California Submetering
Required for all Apartments and Rental Properties per SB 7
California Senate Bill 7 (SB7) requires all new apartments and rental housing built after January 1, 2018 to install water submetering for individual units. By requiring rental housing to meter water on an individual unit basis, tenants have accurate information on how much water they use. By charging tenants for their actual water usage, there is a higher likelihood of responsible water usage and conservation.
Prior to 2018, it was common for apartment buildings to have only a single water meter and would charge tenants based on a fixed allocation regardless of their usage.
In many counties throughout California and the country, sewer service is billed based on water usage. By submetering tenants based on water usage, sewer service can be tied to individual water usage. In jurisdictions where costs of sewer service exceed those of water service, tenants can achieve additional savings on their sewer fee allocation by lowering water usage.
How Utility Submetering Works
A simple, four-step process that ensures accurate billing and encourages conservation
1Installation
Individual water, electric, or gas meters are installed for each unit in your property. These submeters measure actual utility consumption at the unit level.
2Monthly Reading
Our team reads all submeters monthly, either through on-site visits or remote automated meter reading (AMR) systems, ensuring accurate data collection.
3Bill Calculation
We calculate each tenant's bill based on their actual usage and the applicable utility rates, including tiered pricing, base charges, and any applicable fees.
4Tenant Billing
Professional, itemized bills are generated and delivered to each tenant, showing their consumption, rates, and charges in an easy-to-understand format.
California's Largest Multifamily Markets
We serve property owners and managers across California's major metropolitan areas
Los Angeles Metro
The largest rental market in California with over 1.8 million apartment units. Major submarkets include Downtown LA, West LA, San Fernando Valley, and South Bay. High utility costs and water conservation mandates make submetering essential.
San Francisco Bay Area
Includes San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and surrounding areas with over 800,000 apartment units. Some of the highest utility rates in the nation, particularly for water and electricity, make accurate billing critical.
San Diego County
Over 400,000 apartment units across San Diego, Chula Vista, and surrounding communities. Limited water resources and tiered water rates make submetering a valuable tool for conservation.
Inland Empire
Riverside and San Bernardino counties represent one of the fastest-growing rental markets with over 300,000 units. New construction must comply with SB 7 requirements.
Sacramento Metro
The state capital region has over 200,000 apartment units. Growing demand for rental housing and water conservation initiatives drive submetering adoption.
Orange County
Premium rental market with over 350,000 apartment units in cities like Irvine, Anaheim, and Santa Ana. High property values and utility costs make accurate billing important.
Condominium HOA Submetering
California has over 50,000 homeowners associations managing millions of condominium units. Many HOAs are transitioning from master-metered utilities to individual submetering to:
- Ensure Fair Billing: Each unit owner pays only for their actual utility consumption rather than a fixed HOA fee
- Reduce HOA Expenses: Eliminate utility costs from the HOA budget, reducing monthly assessments
- Encourage Conservation: Direct billing incentivizes residents to reduce water and energy consumption
- Comply with Regulations: Meet California's water efficiency requirements and drought restrictions
Major HOA markets include coastal communities, urban high-rises in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and master-planned communities throughout Southern California.
HOA Submetering Solutions
Mobile Home Park Submetering
California has over 4,800 mobile home parks with approximately 750,000 spaces, representing a significant portion of the state's affordable housing stock. Key markets include:
Southern California
Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and Riverside counties contain the highest concentration of mobile home parks. Many parks are transitioning to submetering to comply with state regulations and reduce operational costs.
Central Valley & Bay Area
Significant mobile home park presence in Fresno, Bakersfield, San Jose, and surrounding areas. Submetering helps park owners manage rising utility costs while maintaining affordable housing.
Benefits for Mobile Home Parks: Individual metering allows park owners to bill residents for actual usage, reduces disputes over utility bills, and ensures compliance with California's Mobilehome Residency Law (MRL) requirements for utility billing.
Mobile Home Park SolutionsContact Us (For 5+ Unit Properties)
For more info on Submetering 5+ Unit Properties, please fill out the form below: