California's Pre-1994 Water-Saving Fixture Rule

By La Palma Plumber · October 16, 2026

Almost every house in La Palma was built before 1994. Here's what the state's water-saving fixture rule means for you.

California has a law that applies to almost every home in La Palma, since nearly all of them were built before 1994. It requires older homes to have water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and it comes up most often when a house is sold or remodeled.

What the rule says

Under California's Civil Code, single-family homes built and available for use on or before January 1, 1994, are required to have water-conserving plumbing fixtures - toilets, showerheads and faucets that meet water-use standards. Similar rules apply to multifamily and commercial properties on their own timelines.

The law also ties into real estate transactions: sellers have to disclose to buyers whether the property has noncompliant fixtures. And for certain additions, alterations or improvements, the building department can require noncompliant fixtures to be replaced as a condition of the permit.

What counts as noncompliant

Broadly, fixtures that use more water than these older standards allowed:

• Toilets that use more than 1.6 gallons per flush - common with original 1960s and 70s toilets
• Showerheads with a flow rate above 2.5 gallons per minute
• Interior faucets with a flow rate above 2.2 gallons per minute
• Urinals above 1 gallon per flush (mostly commercial)

Current California standards for new fixtures are stricter than these, so modern replacements are well within the limits.

How to check your fixtures

• Toilets: look inside the tank or behind the seat hinge for a stamp showing gallons per flush (GPF) or liters per flush (LPF). Toilets made before the 1990s often show 3.5 GPF or have no marking at all.
• Showerheads and faucets: many have the flow rate (GPM) stamped on the head or the aerator.
• If there's no marking, the fixture is likely old enough to be noncompliant.

Selling a La Palma home

If you're preparing to sell, expect your agent to ask about fixtures as part of the disclosures. Replacing old toilets and showerheads before listing is often the simplest path - it avoids awkward disclosure questions, buyers' inspectors are less likely to flag the bathrooms, and the house looks more updated. The other plumbing item that always comes up at sale is water heater strapping.

Remodeling

If you're pulling permits for a kitchen or bathroom remodel or an addition, the city may require you to bring noncompliant fixtures up to standard as part of the project. Since you're replacing fixtures in the remodeled rooms anyway, it's usually straightforward to update the rest of the house at the same time.

Beyond the law: why it's worth doing

• Lower water use. An original 1970s toilet can use more than twice the water of a modern one with every flush.
• Fewer clogs with well-designed modern toilets than with early low-flow models from the 1990s, which had a poor reputation.
• Drought. Southern California goes through regular droughts and water-use restrictions. Efficient fixtures make those easier to live with.
• Hard water. Old fixtures caked with scale often work poorly anyway; replacement solves both problems.

Getting it done

Swapping a showerhead or faucet aerator is a simple DIY job. Replacing toilets and faucets is straightforward for a plumber, and it's a good chance to replace old supply lines and shutoff valves at the same time. See toilet and faucet repair.

This post is general information, not legal advice. Your real estate agent or attorney can tell you exactly what's required for your sale.