Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

York County, SC Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Notice period
10 days to repair a reported leak
1st residential surcharge
$50 added to utility bill
3rd residential violation
Service terminated, $150 to restore
Hearing request window
15 days from notice to request hearing
Governing plan
§ 54.04 Drought Response, Ord. 104 (2004)

Summary

York County requires customers on its water system to fix distribution leaks fast once a drought stage is declared. Under § 54.04(B)(3) of the county's Drought Response Plan, the utility 'reserves the right to cease water service' to any customer given a ten-day notice to repair a leak who fails to comply, and staff intensify leak-detection countywide once a Stage 1 drought is declared.

City-specific rules exist: Rock Hill has its own leak reporting duty rules that differ from York County's county-level regulations. If you live in Rock Hill, check the city-specific page instead.

(3) Intensify maintenance efforts to identify and correct water leaks in the distribution system. The utility reserves the right to cease water service to customers who have been given a ten-day notice to repair one or more leaks and have failed to do so; and

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-49: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 3925, passed 6-16-25).

Full Breakdown

The duty sits inside York County's Drought Management Plan, adopted under Ordinance 104 (2004) and amended by Ordinance 7208 (2008). 04(B) directs county staff to 'intensify maintenance efforts to identify and correct water leaks in the distribution system,' and customers who receive a written ten-day notice to repair one or more leaks face a service cutoff if they miss the deadline. 04(C) reserve broader cutoff authority for noncompliant customers across the system. 05, which lets authorized law enforcement and county agencies serving water issue a written notice citing the date and circumstances of a violation.

A cited customer can request a hearing in writing within 15 days of receiving the notice; the county must then set a hearing date between 10 and 30 days later, and the customer may appear and testify with relaxed rules of evidence. Failing to request a hearing waives those administrative remedies. A customer who loses at the hearing can still petition the circuit court for judicial review within 30 days, though that petition does not pause the surcharge unless the court reverses the county's decision.

Violations & Fines

A missed leak-repair deadline is treated as a drought-restriction violation under § 54.05(A). Residential customers face a $50 surcharge for a first violation, $100 for a second, and water service termination on a third violation, restored only after a $150 surcharge. Commercial, office and industrial customers face $100, $200 and a $300 termination surcharge at the same three stages, all added directly to the utility bill.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I don't fix a water leak within 10 days in York County?
The utility can cut off your water service. County code § 54.04(B)(3) lets staff intensify leak detection during a Stage 1 drought and gives customers a written ten-day notice to repair; missing that window lets the utility 'cease water service' until the leak is fixed and any surcharge is paid.
Can I fight a York County water violation notice?
Yes. Under § 54.05(C), you have 15 days from receiving the notice to request a hearing in writing. The county must schedule it within 10 to 30 days, and you can testify in person. Skipping the request waives your right to challenge the surcharge administratively, though circuit court review remains open for 30 days after any ruling.
Who enforces York County's leak-repair requirement?
County Council authorizes designated law enforcement agencies and other county-designated employees serving water in the affected jurisdiction to enforce the Drought Response Plan under § 54.05(B), including issuing the written ten-day repair notices and assessing surcharges for noncompliance.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in York County

All York County rules

Compare York County to another location·View the South Carolina water use rules overview

Get notified when Leak Reporting Duty in York County, SC changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Leak Reporting Duty in Cities Across York County