Is it Legal to Make the Tenant Pay the Water bill Separately in CA?

In California, landlords can require tenants to pay for water separately, but certain conditions must be met. If the rental unit has individual water meters, landlords can charge tenants for their specific usage. However, if there is a master meter and the water bill is not based on individual consumption, landlords must typically include water costs in the rent or use a fair allocation method. It's advisable for landlords to clearly outline any such arrangements in the lease agreement.