Cal. Civ. Code § 170-15-1-6
"Landlord's usage" defined
Operative Text
Sec. 6. "Landlord's usage" means water and sewage disposal service consumed or utilized by the landlord for: (1) personal use; (2) business use; or (3) usage in common areas, including, but not limited to: (A) a club house; (B) a laundry facility; (C) a bath house; (D) a community restroom; (E) a swimming pool; (F) a hot tub; (G) an irrigation sprinkler system; (H) a fire protection sprinkler system; (I) grounds keeping; (J) flushing the mains; or (K) any other common purpose. The term also includes water lost to water leaks in common areas.
Under 170 IAC 15 § 170-15-1-6, 'landlord's usage' is a defined term referring to water and sewage disposal service that a landlord consumes for personal purposes, business purposes, or the operation of shared spaces such as clubhouses, laundry facilities, pools, irrigation systems, and fire sprinklers. The definition also captures water lost through leaks in those common areas. This classification matters because it distinguishes the landlord's own consumption from water usage that might otherwise be allocated to tenants.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to 170 IAC 15 § 170-15-1-6 generally maintain clear records distinguishing their own water and sewage consumption—covering personal use, business operations, and all common-area facilities listed in the provision—from any usage attributable to individual tenant units. Compliant operators also account for water lost to leaks in common areas as part of landlord's usage rather than passing those losses on to tenants. Keeping detailed utility and maintenance records helps demonstrate that billing allocations align with the definitions established in this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 170 IAC 15 § 170-15-1-6, water and sewage costs tied to a landlord's personal use, business operations, shared amenities, and common-area leaks are classified as the landlord's own usage—not costs that should be shifted to tenants without a proper allocation framework. Tenants who believe they are being billed for water consumption that falls within this definition may find it useful to review their lease and any utility billing disclosures they received. Tenant-rights organizations and Indiana utility regulators can be resources for understanding how this definition applies to a particular billing arrangement.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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