Good to know
Does California's water-saving fixture law apply to my older home?
California's water-conserving fixture law covers homes built and available for use on or before January 1, 1994. When a single-family home is altered or improved under a permit, the applicant has to replace every noncompliant fixture with a water-conserving one before the building department gives final permit approval. The law does not apply to registered historical sites, to property where a licensed plumber certifies that water-conserving fixtures are not technically feasible, or to a building whose water service is permanently disconnected.
The detail
Sources
- California Civil Code §1101.1
- California Civil Code §1101.2
- California Civil Code §1101.4
- California Civil Code §1101.7
- California Civil Code §1101.3
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates: Median Year Structure Built, Redway CDP
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates: Median Year Structure Built, Ferndale city
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates: Median Year Structure Built, Eureka city
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates: Median Year Structure Built, Loleta CDP
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates: Median Year Structure Built, Blue Lake city
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates: Median Year Structure Built, Weaverville CDP
What it requires, and its exemptions
California's water-conserving fixture law covers homes built and available for use on or before January 1, 1994.
When a single-family home is altered or improved under a permit, the applicant has to replace every noncompliant fixture with a water-conserving one before the building department gives final permit approval.
The law required owners of single-family homes to replace noncompliant fixtures by January 1, 2017.
A seller of a single-family home has to tell the buyer in writing about the requirement and whether the home has any noncompliant fixtures.
The law does not apply to registered historical sites, to property where a licensed plumber certifies that water-conserving fixtures are not technically feasible, or to a building whose water service is permanently disconnected.
Sources: California Civil Code §1101.1; California Civil Code §1101.2; California Civil Code §1101.4; California Civil Code §1101.7
What counts as noncompliant
A fixture is “noncompliant” if it is a toilet made to use more than 1.6 gallons per flush, a urinal made to use more than 1 gallon per flush, a showerhead made to flow more than 2.5 gallons per minute, or an interior faucet that emits more than 2.2 gallons per minute.
Source: California Civil Code §1101.3
How old the homes are here
By the Census, half the homes in these towns were built in these years or earlier: Redway 1952, Ferndale 1953, Eureka 1954, Loleta 1958, Blue Lake 1959, Weaverville 1963.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates: Median Year Structure Built, Redway CDP; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates: Median Year Structure Built, Ferndale city; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates: Median Year Structure Built, Eureka city; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates: Median Year Structure Built, Loleta CDP; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates: Median Year Structure Built, Blue Lake city; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates: Median Year Structure Built, Weaverville CDP
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