WATER RIGHTS FEES
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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 all water rights holders on November 5, 2019 and payment is due by December 5, 2019. Bills can be paid online at: https://services.cdtfa.ca.gov/boe/login.jsp. (Note you will need the Express Login Code and the Account Number from your bill.) Fees can also be mailed directly to CDTFA. For more information refer to the frequently asked questions.
- On October 28, 2019, the Office of Administrative Law issued a Notice of Approval of Emergency Regulatory Action that approved the State Water Board's emergency regulatory action to revise the fees for water rights 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
General Information
- Water Right Registration Fee Payment Change
- 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.
