Fire protection: residential fire sprinklers: fees.

(1) Existing law authorizes any public agency providing water for fire protection purposes to, by ordinance or resolution, fix and collect a charge to pay the costs of operation, installation, capital, maintenance, repair, alteration, or replacement of facilities and equipment related to supplying water for fire protection purposes. Existing law authorizes specified local jurisdictions and fire protection districts to make changes or modifications that are more stringent than specified state standards, as provided. Existing law neither authorizes nor prohibits a local jurisdiction or a fire protection district from mandating the installation of residential fire sprinkler systems within newly constructed or existing dwelling units. This bill, among other things, would, as provided, prohibit water-related fees imposed on the owner of residential property from being affected by the installation of a residential fire sprinkler system on that residential property, including those residential fire sprinkler systems mandated by a local jurisdiction or a fire protection district. The bill would provide that homes with residential fire sprinklers installed before January 1, 2022, may have their water meter rates reassessed to comply with this prohibition. For purposes of the rate reassessment, the bill would require the local agency that establishes water meter size to reassess the property owner's water meter size. The bill would authorize the local agency to impose a reasonable fee on the property owner to recover the cost of the reassessment. The bill would require the local agency to develop a reassessment application and provide this application and other information to the local public agency that provides water service to residential property. By requiring a local agency to perform new duties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.