CHAPTER 11. Discharges From Houseboats on or in the Waters of the State [13900. - 13908.]

Cal. Water Code - WAT 11.

in effect

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 13900. Section 13900.

The Legislature finds and hereby declares that discharges from houseboats in or on the waters of the state constitute a significant source of waste as defined in Section 13050; that discharges of waste from houseboats in or on the waters of the state may impair the beneficial uses of the waters of the state to the detriment of the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the state; and that the discharges of waste from houseboats are not adequately regulated. The Legislature therefore declares that the people of the state have a primary interest in the coordination and implementation of the regulation of discharges of waste from houseboats on or in the waters of the state.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 13901. Section 13901.

As used in this article, “houseboat” means a watercraft or industrial or commercial structure on or in the waters of the state, floating or nonfloating, which is designed or fitted out as a place of habitation and is not principally used for transportation. “Houseboat” includes platforms, and waterborne hotels and restaurants. “City or county” means any city, county, city and county, or port authority.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 13902. Section 13902.

Each regional board shall investigate its region to determine areas in which discharges of waste from houseboats are inadequately regulated by local ordinance.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 13903. Section 13903.

Each regional board shall notify each affected city or county, the State Department of Public Health and the Department of Boating and Waterways of areas of inadequate regulation by ordinance of discharges of waste from houseboats and shall recommend provisions necessary to control the discharges of waste from houseboats into the waters.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 13904. Section 13904.

Each affected city or county shall within 120 days of receipt of the notice from the regional board, adopt an ordinance for control of discharges of waste from houseboats within the area for which notice was given by the board. A copy of the ordinance shall be sent to the regional board on its adoption and the regional board shall transmit the ordinance to the state board, the State Department of Public Health and the Department of Boating and Waterways.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 13905. Section 13905.

Such city or county ordinance shall take effect 60 days from the date of adoption by the city or county, unless the regional board holds a public hearing on the matter and determines that the city or county ordinance is not sufficiently restrictive to protect the quality of the waters affected. If the board makes such a determination, it shall so report to the affected city or county and also recommend the ordinance, or modification of the city or county ordinance, which it determines is necessary.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 13906. Section 13906.

If a city or county fails to adopt an ordinance controlling discharges of waste from houseboats within 120 days of receipt of the regional board’s notice pursuant to Section 13903, or fails to adopt or modify such ordinance in the manner determined as necessary by the regional board pursuant to Section 13905, within 90 days of receipt of the regional board’s notice, the regional board may adopt regulations necessary for the control of discharges of waste from houseboats for the area designated. Such regional board regulations shall take effect 30 days from the date of their adoption and shall be enforced by the city or county and have the same force and effect as if adopted as a city or county ordinance.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 13907. Section 13907.

Any action, report, determination, or regulation taken or adopted by a regional board, or any failure of a regional board to act may be reviewed by the state board, and shall be reviewed by the state board on the request of any affected city or county. The state board has all powers as to the review of action or inaction of a regional board under this article as it has to other action or inaction of a regional board, including all powers granted to a regional board to initially determine areas in which discharges of waste from houseboats are inadequately regulated by local ordinance and to adopt regulations when a city or county fails to do so, if the state board finds that appropriate action has not been taken by a regional board. Any action of a regional board under this chapter or any city or county ordinance affected by the review of the state board shall have no force or effect during the period of the review by the state board.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 13908. Section 13908.

No provision in this chapter and no action thereunder by a regional board or the state board is a limitation on the power of a city or county to adopt and enforce additional ordinances or regulations not in conflict therewith imposing further conditions, restrictions, or limitations with respect to the discharges of waste from houseboats.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026