntary, running June 1 to October 1 each year. 11). 060, independently bars "waste or the unreasonable or nonbeneficial use of water" citywide at all times, which the leak-repair duty reinforces once a Stage II alert is declared. 070, based on public works department guidelines on supply and demand monitored daily each June through October. 090); an adverse decision can be appealed in writing to the city council within ten days.
Violations & Fines
100's escalating notice scheme rather than an immediate citation. A first violation draws a written notice of noncompliance specifying a compliance deadline. A second violation brings a written warning of future penalties, requiring compliance within two days. A third violation triggers a citation and a surcharge on the customer's next water bill, calculated as a percentage of the commodity charge tied to the conservation stage in effect: 25 percent in Stage II, 50 percent in Stage III, and 75 percent in Stage IV. If the customer still fails to comply or pay outstanding surcharges, the city manager may install a flow-restricting device under California Water Code section 375, or, if that is impractical, authorize a service shutoff under California Water Code section 35423.
A customer who receives a second or later violation notice may request a hearing before the city manager within fifteen days, which stays any monetary penalty until decided; the city manager's decision is final.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Redlands always require leaks to be repaired?
What happens the first time I'm cited for an unrepaired leak?
Can I get out of a leak-repair violation for hardship reasons?
Can the city shut off my water over an unrepaired leak?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Redlands
California rules heatmap·Compare Redlands to another location·View the California water use rules overview
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