California Codes, Civil Code - CIV, Division 3 — Obligations, Part 4 — Obligations Arising from Particular Transactions, Title 5 — Hiring, Chapter 2.5 — Water Service, Section 1954.213

(a) A tenant may be charged a late fee for any water service bill not paid 25 days after mailing or other transmittal of the bill. If the 25th day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the late fee shall not be imposed until the day after the first business day following the 25th day.

(b)(1) A late fee of up to seven dollars ($7) may be imposed if any amount of a water service bill remains unpaid after the time described in subdivision (a). A late fee of up to ten dollars ($10) may be imposed in each subsequent bill if any amount remains unpaid.

(2) The total late fee imposed in any 12-month period upon the amount of a bill that remains unpaid shall not exceed 10 percent of the unpaid amount, exclusive of the administrative fee imposed pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 1954.205 and the late fee imposed pursuant to paragraph (1).

(3) If any partial payments are made, they shall be credited against the bill that has been outstanding the longest.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 1954.207, if the water bill remains unpaid for 180 days after the date upon which it is due or the amount of the unpaid water bill equals or exceeds two hundred dollars ($200), the landlord may terminate the tenancy in accordance with Section 1161 of the Code of Civil Procedure with the service of a three-day notice to perform the conditions or covenants or quit upon the tenant.

(d) Water service charges under this chapter shall not constitute rent.

(e) The water service to a dwelling unit shall not be shut off or otherwise interfered with by the landlord for any reason, including nonpayment of a bill. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a landlord or its agent may shut off water service to a dwelling unit or the property, in order to make repairs, replacements of equipment, or perform other maintenance at the property.