A. 
No new connection or change to an existing connection shall be made to the City water system unless a written application signed by the property owner or the owner's agent, upon forms furnished by the Department, has been filed with the Department and approved by the Director.
B. 
The Director may approve a connection and furnish a meter upon the Director's determination that the connection complies with the requirements of this chapter and the applicant has paid all required connection and capacity charges.
C. 
The property owner is responsible for installation, reinstallation, maintenance, repair, and condition of the plumbing system necessary to connect a lot or premises to a meter.
(Ord. 3610 §1, 1973; Ord. 5778, 2016; Ord. 5847, 2018)
The application form referred to by Section 14.08.010 shall be completely filled out and shall state the following information:
A. 
The location where such connection shall be made;
B. 
That the service pipe is laid to within two feet of the curb line of the street;
C. 
That such service pipe is properly equipped with a shutoff valve approved by the Director and a backflow preventer if required by Section 14.21.050;
D. 
The size of the meter and service requested.
(Ord. 3610 §1, 1973; Ord. 5847, 2018)
A. 
All water delivered to a lot must be measured by one or more City meters. A City meter may not serve more than one lot, except a master meter may serve a common interest development for which submeters are provided under Section 14.08.190. The size, location, number, and type of the meter or meters shall be approved by the Director and comply with the requirements of this chapter and applicable provisions of the California Plumbing Code as adopted pursuant to Section 22.04.030. Connections for private fire service are subject to the provisions of Chapter 14.12.
B. 
The California Plumbing Code, building and landscape design, anticipated low and peak flow rates, proposed uses, and other characteristics of the lot may be used as a guide for determining meter size.
C. 
If the flow rate of a customer's demand is not within the meter manufacturer's recommendation, the Director may require the customer to have installed at the customer's expense the appropriate size meter or additional meters.
D. 
Changes to the service configuration for a lot, including replacement of existing or installation of new City meters, must be approved in advance by the Director. Changes may be requested by the property owner, an agent of the owner, or by a customer with the written consent of the property owner.
(Ord. 3610 §1, 1973; Ord. 4250, 1984; Ord. 5778, 2016; Ord. 5847, 2018)
A. 
No application may be approved for a new connection or change of an existing connection to the City water system until the applicant pays the service fees described in subsection B and the capacity charge described in subsection C.
B. 
The service fees for new connections, service relocations, and changes to meter size shall be set by resolution of the City Council.
C. 
The capacity charge ("buy-in" charge) for each new or increased connection shall be set by resolution of the City Council.
(Ord. 2735 §1, 1974; Ord. 3610 §1, 1973; Ord. 3696, 1974; Ord. 3750, 1975; Ord. 3829, 1976; Ord. 5778, 2016; Ord. 5847, 2018)
Private water mains serving more than one lot may be connected to the City water system subject to all the following:
A. 
A backflow preventer and shut-off valve is installed and maintained on the private main adjacent to the public street or right-of-way. The owner or owners of the private main will provide the City unlimited access to the shut-off valve. The City may shut off water to the private main to protect the City's water system or under the same circumstance that would cause the City to shut off water in City mains in an emergency.
B. 
The owners of the lots served by the private main are jointly and severally liable for maintenance of the backflow preventer and shut-off valve.
C. 
Each lot served by the private main must have a meter or master meter located as determined by the Director. The City shall have unlimited access to the meters or master meter. Except for location, all provisions of this title applicable to City water service apply to property served by a private main, except that the private main shall not be considered part of the City water system.
(Ord. 3610 §1, 1973; Ord. 5847, 2018)
The monthly rates to be charged and collected shall be set by resolution of the City Council. These rates include usage charges based on the volume of water used and other fixed charges assessed without regard to the amount of water actually used.
(Ord. 3829, 1976; Ord. 4250, 1984; Ord. 5778, 2016)
A customer may request that the City test a meter serving the customer's property by filing a written request with the Director stating the reasons for the request. If the Director determines a test is warranted, the questioned meter will be tested. Meters will be tested based on standards set by the American Water Works Association and manufacturer specifications. Based on the test, if the Director determines the meter is operating properly, a testing fee in an amount set by City Council resolution will be charged to the customer's account; if the Director determines the meter is not operating properly, the application will be deemed a claim for an adjustment. The Director may grant adjustments based on the percent inaccuracy and billing history for the period not to exceed one year before the date the request for testing was filed. The customer is responsible for any work to the customer's plumbing system necessary to accomplish the test.
