California Codes, Civil Code - CIV, Division 3 — Obligations, Part 4 — Obligations Arising from Particular Transactions, Title 5 — Hiring, Chapter 2.5 — Water Service, Section 1954.208

Unless it can be documented that a penalty is primarily the result of a tenant’s or tenants’ failure to comply with state or local water use regulations or restrictions, or both, regarding wasting of water, a landlord shall not charge, recover, or allow to be charged or recovered, fees incurred by the landlord from the water purveyors, billing agent, or any other person for any deposit, disconnection, reconnection, late payment by the landlord, or any other penalty assessed against the landlord. This section shall not prevent a landlord from charging a tenant for the tenant’s late payment of any bill.