What Is in California’s Code of Regulations Title 23?

The California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 23 is one of 27 Titles that contain state regulations. Title 23, called “Waters,” contains 8 Divisions. There are also numerous chapters and articles containing regulatory sections, or individual regulations. The following is a broad overview of CCR Title 23.

Division 1. Central Valley Flood Protection Board

Chapter 1. Organization, Powers and Standards

Article 1. Authority, Purpose, Scope, and Intent – 3 Sections

Article 2. Definitions and Delegations – 2 Sections

Article 2.5. Ex Parte Communications – 1 Section

Article 3. Application Procedures – 17 Sections

Article 4. Enforcement Actions – 10 Sections

Article 4.1. Reconsideration – 1 Section

Article 5. Designated Floodways – 7 Sections

Article 6. Existing Encroachments Within an Adopted Plan of Flood Control – 1 Section

Article 7. Review Rights – 2 Sections

Article 8. Standards – 28 Sections

Article 9. Regulations for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act – 4 Sections

Article 10. Appendices – 2 Appendices

Division 1.5 Flood Plain Management (Department of Water Resources and Reclamation Board

Article 1. General Provisions – 4 Sections

Article 2. Notification of Need for Regulations – 6 Sections

Article 3. Types of Regulations – 3 Sections

Article 4. Review of Proposed Regulations – 4 Sections

Article 5. Studies to Support Regulations – 3 Sections

Division 2. Department of Water Resources

Chapter 1. Dams and Reservoirs

Article 1. General Provisions – 5 Sections

Article 2. Applications for Construction, Enlargement, Repair, Alteration, or Removal of Dams or Reservoirs – 5 Sections

Article 3. Annual Fee – 2 Sections

Article 4. Small Dams Review Board – 6 Sections

Article 5. Dams Owned by the Department of Water Resources – 4 Sections

Article 6. Inundation Maps – 11 Sections

Chapter 1.5. Groundwater Management

Subchapter 1. Groundwater Basin Boundaries – 34 Sections

Subchapter 2. Groundwater Sustainability Plans – 52 Sections

Chapter 1.6. Relocation Assistance Program

Article 1. General – 5 Sections

Article 2. Relocation Payments – 19 Sections

Article 3. Acquisition Policies – 1 Section

Chapter 1.7. Selection Process for Private Architectural, Landscape Architectural, Engineering, Environmental, Land Surveying, and Construction Project Management Firms

Article 1. General Provisions – 3 Sections

Article 2. Specific Provisions – 11 Sections

Chapter 1.8 Residential Water Conservation Tax Credit

Chapter 1.9 Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program for Department State Contract Act Contracts – 3 Sections

Chapter 2. Financial Assistance for Local Projects

Article 1. General Provisions – 4 Sections

Article 2. Request for Preliminary Determination of Eligibility for a Project Construction Loan or Grant – 6 Sections

Article 3. Application for a Project Construction Loan or Grant or Facilities Grant – 8 Sections

Article 4. Applications for State Participation – 1 Section

Article 5. Procedure Following Approval of a Project Construction Loan or Grant, or Facilities Grant, or State Participation – 2 Sections

Article 6. Application for Loan for Preparation of Feasibility Report – 3 Sections

Article 8. Grant Standards – 2 Sections

Article 9. Application for Drought Emergency Loans

Chapter 2.2. Environmental Water Act of 1989

Article 1. General Provisions – 3 Sections

Article 2. Specific Program Provisions – 3 Sections

Article 3. Evaluation Process – 5 Sections

Chapter 2.3. Loan Programs Under the Water Conservation and Water Quality Bond Law of 1986, and the Water Conservation Bond Law of 1988 and Loan and Grant Programs for Local Projects Under the Safe, Clean, Reliable Water Supply Act – 9 Sections

Chapter 2.4. Grant Program Under the Urban Creeks Restoration and Flood Control Act of 1985 – 6 Sections

Chapter 2.5. California Safe Drinking Water Bond Law of 1976 and California Safe Drinking Water Grant Program – 21 Sections

Chapter 2.5.1. California Safe Drinking Water Bond Law of 1984 – 16 Sections

Chapter 2.6. Weather Resources Management [Repealed]

Chapter 2.7. Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance – 27 Sections and 4 Appendices

Chapter 2.7.1. Flood Protection Corridor Program of the Costa-Machado Water Act of 2000 – 12 Sections

Chapter 2.5.2. Yuba Feather Flood Protection Program of the Safe Drinking Water, Clean Water, Watershed Protection, and Flood Protection Act – 15 Sections

Chapter 3. Regulations for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 – 10 Sections

Chapter 4. Revenue Requirement and Just and Reasonable Determination – 8 Sections

