Chapter 15.16 — WATER RATES AND CHARGES1

1 Editor’s Note: For statutory provisions regarding the power of cities to prescribe, revise and collect charges for

the water furnished by it, see Gov. Code §54344.

Upon failure of any consumer billed or the owner of any premises to pay any water service charge prior to

delinquency, the following action shall be taken by the city or the manager to enforce such payment:

In each case where any bill for water service remains unpaid after such bill becomes delinquent, the manager

shall:

A. Disconnect the premises from the water system for nonpayment of water bills; and

B. Cause an action at law to be brought on behalf of the city against the person responsible for payment of such

bill to recover the amount of such bill and the costs of such action.

(Ord. 544 NCS §8; prior code §27.42.)

For the purpose of providing funds:

A. For payment at or before maturity of the principal of and interest on all water revenue bonds heretofore or

hereafter issued by the city for the purpose of the acquisition, construction, improvement and Wnancing of the

water system;

B. For payment of the cost of additions to or improvements of the water system; and

C. For payment of the cost of maintenance and the water system; there are levied and assessed upon all

premises connected with the water system the water rates and charges as authorized in this chapter and set by

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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city council resolution from time to time for water furnished or available and other services to such premises by

the water system.

(Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 544 NCS §3; prior code §27.43.)

The rates and charges authorized in this chapter shall apply to services both inside and outside the city limits.

(Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 607 NCS §1; Ord. 544 NCS §3; prior code §27.44.)

A. Applicability. Applicable to all metered water service for residential, commercial, industrial and public services.

B. A monthly service charge by meter size shall be applicable to all metered services regardless of the quantity

of water consumed at the rate set by resolution.

C. A water use charge based on one hundred cubic feet shall be applicable for all water supplied to metered

services at the rate set by resolution.

(Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 1845 NCS §1, 1991; Ord. 1550 NCS §1, 1983; Ord. 1476 NCS §1, 1981; Ord. 1374 NCS

§1, 1979; Ord. 1252 NCS §3, 1977; Ord. 1235 NCS §1, 1977; Ord. 607 NCS § 1; Ord. 544 NCS §3; prior code

§27.44(1).)

A. Applicability. Private Wre protection service in this section is applicable to all water service rendered by the

water system for privately owned Wre protection systems.

B. Rates shall be set by resolution.

C. For water delivered for other than Wre protection purposes, charges will be made at the meter and quantity

rate under Section 15.16.040 relating to general metered service.

D. The city will supply only such water at such pressure as may be available from time to time as a result of its

normal operation of the water system.

(Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 1550 NCS §2, 1983; Ord. 607 NCS §1; Ord. 544 NCS §3; prior code §27.44(2).)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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A. Applicability. Applicable to all water service rendered for public Wre protection to the city.

B. The rates shall be set by resolution and include use of water for Wre protection. For water delivered through

Wre hydrants for any other purpose, charges will be made at the meter and quantity rate under Section 15.16.040

relating to general metered service.

(Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 1550 NCS §3, 1983; Ord. 607 NCS §1; Ord. 544 NCS §3; prior code §27.44(3).)

A. Applicability. Applicable within the area serviced by the water system to all water service rendered for public

Wre protection to any public authority (including any municipality, county, or other political subdivision of the state,

or any public district, the state of California and the United States of America) except the city.

B. The rates shall be set by resolution and include use of water for Wre protection. For water delivered through

Wre hydrants for any other purpose, charges will be made at the meter and quantity rates under Section 15.16.040

relating to general metered service.

C. The city will supply only such water at such pressure as may be available from time to time as a result of its

normal operation of the system.

(Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 607 NCS §1; Ord. 544 NCS §3; prior code §27.44(4).)

(Ord. 1940 NCS §1, 1993; Ord. 681 NCS §1; prior code §27.44.1.)

A. Whenever a consumer discontinues water service and the closing balance due the city by the consumer after

all credits and o[sets have been made amounts to Wve dollars or less, the city may forgive such closing balances.

B. Whenever a consumer discontinues water service and any cash credit deposit as required by this chapter is

applied against the closing balance due, leaving a refund due the consumer of Wve dollars or less, then the city is

not required to refund unless speciWcally requested to do so by the consumer concerned.

(Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 1661 NCS §3, 1986; Ord. 702 NCS §1; prior code §27.44.2.)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

Title 15 Water and Sewage | Petaluma Municipal Code Page 33 of 142

(Ord. 1940 NCS §1, 1993; Ord. 1661 NCS §4, 1986; Ord. 702 NCS §2; prior code §27.44.3.)

Whenever additional fees are incurred for the collection of returned checks, the consumer shall pay the fees as set

by resolution. (Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 1661 NCS §5, 1986.)

(Ord. 1940 NCS §1, 1993; Ord. 544 NCS §3; prior code §27.45.)

(Ord. 1940 NCS §1, 1993; Ord. 544 NCS §3; prior code §27.46.)

No water and no services or facilities of the water system shall be furnished to any consumer or to any person

(including the city) free of charge. (Ord. 544 NCS §3; prior code §27.47.)

