San Diego Water Rates: How the City Charges and What Is Changing in 2027

by Trevor Landress

The City of San Diego bills single-family water use in three tiers, and it has proposed moving to a single rate of $11.09 per hundred cubic feet starting January 1, 2027 after a court ruling. At the time this article was written in October 2026, the City Council had postponed its vote on the change to October 27.

The short answer

Single-family customers currently pay $9.75, $10.88 or $13.62 per hundred cubic feet, depending on how much they use in a two-month bill.
The City proposes one rate of $11.09 per hundred cubic feet starting January 1, 2027.
City estimates show lighter users paying more and the heaviest users paying less under a single rate.
A fixed monthly service charge applies by meter size, and sewer is billed separately.

How the City charges today

The City of San Diego Public Utilities Department's rate adjustment page lists the current structure. Single-family residential water is billed in three tiers, measured in hundred cubic feet, or HCF, on a two-month basis. One HCF is about 748 gallons.

Tier (two-month usage)	Current rate per HCF	Proposed for January 1, 2027
Tier 1: 0 to 10 HCF	$9.75	$11.09
Tier 2: 11 to 22 HCF	$10.88	$11.09
Tier 3: over 22 HCF	$13.62	$11.09

In addition to usage, there is a monthly service charge by meter size. For a standard 5/8-inch or 3/4-inch residential meter, the page listed $40.69 now and $40.97 proposed for January 2027. Your bill depends on your meter size, your property type and other factors.

Why a single rate is proposed

KPBS reported on October 6, 2026 that a group of water customers sued the City in 2015, arguing that its tiered rates for single-family homes violated Proposition 218, and that the courts sided with them because the City had not presented enough evidence to justify the tiers. A City official was quoted as saying the City must implement a unitary rate structure to comply with the ruling.

The City says the change would not raise overall revenue, so some customers would pay more and others less. Fixed monthly charges would still vary by meter size.

What the change could do to a bill

KPBS relayed the City's estimates for the change: about 7.1% more for single-family homes in the lowest usage tier, about 5.9% more in the average tier and about 5.9% less in the heaviest tier. Apartment buildings would see savings of 2.2% to 2.6% on the average bill, and irrigation customers about 6.7%.

To show the shape of the change, here is an illustration of the usage charge only, before the fixed service charge and before sewer, comparing today's tier rates with the proposed single rate. These are not predictions for your home.

Two-month use	Current tiers	Proposed single rate	Change
10 HCF	$97.50	$110.90	plus 13.7%
20 HCF	$206.30	$221.80	plus 7.5%
30 HCF	$337.02	$332.70	minus 1.3%

Illustration only. The proposed rate may be adjusted, and it is not yet approved.

The timeline

January 1, 2026: water rates rose 14.7% and wastewater 6%, in the first adjustment approved on October 28, 2025.
May 1, 2025: a 5.5% increase that passed through a wholesale cost, approved in March 2025.
January 1, 2025: water rose 8.7% and wastewater 3%.
October 6, 2026: the public hearing was held, and the Council postponed its decision.
October 27, 2026: the postponed vote was scheduled, with a proposed effective date of January 1, 2027.

KPBS added that the Council approved across-the-board increases of 14.7% for 2026 and 14.5% for 2027 last year, and that the 2027 increase would still take effect but be adjusted to transition to the single-rate structure. Check the City's page for the final outcome of the vote.

Sewer and other charges

The City's page says single-family customers receive a flat sewer rate based on water use during a winter monitoring period of November through April, using the lower of two billing-cycle totals. All other customers are billed on water use. I cover the pipe on your side of the line in my sewer lateral guide.

City homeowners also pay a trash fee, which I explain in my San Diego trash fee guide. Together with electricity, which I cover in my SDG&E rate plans guide, these make up the utility costs of owning a home.

What it means for buyers

When you compare homes, ask the seller for recent water bills and note the meter size and the lot. A large lot with a lot of landscaping uses more water, which is where rebates and landscaping choices come in, as I describe in water-saving rebates. Utility costs also belong in your budget, along with the items in my cost of ownership guide.

I am not a utilities expert, and rates change by vote. This guide reflects what the City published and what KPBS reported when I wrote it.

My advice for San Diego buyers and homeowners

Ask the seller for the last 12 months of water and sewer bills.
Find out the meter size, since it sets the fixed monthly charge.
Check the City's rate page for the result of the Council vote before you rely on any 2027 figure.
Plan landscaping and irrigation with water use in mind.
Add water, sewer, trash and electricity to your monthly budget, not only the mortgage.

A note on advice

I am a REALTOR®, not a lender, attorney, tax professional or financial advisor, so this guide is general information. Your lender can tell you what you qualify for, and a CPA or attorney can answer tax and legal questions.

Call or text me at (619) 402-4614 or send me a message.

Call or text (619) 402-4614 Contact Trevor Landress

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

How does the City of San Diego charge for water?

Single-family customers currently pay in three tiers per hundred cubic feet, plus a monthly service charge that varies by meter size.

What is the proposed single water rate?

The City proposes one rate of $11.09 per hundred cubic feet starting January 1, 2027, in response to a court ruling on tiered rates.

Has the Council approved the single rate?

At the time this article was written in October 2026, the Council had postponed its vote to October 27, so check the City's page for the result.

How much is a hundred cubic feet of water?

One hundred cubic feet, or one HCF, is about 748 gallons.

How is sewer billed for a single-family home?

It is a flat rate based on water use during the November through April monitoring period, using the lower of two billing-cycle totals.

About the author

Trevor Landress is a San Diego REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker West (DRE# 02126901). He was born and raised in San Diego and has been licensed since 2021.

Trevor helps homeowners sell, guides first-time buyers through the home buying process and assists investors with their next acquisition. His work includes negotiating offers, analyzing market trends, building pricing strategies and running marketing campaigns for his listings.

He serves clients across San Diego County, from coastal communities like La Jolla, Del Mar and Carlsbad to neighborhoods inland.

Trevor is part of the Campbell Group, a three-generation real estate team, and he and the Campbell Group consistently rank as a top producing team at Coldwell Banker West each month. He writes these guides to help San Diego buyers and sellers navigate an ever-changing market. To talk through your plans, call or text (619) 402-4614 or contact Trevor Landress.

How I help San Diego home buyers

I help buyers sort out their budget, understand their loan options with a lender, search for homes, write and negotiate offers, keep track of inspection and contingency deadlines and stay organized through closing.

How I help San Diego home sellers

I help sellers price their home, prepare it for the market, market it to buyers, review and negotiate offers and manage the steps from an accepted offer to closing.