California Plumbing Regulations – 2018 Updates
Life in the Golden State comes with its own set of rules. As of July 1, 2018, the plumbing regulations have changed once again. Are your fixtures in compliance?
If you’ve made the Golden State your home, remodeling or building comes with its own brand of difficult. The famously eco-conscious state – which is prone to drought – instituted low-flow regulations that are more stringent than those of other states. We’ve made it easy, breaking down the new plumbing codes for you.
According to the California Plumbing Code, effective July 1, 2018, all residential construction projects must comply with the following regulations:
- Kitchen faucets: may not exceed 1.8 gallons per minute (gpm)
- Bathroom faucets: 1.2 gpm
- Showerheads (handheld and fixed): 1.8 gpm; in showers with multiple heads, the combined rate of all showerheads controlled by a single valve may not exceed 1.8 gpm in total
- Toilets: flush volume may not exceed 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf)
(Public and commercial fixtures may be subject to different regulations.)
January 1, 2019 will bring another change: the law requires homeowners to replace noncompliant plumbing fixtures in homes – single-family as well as multi-family and commercial buildings – built prior to 1994. Those selling their homes will be required to inform prospective buyers of noncompliant plumbing fixtures prior to the sale. Additionally, homeowners will no longer be “grandfathered in” and will technically be required to update their fixtures even if they are not remodeling or selling their homes.
As Californians approach 2022, you’ll need to prepare for a new restriction; residents will be restricted to 55 gallons of daily indoor water consumption per person (the limit will drop to 50 gallons per person in 2030).
Contact our knowledgeable sales team to ensure that the fixtures you’ve chosen are compliant with the new regulations before you buy.