Permanent Water Restrictions

Permanent Water Conservation Requirements 

Per City of La Habra Municipal Code 13.40.070, the following water conservation requirements are effective at all times and are permanent. Violations of these water conservation requirements will be considered waste and an unreasonable use of water. Penalties starting at $100 per violation up to $500 per violation. For repeat offenders, the City reserves the right to install a flow restrictor or disconnect service.

Restrictions for Residential and Commercial Customers:

  • A.    Washing down sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking areas or other paved surfaces, except as is required to dispose of dangerous liquids or alleviate safety or sanitary hazards and then only by use of a hand-held bucket, pressure washer or hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off device is prohibited.
  • B.     Using water to wash or clean a vehicle, including but not limited to any automobile, truck, van, bus, motorcycle, boat or trailer, is prohibited, except by use of a hand-held bucket or hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing device or water shut-off nozzle. This subsection does not apply to any commercial car washing facility.
  • C.     The use of water to clean, fill or maintain levels in decorative fountains, ponds, lakes or other similar aesthetic structures unless such water is part of a re-circulating system is prohibited. The only exception may be a water feature currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places, where water use deemed necessary for integrity of the feature.
  • D.    The use of water to irrigate outdoor landscapes during or within forty-eight hours after measurable rainfall.
  • E.     The irrigation with potable water of ornamental turf on public street medians.
  • F.     The irrigation with potable water of landscapes outside of newly constructed homes and buildings in a manner inconsistent with regulations or other requirements established by the California Building Standards Commission and the Department of Housing and Community Development.
  • G.    All leaks, breaks, or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing, irrigation or distribution system must be repaired in a timely manner in accordance with the current supply shortage level, unless other arrangements are made with the city.
  • H.    Watering or irrigating of any lawn, landscape or other vegetated area in a manner that causes or allows excessive water flow /more than incidental runoff or water flows or runoff from the property, onto an adjoining sidewalk, driveway, street, alley gutter or ditch is prohibited. Watering of lawn, landscape or other turf areas between the hours of nine a.m. and six p.m. is prohibited. Hand-held water cans, buckets, or similar containers reasonably used to convey water for irrigation purposes are not subject to these time restrictions. Similarly, a hand-held hose equipped with a fully functioning, positive self- closing water shut-off nozzle, pressure washer or similar device, may be used during the otherwise restricted period. If necessary and for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing a landscape irrigation system, one may operate a landscape irrigation system during the otherwise restricted period.


Restrictions for Commercial Customers Only:

  • I.      Hotels, motels and other commercial lodging establishments must provide customers the option of not having towels and linen laundered daily. Commercial lodging establishments must prominently display notice of this option in each bathroom using clean and easily understood language.
  • J.      Food preparation establishments such as restaurants or cafes are prohibited from using non-water conserving dish wash pre-rinse spray valves.
  • K.    No restaurant, hotel, café, cafeteria or other public place where food is sold, served or offered for sale shall serve drinking water to any customer unless expressly requested.
  • L.     No installation of non-recirculating water systems in commercial car wash and laundry systems.
  • M.    Installation of non-re-circulating water systems is prohibited in new commercial conveyor car wash and new commercial laundry systems.
  • N.    No installation or operation of single pass cooling system. Installation of single pass cooling systems is prohibited in buildings requesting new water service.
  • O.    Commercial car wash system. Effective on January 1, 2012, all commercial conveyor car wash systems must have installed operational re-circulating water systems, or must have secured a waiver of this requirement from the city.

These 15 permanent water restrictions are part of the City's Water Shortage Contingency Response and may be found in section 13.40 of the La Habra Municipal Code. If you would like to view the entirety of 13.40, click here.