(Ord. 3610 §1, 1973; Ord. 4250, 1984; Ord. 5778, 2016; Ord. 5847, 2018)
A. 
Except when authorized under subsection B, all City meters shall be placed at the curb line of the street and protected and maintained as a part of the operation of the Department.
B. 
The Director may authorize placement of City meters in another location within the right-of-way or on the lot, or may require or authorize submeters, if it is not practicable to place a City meter or City meters at the curb line of the street due to topography, the number of meters required for the project, existing or approved proposed uses of the right-of-way that conflict with the placement of the meters at the curb line, or the approved configuration of buildings and improvements on the lot. When a City meter is located outside of an existing City right-of-way, the property owner must dedicate to the City an easement or agree to provide the City the irrevocable right of access to locate, operate, replace, maintain, and read the meter by a deed or agreement approved by the City Attorney. The Director is authorized to accept such deeds or agreements on behalf of the City.
(Ord. 3610 §1, 1973; Ord. 5778, 2016; Ord. 5847, 2018)
A. 
General Rule. Every new dwelling unit shall be served by a separate meter, unless submetered service has been authorized or required pursuant to Section 14.08.140B, or except as provided in subsection D, E, F, or G of this section. As used in this section, dwelling unit has the same meaning as in Titles 28 and 30 of this Code and includes newly constructed units and units resulting from a conversion or subdivision of all or a portion of an existing structure.
B. 
Projects of Four or Fewer Units. For projects adding four or fewer new dwelling units, common area uses on the lots or parcels within the project including, but not limited to, irrigation, water features (pools, spas, fountains), and shared laundry facilities, may be served by the meter or meters measuring the water supplied to the dwelling units or may be served by a separate meter or meters. For purposes of this subsection, if a project demolishes an existing dwelling unit and constructs a new dwelling unit in its place, the resulting unit shall be considered a new dwelling unit.
C. 
Projects of Five or More Units. For projects adding five or more dwelling units, a meter measuring only the water supplied to the interior of a dwelling unit shall measure only the water used within the dwelling unit and any adjacent outside area exclusively for occupants of the dwelling unit. All other uses on the lots or parcels within the project, including, but not limited to, irrigation, water features (pools, spas, fountains), and shared laundry facilities, shall be served by one or more meters separate from the meters measuring the water supplied to the dwelling units. For purposes of this subsection, if a project demolishes an existing dwelling unit and constructs a new dwelling unit in its place, the resulting unit shall be considered a new dwelling unit.
D. 
Low Income Housing Projects. One water meter may serve six residential dwelling units or submetering may be authorized for developments in which 100% of the units, except a manager's unit, are rental units that are affordable to very low or low income households if the following conditions are met:
1. 
A covenant is recorded in the Official Records of the County of Santa Barbara against the title which states: (a) all of the residential units on the real property shall be rented to very low or low income households; (b) the maximum rent and the maximum household income of tenants shall be determined as set forth in the Affordable Housing Policies and Procedures Manual of the City of Santa Barbara, which is adopted by City Council resolution from time to time; and (c) the maximum rent shall be controlled through recorded documents to assure continued affordability for a term that is consistent with the City's Affordable Housing Policies and Procedures Manual. The City shall be a party to the covenant; and
2. 
A covenant is recorded in the Official Records of the County of Santa Barbara against the title which states that the development has received a reduction in the number of water meters required because it is a project with 100% affordable units.
In the event that the real property, or any portion thereof, is not or cannot be used solely for very low or low income rental housing, either: (a) the structure(s) shall be redesigned and possibly reconstructed and the number of residential units shall be reduced so that there is compliance with the City's water metering requirements then in effect; or (b) the owner shall provide additional water meters as needed in order to comply with the City's water metering requirements then in effect and owner pay any applicable installation and/or capacity-based fees or costs associated with the additional water meters. The City shall be a party to the covenant.
E. 
One Hundred Percent Affordable Adaptive Reuse Projects. The requirement for separate metering or submetering of individual residential units may be waived for residential units that qualify as an Adaptive Reuse Project pursuant to Section 30.185.045 of this Code, as may be amended from time to time, if all the following requirements are met:
1. 