Chapter 4.5. Financial Assistance for Flood Management Projects and Small Flood Management Projects – 7 Sections and 1 Appendix

Chapter 5. Department of Water Resources – Conflict of Interest Code – 1 Section

Chapter 5.1. Water Conservation Act of 2009

Article 1. Industrial Process Water Exclusion in the Calculation of Gross Water Use – 6 Sections

Article 2. Agricultural Water Measurement – 5 Sections

Chapter 6. Encroachments

Article 1. General Provisions – 5 Sections

Article 2. Encroachment Permit General Provisions – 7 Sections

Article 3. Encroachment Permit Exemption – 3 Sections

Article 4. Existing Encroachments – 3 Sections

Article 5. Encroachment Permit Process – 11 Sections

Article 6. Requirements for Specific Types of Encroachments – 13 Sections

Article 7. Corrosion Protection Requirements – 3 Sections

Article 8. Encroachment Permit Evaluation Process – 2 Sections

Article 9. Unauthorized Encroachments – 7 Sections

Article 10. General Encroachment Permit for Operations and Maintenance by Public Agencies – 1 Sections

Chapter 7. Water Loss Audits and Water Loss Control Reporting – 6 Sections

Division 3. State Water Resources Control Board and Regional Water Quality Control Boards

Chapter 1. General Provisions

Article 1. Definitions – 1 Section

Article 2. Purpose, Use and Effect of Regulations – 1 Section

Article 3. Official Records [Repealed]

Article 4. Meeting Notice and Agenda Requirements [Repealed]

Article 5. Conflict of Interest – 7 Sections

Article 6. State Water Resources Control Board – Conflict of Interest Code – 1 Section

Chapter 1.5. Rules of Practice and Procedure

Article 1. Meetings – 6 Sections

Article 2. Adjudicative Proceedings – 10 Sections

Article 3. Rulemaking and Informational Proceedings – 6 Sections

Article 4. Subpoenas – 1 Section

Chapter 2. Appropriation of Water

Article 1. General Provisions – 7 Sections

Article 2. Definitions – 26 Sections

Article 3. How Applications Are Processed – 11 Sections

Article 4. Requirements for Separate Applications and Joint Applications – 12 Sections

Article 5. Amounts for Which to Apply – 10 Sections

Article 6. Contents of Application and Instream Beneficial Use Assessment – 10 Sections

Article 7. Map Requirements – 15 Sections

Article 8. Special Situation Applications – 22 Sections

Article 9. Protests and Answers – 10 Sections

Article 10. Investigations – 3 Sections

Article 11. Hearings and Proceedings in Lieu of Hearing – 21 Sections

Article 12. Reconsideration and Amendments of Board Water Right Decision and Orders – 5 Sections

Article 13. Right of Access – 7 Sections

Article 14. Standard Permit Terms and Conditions – 8 Sections

Article 15. Changes in Point of Diversion, Place of Use, or Purpose of Use – 8 Sections

Article 16. Temporary Changes Due to Transfer or Exchange of Water or Water Rights – 5 Sections

Article 16.5. Temporary Urgency Changes – 2 Sections

Article 17. Changes Involving a Long-Term Transfer of Water or Water Right – 6 Sections

Article 18. Enforcement of Terms and Conditions – 4 Sections

Article 19. Changes of Ownership and of Address-Notices – 7 Sections

Article 20. Diligence Required -Extensions of Time – 9 Sections

Article 21. Revocation of Permits and Licenses – 3 Sections

Article 22. Prevention of Waste and Unreasonable Use – 7 Sections

Article 22.5. Drought Emergency Water Conservation [Repealed]

Article 23. Stream Systems Declared to be Fully Appropriated – 5 Sections

Article 23.5. Klamath River Watershed Drought Emergency Requirements – 10 Sections

Article 24. Curtailment of Diversions Due to Drought Emergency – 16 Sections

Chapter 2.5. Water Rights for Stockponds

Article 1. Definitions – 2 Sections

Article 2. Claims of Water Rights and Applications for Certification – 4 Sections

Article 3. Fees – 1 Section

Article 4. Notice of Claims and Protests – 4 Sections

Article 5. Investigation, Hearing, and Certification of Claims – 3 Sections

Article 6. Continued Use of the Stockpond and Revocation of the Certification – 2 Sections

Chapter 2.7. Water Diversion and Use Reports

Article 1. Definitions – 2 Sections

Article 2. Declaration of Policy – 15 Sections

Chapter 2.8. Measuring and Monitoring – 9 Sections

Chapter 3. Determination of Right to the Use of Water

Article 1. Definitions – 1 Section

Article 2. Adjudications Under Water Code Sections 2500 Through 2900 – 15 Sections

