§ 4736 Drought Pressure Washing Ban

Civil Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

Key Takeaways

•During a drought emergency, rules that force you to pressure wash your home or driveway are not allowed.
•Pressure washing means using a strong spray of water to clean things like houses, cars, or sidewalks.
•This rule only applies when the government says there’s a drought emergency.

Example

Your neighborhood rules say you must pressure wash your house every year, but there’s a drought emergency.

You don’t have to follow that rule during the drought because the law says it’s not allowed.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 4736 Drought Pressure Washing Ban

(a) A provision of the governing documents shall be void and unenforceable if it requires pressure washing the exterior of a separate interest and any exclusive use common area appurtenant to the separate interest during a state or local government declared drought emergency. (b) For purposes of this section, “pressure washing” means the use of a high-pressure sprayer or hose and potable water to remove loose paint, mold, grime, dust, mud, and dirt from surfaces and objects, including buildings, vehicles, and concrete surfaces. (Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 434, Sec. 2. (SB 992) Effective September 18, 2014.)

Last verified: January 21, 2026

Key Terms

pressure washing drought emergency governing documents separate interest exclusive use common area

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Civil Code. Section 4736.

Key Takeaways

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Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

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