Section 995 - Wasteful and Unreasonable Water Uses(a) As used in this section:(1) "Turf" has the same meaning as in section 491.(2) "Incidental runoff" means unintended amounts (volume) of runoff, such as unintended, minimal overspray from sprinklers that escapes the area of intended use. Water leaving an intended use area is not considered incidental if it is part of the facility or system design, if it is due to excessive application, if it is due to intentional overflow or application, or if it is due to negligence.(b)(1) To prevent the unreasonable use of water and to promote water conservation, the use of water is prohibited as identified in this subdivision for the following actions: (A) The application of potable water to outdoor landscapes in a manner that causes more than incidental runoff such that water flows onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, private and public walkways, roadways, parking lots, or structures;(B) The use of a hose that dispenses water to wash a motor vehicle, except where the hose is fitted with a shut-off nozzle or device attached to it that causes it to cease dispensing water immediately when not in use;(C) The use of potable water for washing sidewalks, driveways, buildings, structures, patios, parking lots, or other hard surfaced areas, except in cases where health and safety are at risk;(D) The use of potable water for street cleaning or construction site preparation purposes, unless no other method can be used or as needed to protect the health and safety of the public;(E) The use of potable water for decorative fountains or the filling or topping-off of decorative lakes or ponds, with exceptions for those decorative fountains, lakes, or ponds that use pumps to recirculate water and only require refilling to replace evaporative losses;(F) The application of water to irrigate turf and ornamental landscapes during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall of at least one fourth of one inch of rain. In determining whether measurable rainfall of at least fourth of one inch of rain occurred in a given area, enforcement may be based on records of the National Weather Service, the closest CIMIS station to the parcel, or any other reliable source of rainfall data available to the entity undertaking enforcement of this subdivision; and(G) The use of potable water for irrigation of ornamental turf on public street medians.(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (b)(1), the use of water is not prohibited by this section to the extent necessary to address an immediate health and safety need. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of potable water in a fountain or water feature when required to be potable because human contact is expected to occur.(c)(1) To prevent the unreasonable use of water and to promote water conservation, any homeowners' association or community service organization or similar entity is prohibited from:(A) Taking or threatening to take any action to enforce any provision of the governing documents or architectural or landscaping guidelines or policies of a common interest development where that provision is void or unenforceable under section 4735, subdivisions (a) and (b) of the Civil Code;(B) Imposing or threatening to impose a fine, assessment, or other monetary penalty against any owner of a separate interest for reducing or eliminating the watering of vegetation or lawns during a declared drought emergency, as described in section 4735, subdivision (c) of the Civil Code; or(C) Requiring an owner of a separate interest upon which water-efficient landscaping measures have been installed in response to a declared drought emergency, as described in section 4735, subdivisions (c) and (d) of the Civil Code, to reverse or remove the water-efficient landscaping measures upon the conclusion of the state of emergency.(2) As used in this subdivision: (A) "Architectural or landscaping guidelines or policies" includes any formal or informal rules other than the governing documents of a common interest development.(B) "Homeowners' association" means an "association" as defined in section 4080 of the Civil Code.(C) "Common interest development" has the same meaning as in section 4100 of the Civil Code.(D) "Community service organization or similar entity" has the same meaning as in section 4110 of the Civil Code.(E) "Governing documents" has the same meaning as in section 4150 of the Civil Code.(F) "Separate interest" has the same meaning as in section 4185 of the Civil Code.(3) If a disciplinary proceeding or other proceeding to enforce a rule in violation of subdivision (c)(1) is initiated, each day the proceeding remains pending shall constitute a separate violation of this regulation.(d) To prevent the unreasonable use of water and to promote water conservation, any city, county, or city and county is prohibited from imposing a fine under any local maintenance ordinance or other relevant ordinance as prohibited by section 8627.7 of the Government Code.(e) The taking of any action prohibited in subdivision (b), (c) or (d) is an infraction punishable by a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500) for each day in which the violation occurs. The fine for the infraction is in addition to, and does not supersede or limit, any other remedies, civil or criminal.(f) A decision or order issued under this section by the Board or an officer or employee of the Board is subject to reconsideration under article 2 (commencing with section 1122) of chapter 4 of part 1 of division 2 of the Water Code.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 23, § 995
1. New article 2 (section 995) and section filed 1-18-2022 as an emergency; operative 1-18-2022 (Register 2022, No. 3). The finding of emergency was exempt from OAL review pursuant to Water Code section 1058.5(b). Pursuant to Water Code section 1058.5(c), a Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 1-17-2023 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
2. Renewal of article 2 (section 995) and section, including renumbering of former article 2 to new article 3, filed 12-21-2022 as an emergency; operative 12-21-2022 (Register 2022, No. 51). The finding of emergency was exempt from OAL review pursuant to Water Code section 1058.5(b). Pursuant to Water Code section 1058.5(c), a Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 12-20-2023 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day. Note: Authority cited: Section 1058.5, Water Code. Reference: Article X, Section 2, California Constitution; Sections 4080, 4100, 4110, 4150, 4185 and 4735, Civil Code; Section 8627.7, Government Code; Sections 102, 104, 105, 275, 350, 1058.5 and 1122, Water Code; Light v. State Water Resources Control Board (2014) 226 Cal.App.4th 1463; and Stanford Vina Ranch Irrigation Co. v. State of California (2020) 50 Cal.App.5th 976.
1. New article 2 (section 995) and section filed 1-18-2022 as an emergency; operative 1/18/2022 (Register 2022, No. 3). The finding of emergency was exempt from OAL review pursuant to Water Code section 1058.5(b). Pursuant to Water Code section 1058.5(c), a Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 1-17-2023 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
2. Renewal of article 2 (section 995) and section, including renumbering of former article 2 to new article 3, filed 12-21-2022 as an emergency; operative 12/21/2022 (Register 2022, No. 51). The finding of emergency was exempt from OAL review pursuant to Water Code section 1058.5(b). Pursuant to Water Code section 1058.5(c), a Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 12-20-2023 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.