All water charges shall become due and payable at the oYce of the Wnance department on the date of

presentation of a utility bill and shall become delinquent thirty days after the date of the bill. Meters will be read at

regular intervals for the preparation of regular metered service bills as determined by resolution, and as required

for the preparation of opening bills, closing bills and special bills. Each meter will be read separately. It may not

always be possible to read meters regularly on the same day of each billing period. Proportionate adjustments will

be made when other billing periods or portions of billing periods are used. (Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 544 NCS

§5; prior code §27.48.)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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Opening bills, closing bills, monthly bills rendered for periods of less than the days set by resolution, and other

bills requiring proration, will be computed in accordance with the applicable schedule, but the amount of the Wxed

charge or minimum charge speciWed therein, will be prorated on the basis of the ratio of the number of days in

the period to the number of days in the average billing period. Should the total period of service be less than one

month no proration will be made and no bill shall be less than the speciWed monthly Wxed charge or minimum

charge. (Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 544 NCS §5; prior code §27.49.)

On each bill for water service rendered by the city to its consumers will be printed substantially the following

language:

"If this bill is not paid within thirty days after date of presentation, service is liable to be discontinued. A cash

deposit and reconnection fee may be required to re-establish service." (Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 544 NCS §5;

prior code §27.50.)

occupant fails to pay.

A. All water charges shall be billed to the owner of the premises upon which charges Wxed in this chapter are

levied and assessed or to the person who requested connection to the water system, or successor in interest, or to

any person requesting that such bill be charged.

B. In case of premises that are occupied by someone other than the owner, such charges may be billed to the

occupant of such premises. If the occupant fails to pay such charges, the owner shall be liable to the city for such

charge, but in no event shall the charge billed the owner exceed billing for a four-month period.

(Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 725 NCS §§1, 2; Ord. 544 NCS §6; prior code §27.51(a).)

Each applicant for metered service will be required to establish credit before receiving service. Credit will be

deemed established if the applicant meets any one of the following conditions:

A. If the applicant makes a cash deposit in an amount as set by resolution.

B. If applicant furnishes a guarantor satisfactory to the city to secure payment of the water bills; or

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

Title 15 Water and Sewage | Petaluma Municipal Code Page 35 of 142

C. If applicant has been a consumer of the city of Petaluma and during the last twelve consecutive months of

service has paid all water bills without discontinuance for nonpayment thereof.

D. A cash deposit may be required to be reinstated after two delinquency turn-o[s within a twelve-month

period.

(Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 725 NCS §§1, 2; Ord. 544 NCS §6; prior code §27.51(b).)

Any consumer who has previously been a consumer of the city of Petaluma and during the last twelve months has

had water service discontinued two times because of nonpayment of bills may be required to reestablish credit by

making a cash deposit to secure payment of water bills equal to twice the estimated bill for the service. (Ord. 1940

NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 725 NCS §§1, 2; Ord. 544 NCS §6; prior code §27.51(c).)

All deposits made with the city to establish credit will be held by the city in a separate account and may be applied

by the city to unpaid bills for water service when service is discontinued or, refunded to the consumer; provided,

that after a consumer has established credit to the satisfaction of the manager, the city may, upon

recommendation of the manager, refund deposit without interest. (Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 725 NCS §§1, 2;

Ord. 544 NCS §6; prior code §27.51(d).)

Each receipt for a cash deposit to establish or reestablish credit for water service will contain the following

statement:

"This deposit may be applied to unpaid balances where service has been discontinued by the city

because of nonpayment of bills. This deposit, less the amount of any unpaid water bills, will be refunded,

without interest, on discontinuance of service, or after the deposit has been held for twelve consecutive

months, provided service has been continuous, and all bills for such service have been paid."

(Ord. 725 NCS §§1, 2; Ord. 544 NCS §6; prior code §27.51(e).)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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The city will, if no undue hardship to its existing consumers will result therefrom, furnish temporary service under

the following conditions:

A. The applicant will be required to pay the city, in advance, the estimated net cost of installing and removing

the facilities necessary to furnish the service; and

B. Where duration of service is to be less than one month, the applicant may also be required to deposit cash

equal to the estimated bill, subject to adjustment and refund or repayment in accordance with actual bill rendered

upon discontinuance of service; or

C. Where the duration of service is to exceed one month, the applicant may also be required to establish his

credit in the manner prescribed for permanent service in the preceding section.

D. In the event a temporary service becomes permanent, the city will refund to the temporary consumer the

amount paid for a temporary service installation upon payment of the applicable connection fee provided for in

this chapter.

(Ord. 544 NCS §6; prior code §27.52.)

When, upon test, the average meter error is found to be more than two percent fast the city will refund to the

consumer the amount of overcharge based on corrected meter readings for the period the meter was in use by

not exceeding twelve months. (Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 544 NCS §4; prior code §27.53(1).)

When, upon test, a meter is found to be registering more than Wve percent slow, the city may bill the consumer for

the amount of the undercharge based upon corrected meter readings for the period the meter was in service but

not exceeding twelve months. (Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 544 NCS §4; prior code §27.53(2).)

The city may bill the consumer for water consumed while the meter was nonregistering but for a period not

exceeding twelve months at the minimum monthly meter rate, or upon an estimate of the consumption based

upon the consumer’s prior use during the same season of the year if conditions were unchanged, or upon an

estimate based upon a reasonable comparison with the use of other consumers during the same period, receiving

the same class of service under similar circumstances and conditions.

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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When it is found that the error in a meter is due to some cause, the date of which can be Wxed, the overcharge or

the undercharge will be computed back to but not beyond such date. (Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 544 NCS §4;

prior code §27.53(3).)

The city may establish and set other fees and charges that may be necessary from time to time by resolution to

provide revenue to o[set costs incurred in the operation, maintenance or repair of the water system. (Ord. 1940

NCS §3, 1993.)