WATER RIGHTS FEES
Welcome to the State Water Board's page for information regarding fees for both (1) Water Rights and (2) Water Quality Certification for Hydroelectric Facilities. Effective January 1, 2004, the Water Code was amended to require the State Water Board to adopt emergency regulations revising and establishing water right fees and water quality certification fees for hydroelectric facilities to be deposited in the Water Rights Fund in the State Treasury. The Water Code authorizes the State Water Board to periodically adjust the fees and requires the State Water Board to revise the fee schedule each fiscal year as necessary to conform to the revenue levels set forth in the annual Budget Act. (Wat. Code, Sections 1525, 1530 & 13160.1.)
The State Water Board maintains an email list to share periodic announcements and updates by email. To subscribe, complete the Subscription Form and select the Water Rights Fees email list (under WATER RIGHTS).
Current Fees
Announcements
- Annual Water Rights billing is underway and fees are due. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) mailed bills to water right holders on November 15, 2021 and payment is due by December 15, 2021. Do not send payments to the State Water Board. Fees must be paid to CDTFA https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/services/#Make-a-Payment or via check or money order mailed to:
- If you are having difficulty paying your invoice due to the COVID-19 emergency, please visit the State of Emergency Tax Relief page
California Department of Tax and Fee Administration
PO Box 942879
Sacramento CA 94279-7072
General Information
- Water Right Registration Fee Payment Change
- Drought and Fee Related Frequently Asked Questions
- Water Right Fee Litigation Update 2013
- Fees Archives
Fee Development
- Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Fee Development
- On November 1, 2018, the Office of Administrative Law approved the emergency regulations.
- Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Fee Development
- The State Water Board is currently conducting stakeholder outreach to solicit input regarding updates to water rights fees for Fiscal Year 2019-2020. The State Water Board has scheduled fee stakeholder meetings for water rights fees. The meeting schedule is available here: FY 2019-20 Water Quality and Water Rights Fees Stakeholder Meetings. For more information, please visit the State Water Board's Fees Stakeholder Information page.
