Truckee, CA Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- TMC § 11.02.070(A)
- Repair deadline
- 72 hours from learning of the leak
- Duty holder
- Every person responsible for the premises
- Legal basis
- Town's MS4 permit, Order No. 2013-0001-DWQ
- Enforcement tool
- Notice of Violation under § 11.06.020
Summary
Anyone responsible for property in Truckee must detect and correct water leaks within 72 hours of learning about them under the Town's Stormwater Quality Ordinance. It is one of five specific duties every property owner or occupant has to control incidental runoff leaving their premises.
Every person responsible for any premises within the Town shall control incidental runoff from the premises by taking the following actions: A.Detect and correct leaks within 72 hours of learning of the leak;
Full Breakdown
070, Incidental Runoff, requires every person responsible for a premises within the Town to control incidental runoff by taking five listed actions, the first of which is detecting and correcting leaks within 72 hours of learning of the leak. 050, ceasing watering during precipitation events, properly managing recycled-water ponds so they do not discharge in violation of a permit or law, and taking any other action necessary to prevent non-stormwater from reaching the Town's storm drain system or waters of the state or United States.
The obligation exists because Truckee's MS4 permit, State Water Resources Control Board Order No. 2013-0001-DWQ, requires the Town to control incidental runoff from irrigation and similar sources as a condition of its Clean Water Act discharge permit. 050(T) as unintended minimal amounts of runoff, such as sprinkler over-spray, and specifically excludes runoff caused by excessive application, intentional overflow, or negligence, which is treated as a more serious illicit discharge.
Violations & Fines
Failing to correct a leak within the 72-hour window is a violation of Title 11 enforced the same way as other stormwater violations: a Notice of Violation under Section 11.06.020 can require compliance, and noncompliance exposes the responsible person to administrative fines under Section 1.03.120 and to civil nuisance abatement under Government Code Section 38771.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast must I fix a leaking sprinkler or pipe in Truckee?
Why does Truckee regulate leaks under a stormwater ordinance?
What happens if I don't fix a reported leak in time?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Truckee
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