All of the resulting residential units, except a manager's unit, are to be rented to very low or low income households at the maximum rent and with a maximum household income of tenants be determined as set forth in the Affordable Housing Policies and Procedures Manual of the City of Santa Barbara, as adopted by City Council resolution from time to time.
2. 
Nonresidential uses within the building are metered separately from the residential units.
3. 
A covenant as specified in subsection D is recorded for the project.
F. 
Adaptive Reuse Projects. Submetering of individual units may be authorized for residential units that qualify as an Adaptive Reuse Project pursuant to Section 30.185.045 of this Code, as may be amended from time to time, so long as non- residential uses within the building are metered separately from the residential units.
G. 
Accessory Dwelling Units. An accessory dwelling unit described in California Government Code Section 66323(a)(1) may be served by the meter serving the lot, unless the accessory dwelling unit is constructed concurrently with a new single- family dwelling. All other accessory dwelling units shall be separately metered as provided in subsection A; provided, however, that the accessory unit may be served by a submeter if the meter for the property has sufficient capacity to serve both the primary and accessory dwelling units. The capacity charge for a separately metered accessory dwelling unit shall be in an amount established by City Council resolution consistent with Government Code Section 66324(e).[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Government Code Section 66311.5(e), eff. Jan. 1, 2026.
H. 
Ultra-High Water Use Efficiency Residential Projects. The Director may approve or require submetered service for a residential project having ultra- high water use efficiency verified by an independent rating institution approved by the Director, provided that a single meter may not serve more than six dwelling units. The Director may adopt an administrative policy for implementation of this subdivision, including standards for ultra-high water use efficiency, determination of meter size, and approval of independent rating institutions.
(Ord. 5778, 2016; Ord. 5811, 2017; Ord. 5847, 2018; Ord. 6169, 1/28/2025; Ord. 6190, 10/21/2025)
Nonresidential uses on a lot or within a structure must be metered separately from residential units. If an existing dwelling unit is converted to a mixed residential and nonresidential use, the resulting uses shall be metered separately.
(Ord. 5778, 2016; Ord. 5847, 2018)
A. 
Except for single-family residential lots, when a project includes at least 1,000 square feet but less than 5,000 square feet of irrigated landscaped area, and a new or upgraded water service connection is required because of activity other than the installation or modification of landscaping, a separate City issued irrigation meter shall be installed to measure the use of potable water for landscape purposes.
B. 
Except for single-family residential lots, when a project includes 5,000 square feet or more of irrigated landscaped area a separate City issued irrigation meter shall be installed to measure the use of potable water for landscape purposes.
C. 
An irrigation meter is required for projects on single-family residential lots with 5,000 square feet or more of landscape irrigated with potable water. The irrigation meter may be a City meter or a submeter.
(Ord. 5778, 2016; Ord. 5847, 2018; Ord. 5910, 2019)
All of the following apply to submetered service:
A. 
Water service to the lot will be measured by the City meter or meters. The property owner or landlord must establish and maintain the water service account. When submeters have been authorized for a common interest development, as defined in California Civil Code Section 4100, the covenants, conditions, and restrictions for the development must provide that the water service account will be established and maintained by an association, as defined in California Civil Code Section 4080, and that the City may enforce jointly against all owners remedies for violation of water services rules and regulations, including shut-off for failure to pay service charges.
B. 
The size, location, and number of master meters shall be as authorized by the Director according to Section 14.08.140.
C. 
If a lot has both residential and nonresidential uses, nonresidential uses shall not be served by a master meter that also serves residential uses. Landscape irrigation shall be metered as provided in Chapter 14.23.
D. 
A submeter may not measure water for more than one dwelling unit.
E. 
Fees pursuant to Section 14.08.050 will be based on the master meter and any other City meters serving the parcel.
F. 
The property owner is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws and regulations governing the installation, certification, maintenance, and testing of submeters and associated onsite plumbing. Nothing in this section shall be construed as assumption by the City of responsibility for enforcement of such laws or regulations.
G. 
The property owner is responsible for all aspects of submetered service on the lot such as reading of submeters, billing, and collection.
(Ord. 5847, 2018)