Chapter 3.5. Urban Water Use Efficiency and Conservation

Article 1. Reporting – 2 Sections

Article 2. Prevention of Drought Wasteful Water Uses – 1 Section

Chapter 4. Recordation of Water Extractions and Diversions

Article 1. Notices of Water Extractions and Diversions – 3 Sections

Article 2. Fees – 3 Sections

Article 3. Investigation and Determination of Facts – 5 Sections

Chapter 4.5. Implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014

Article 1. Definitions – 1 Section

Article 2. Report of Groundwater Extraction – 1 Section

Article 3. Filing Fees – 7 Sections

Chapter 5. Fees – 20 Sections

Chapter 6. Review by State Board of Action or Failure to Act by Regional Board – 14 Sections

Chapter 7. Clean Water Grant Program [Repealed]

Chapter 8. Other Federal Grant Programs [Repealed]

Chapter 9. Waste Discharge Reports and Requirements

Article 1. Fees – 10 Sections

Article 2. Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges Other than from Point Sources to Navigable Waters – 9 Sections

Article 3. Waste Discharges from Point Sources to Navigable Waters – 4 Sections

Article 5. Waste Discharges from Point Sources to Navigable Waters [Repealed]

Article 6. Bay Protection Toxic Cleanup Program – 1 Section

Chapter 9.1. Enforcement Procedures

Article 1. Cease and Desist Orders – 6 Sections

Chapter 9.2. Reportable Quantities and Reporting Requirements – 3 Sections

Chapter 10. Licensing and Regulation of Use of Oil Spill Cleanup Agents [Repealed]

Chapter 11. Certification of Conformance with Water Quality Standards [Repealed]

Chapter 12. Certification Under Section 169 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as Amended [Repealed]

Chapter 13. Registration and Regulation of Liquid Waste Haulers [Repealed]

Chapter 14. Classification of Wastewater Treatment Plants and Operator Certification [Repealed]

Chapter 15. Discharges of Hazardous Waste to Land

Article 1. General – 2 Sections

Article 2. Waste Classification and Management – 2 Sections

Article 3. Waste Management Unit Classification and Siting – 2 Sections

Article 4. Construction Standards for Class I Units – 10 Sections

Article 5. Water Quality Monitoring for Classified Waste Management Units – 23 Sections

Article 6. Confined Animal Facilities – 6 Sections

Article 7. Mining Waste Management – 5 Sections

Article 8. Closure and Post-Closure Maintenance – 5 Sections

Article 9. Compliance Procedures – 8 Sections

Article 10. Definitions – 2 Sections and 1 Appendix

Chapter 16. Underground Tank Regulations

Article 1. Definition of Terms – 2 Sections

Article 2. General Provisions – 2 Sections

Article 3. New Underground Storage Tank Design, Construction, and Monitoring Requirements – 17 Sections

Article 4. Existing Underground Storage Tank Monitoring Requirements – 12 Sections

Article 5. Release Reporting and Initial Abatement Requirements – 6 Sections

Article 6. Underground Storage Tank Repair and Upgrade Requirements – 7 Sections

Article 7. Underground Storage Tank Closure Requirements – 3 Sections

Article 8. Site-Specific Variance Procedures – 3 Sections

Article 9. Local Agency Requests for Additional Design and Construction Standards – 2 Sections

Article 10. Permit Application, Quarterly Report, and Trade Secret Request Requirements – 7 Sections and 13 Appendices

Article 10.5. Red Tag Authority – 8 Sections

Article 11. Corrective Action Requirements – 9 Sections

Article 12. Electronic Submission of Laboratory Data for Ust Reports – 2 Sections

Chapter 17. Underground Tank Tester Regulations

Article 1. General Provisions – 2 Sections

Article 2. Administration – 2 Sections

Article 3. Application of Regulations – 2 Sections

Article 4. Licensing – 4 Sections

Article 5. Conduct of Business and Prohibited Acts – 5 Sections

Article 6. Appeals Regarding Disciplinary Action – 7 Sections

Article 7. Revenue – 3 Sections

Chapter 18. Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund Regulations

Article 1. General Provisions – 1 Section

Article 2. Definition of Terms – 1 Section

Article 3. Financial Responsibility Requirements – 12 Sections

Article 4. The Fund – 23 Sections

Article 5. Request for Review, Appeal, and Petition Process – 6 Sections

Article 6. Petitions for Site Closure – 3 Sections

Article 7. Underground Storage Tank Petroleum Contamination Orphan Site Cleanup Fund – 18 Sections

