Oxnard, CA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Oxnard Code Art. X, §§ 22-175 to 22-184
- Enforcing office
- Public Works water manager
- Objection window
- 30 days after conversion notice
- Manager response time
- 30 days to rule on objection
- Fine
- Up to $1,000 per day of violation
- Misuse classification
- Public nuisance, chargeable as misdemeanor
Summary
Oxnard can force property owners onto recycled water once their area is designated a mandatory recycled water use zone under the city's recycled water master plan. New development permits must include on-site recycled water facilities, and violators face fines up to $1,000 per day plus possible nuisance abatement.
Within each mandatory recycled water use area identified in the recycled water master plan: (A) For suitable uses, no customer shall use water from any other source when recycled water is available. The procedures provided in section 22-181 shall be utilized to convert existing potable water uses to recycled water, where appropriate; and (B) The city shall condition the permitting of all new customers to include the construction of on-site recycled water facilities so that recycled water use is maximized.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Contains Supplement current through 1-26-2026).
Full Breakdown
Under Article X of Chapter 22, the Public Works water manager maintains a recycled water master plan identifying zones where recycled water use is mandatory (Sec. 22-179). Inside a designated mandatory zone, Sec. 22-180 bars a customer from drawing water from any other source when recycled water is available for a suitable use, and the city must condition new customer permits on building the on-site recycled water facilities needed to maximize recycled water use. For existing potable customers the manager targets for conversion, Sec. 22-181 requires certified-mail notice of the determination, proposed conditions, and a compliance schedule; the customer has thirty days to file a written objection, after which the manager has thirty more days to confirm, modify, or abandon the determination, with a further appeal available under Sec.
22-6. Sec. 22-182 lets the manager condition new industrial, commercial, or residential subdivision and building permits, as well as multi-family, commercial, or industrial remodel permits, on construction of both city-dedicated recycled water transmission facilities and on-site recycled water facilities. Sec. 22-183 requires the manager to inspect, educate, and monitor on-site recycled facilities before recycled water is ever supplied, confirming the customer meets all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements first.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 22-184 makes any violation of Article X punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 for each day, or portion of a day, the violation continues, with each day treated as a separate offense; the city may also shut off water service to the customer. Improper use of recycled water is separately declared a public nuisance that the city manager can order corrected or abated, and the responsible person may be charged with a misdemeanor. The city can also sue to enjoin continued misuse, and these remedies stack on top of any other city, state, or federal enforcement available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Oxnard make me switch from potable to recycled water?
How do I fight a recycled water conversion order in Oxnard?
What happens if I misuse recycled water in Oxnard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oxnard
California rules heatmap·Compare Oxnard to another location·View the California water use rules overview
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