Upland, CA Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- UMC § 13.16.030(A)(3)
- Repair window
- 72 hours presumed reasonable
- Clock starts
- Discovery by customer or city notice
- First fine
- $25 to $100 (§ 13.16.020)
- Third offense
- Misdemeanor, $500 to $1,000
- Extra remedy
- Flow restrictor or meter shutoff
Summary
Upland Municipal Code § 13.16.030(A)(3) prohibits letting water escape through a break or leak in a customer's plumbing or private water distribution system for any substantial period once it should reasonably have been discovered. The code presumes 72 hours after the customer discovers the leak, or after the city gives notice of it, is a reasonable time to fix the leak or at least stop the flow.
3. Allowing, permitting or causing the escape of water through breaks or leaks within the customer's plumbing or private water distribution system for any substantial period of time within which such break or leak should reasonably have been discovered and corrected. It shall be presumed that a period of 72 hours after the customer discovers such a break or leak or receives notice from the city of a break or leak, is a reasonable time within which to correct such break or leak, or, at a minimum, to stop the flow of water from such break or leak;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4480959; v4 updated 2025-09-22).
Full Breakdown
16 (Water Conservation), so it applies to every water customer and property in the city at all times, not only during a declared shortage. The section frames the leak rule as one of several prohibited water-wasting practices, alongside banning excessive irrigation runoff and daytime sprinkler use. 010(D) creates a presumption that whoever the water utility bill is issued to, or whoever receives the economic benefit of the water supply, knowingly caused or permitted any water use that violates the title, which places the burden on the property owner or tenant of record once a leak is identified.
The 72-hour clock can start two ways: from the moment the customer discovers the leak themselves, or from when the city notifies the customer of a break or leak it has found, such as through unusually high metered usage. The rule requires the customer to correct the leak or, at minimum, stop the flow of water from it within that window; simply reducing the leak is not enough if the flow is not stopped or the repair is not completed. 070.
Violations & Fines
A leak left unrepaired past the presumed 72-hour reasonable period is treated as a violation of Chapter 13.16 under the penalty schedule in § 13.16.020: a $25 to $100 fine for a first infraction in a calendar year, $50 to $200 for a second, and a misdemeanor with a $500 to $1,000 fine for a third. The water utility director may also impose a flow-restricting device, lock or remove the meter, or shut off the service line valve, and a court may order reimbursement of the city's investigation and abatement costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to fix a water leak in Upland before it's a violation?
Who is responsible for fixing a leak on my property?
What happens if I don't fix a leak within 72 hours?
Does the city notify me if it detects a leak on my property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Upland
California rules heatmap·Compare Upland to another location·View the California water use rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Leak Reporting Duty in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle leak reporting duty.