2014 Legislation: AB 1636 – Drought and Under-watering Fines

This bill would amend the Water Code to provide a temporary exemption for homeowners who could be fined for under-watering their plants or yards. From the Legislative Counsel’s Digest:

This bill would prohibit a city or county, during a drought emergency declared by the Governor, from enforcing a law or ordinance requiring a resident to water his or her lawn. This bill would provide that a requirement imposed by a governmental entity or a public utility to limit, restrict, or conserve water during a drought emergency declared by the Governor does not constitute a diminution of rent or value of a premise or property.

SB 992, SB 1144, and AB 2100 also propose nearly identical legislation. And in similar legislation, AB 2104 approaches HOAs and the drought from a different direction.