Chapter 19. Certification Under the California Pollution Control Financing Authority Act [Repealed]

Chapter 20. Standards for the Removal of Sewage from Vessels

Article 1. General – 2 Sections

Article 2. Design and Construction – 6 Sections

Article 3. Operation and Maintenance – 3 Sections

Chapter 20.1. Designation of Marine Terminals to Provide Adequate Sewage Retention Device Pumpout Facilities

Article 1. General Provisions – 1 Section

Article 2. Administrative Procedures – 8 Sections

Chapter 21. Certification for Small Business Concerns Applying for Small Business Act Loans to Meet Water Pollution Control Requirements [Repealed]

Chapter 22. State Policy for Water Quality Control – 23 Sections

Chapter 23. Water Quality Control Plans – 13 Sections

Chapter 24. Grant and Loan Programs

Article 1. Pesticide Research, Identification of Source, and Mitigation Grant Program [Repealed]

Article 2. Replacing, Removing, or Upgrading Petroleum Underground Storage Tanks Grant and Loan Program – 9 Sections

Chapter 25. Clean Water Grant Program [Repealed]

Chapter 26. Wastewater Treatment Plant Classification, Operator Certification, and Contract Operator Registration

Article 1. General Provisions – 3 Sections

Article 2. Classification of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Owner Reporting Requirements, and Criteria for a Class I Wastewater Treatment Plant – 9 Sections

Article 3. Grade Levels of Operator Certification – 4 Sections

Article 4. Operators-in-Training – 7 Sections

Article 5. Provisional Operators – 5 Sections

Article 6. Minimum Qualifications for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification – 4 Sections

Article 7. Examination for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators – 5 Sections

Article 8. Certification of Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators – 9 Sections

Article 9. Administrative Civil Liability, Disciplinary Action, Appeal, and Petition Process – 12 Sections

Article 10. Fees – 1 Section

Article 11. Advisory Committee – 1 Section

Article 12. Wastewater Treatment Plant Contract Operators – 20 Sections

Chapter 27. Regulations for Implementation of the Environmental Quality Act of 1970

Article 1. General – 4 Sections

Article 2. Exemptions – 2 Sections

Article 3. Applications for Waste Discharge, Water Recycling Requirements, or Other Entitlements for Use – 3 Sections

Article 4. Applications for Funding – 2 Sections

Article 5. Processing of Environmental Documents – 2 Sections

Article 6. Exempt Regulatory Programs – 10 Sections and 3 Appendices

Chapter 28. Certifications

Article 1. General Provisions – 10 Sections

Article 2. Tax Certifications – 5 Sections

Article 3. Small Business Certifications – 5 Sections

Article 4. Water Quality Certification – 7 Sections

Article 5. Pollution Control Certifications – 3 Sections

Article 6. Petitions to State Board – 4 Sections

Chapter 29. Contracting with Private Architectural, Landscape Architectural, Engineering, Environmental, Land Surveying, or Construction Project Management Firms – 11 Sections

Chapter 30. Electronic Submittal of Information

Article 1. General Provisions – 1 Section

Article 2. Electronic Submittal of Information – 5 Sections

Division 4. Regional Water Quality Control Boards

Chapter 1. Water Quality Control Plans, Policies, and Guidelines

Article 1. North Coast Region – 16 Sections

Article 2. San Francisco Bay Region – 32 Sections

Article 3. Central Coast Region – 28 Sections

Article 4. Los Angeles Region – 68 Sections

Article 5. Central Valley Region – 30 Sections

Article 6. Lahontan Region – 20 Sections

Article 7. Colorado River Basin Region – 14 Sections

Article 8. Santa Ana Region – 23 Sections

Article 9. San Diego Region – 21 Sections

Division 5. Prevention of Waste, Unreasonable Use or Diversion of Water (State Water Resources Control Board and Department of Water Resources)

Chapter 1. Procedures – 8 Sections

Division 6. Delta Stewardship Council – 1 Section

Chapter 2. Consistency with Regulatory Policies Contained in the Delta Plan

Article 1. Definitions – 1 Section

Article 2. Certifications of Consistency – 1 Section

Article 3. Consistency with the Regulatory Policies Contained in the Delta Plan – 13 Sections

Article 4. General Provisions – 1 Section and 10 Appendices

Division 7. California Water Commission

Chapter 1. Water Storage Investment Program

Article 1. Purpose and Definitions – 2 Sections

Article 2. Application Process – 3 Sections

Article 3. Commission Methodology and Evaluation Criteria – 5 Sections

Article 4. Conditional Eligibility and Funding Process – 5 Sections

Article 5. General Provisions – 1 Sections

Title 23 contains 1,678 Sections.