What the act says
AB 1750 authorizes landowners to install and operate rain barrel and rainwater capture systems. It names residential, commercial and governmental landowners, and it applies to systems of the kind an IBC tote makes: a container, a roof or gutter feeding it and a way to use the water.
Read the enrolled text at the link below, not a summary of it. This guide is a pointer, not legal advice.
What it does not settle
It does not make rainwater drinkable. UF/IFAS advises that stored rainwater is not for drinking, and that openings should be screened against mosquitoes.
It does not overrule a homeowner association, a lease, a local building code, a plumbing code or a water agency's rules about connecting a rain system to anything else. Riverside, San Bernardino and each city in them can have their own rules about overflow, location and permits for larger systems. Ask your city or water agency before you build something big.
| Question | Who to ask |
|---|---|
| Does my HOA or lease allow it? | HOA board or landlord |
| Do I need a permit for a larger system? | City building department |
| Is there a rebate? | Your water agency |
| Can I connect it to anything inside the house? | City plumbing code; a plumber |
| Where can the overflow go? | City, water agency |
Using a tote as the barrel
An IBC tote is a big barrel: 275 or 330 gallons. It needs a sound base, a screened inlet and a clear history. See catching rain in a tote for the build and water totes for which totes can hold water.
A homeowner's reading of the act
For a household, the practical meaning is simple: a barrel under a downspout is lawful at the state level, and a larger tote is only a bigger barrel. The state act does not tell you where to put it, how close to the property line, or whether your roofing material is suitable for collecting water.
Roof surfaces matter more than most people expect. Some coatings and treated shingles leach compounds, so water from them is better left for ornamentals and not for edible plants. If you plan to water vegetables from a tote, ask your water agency whether your roof is suitable before you build.
Two questions to put to your water agency
First, does it offer a rebate or a program for rain barrels or larger cisterns? Second, does it have rules about how overflow is directed? The agency will answer both for your address, which this guide cannot do.
Neighbours and runoff
Overflow from a full tote should not run onto a neighbour's land or into a storm drain carrying contaminants. Direct it to a garden bed or a swale on your own property.
Questions people ask
Are rain barrels legal in California?
Yes. The Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 authorizes rain barrel and rainwater capture systems.
Can I drink the water?
No. Stored rainwater is not for drinking.
Sources. Last reviewed 2026-11-11.