Los Angeles, CA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger distance
- 200 feet from property line
- Required recycled-water use
- 100% for toilets, urinals, floor drains, cooling
- Governing code
- LA Plumbing Code design standards
- Graywater-ready exemption
- Landscape areas ≤500 sq ft
- Enforcing agency
- LA Dept. of Building and Safety
Summary
Los Angeles requires new buildings within 200 feet of an available city-recycled water line to run 100 percent of their water closets, urinals, floor drains, and process cooling and heating from that recycled supply. LAMC § 99.04.305.1 sets the mandate, with exceptions for additions, partial alterations, and unsuitable water quality.
When City-recycled water is available for use within 200 feet of the property line, 100 percent of water for water closets, urinals, floor drains, and process cooling and heating in that building shall come from City-recycled water. Recycled water systems shall be designed and installed in accordance with the Los Angeles Plumbing Code. EXCEPTIONS: 1. Additions that use any part of the existing plumbing system. 2. Alterations that do not include replacing all of the potable water piping. 3. Where City-recycled water quality has been deemed non-suitable for a particular fixture or equipment, connection to the City is not required. The fixture and/or equipment shall be dual-plumbed to allow for future connection.
Full Breakdown
Adopted as part of the Los Angeles Green Building Code at SEC. 1 requires that when City-recycled water is available within 200 feet of a property line, all water used for water closets, urinals, floor drains, and process cooling and heating in that building must be supplied by City-recycled water rather than the potable system. Recycled water piping and connections must be designed and installed per the Los Angeles Plumbing Code, which governs backflow prevention, cross-connection control, and required purple-pipe labeling for reclaimed water lines.
The rule carries three built-in exceptions: additions that tie into any part of the existing plumbing system are exempt; alterations that do not replace all of the existing potable water piping are exempt; and where the Department has determined City-recycled water quality is not suitable for a particular fixture or piece of equipment, direct connection is not required, but the fixture or equipment must still be dual-plumbed so it can be connected once quality allows. 202, though that requirement drops away for sites with landscape areas of 500 square feet or less, or where geologic conditions preclude a graywater system.
Violations & Fines
LADBS enforces the recycled-water tie-in requirement at plan check for new construction and qualifying alterations; a project within 200 feet of an available recycled water main cannot obtain final plumbing sign-off without documented connection to the LA Sanitation & Environment (formerly Bureau of Sanitation) recycled water system or an approved dual-plumbing design for the excepted fixtures. Buildings that fail to connect where required, or that misrepresent water quality suitability to avoid the mandate, are held at inspection and must correct the plumbing plan before occupancy is granted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to connect to recycled water if it's available near my new building?
What if the recycled water isn't good enough quality for my equipment?
Does a small addition to my building trigger the recycled water mandate?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles
California rules heatmap·Compare Los Angeles 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.
Recycled Water Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle recycled water rules.