§ 1244 Water Rights Transfers Protected

Water Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law says that selling or transferring water rights doesn't automatically mean you're wasting water or using it badly.

Key Takeaways

•Selling or transferring water rights is allowed and doesn’t count as wasting water.
•This rule doesn’t change old laws—it just makes them clearer.
•It applies to water rights given out under old laws or the Water Commission Act.

Example

A farmer sells some of his water rights to another farmer.

Just because he sold the rights, it doesn’t mean he was wasting water or doing something wrong.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 1244 Water Rights Transfers Protected

The sale, lease, exchange, or transfer of water or water rights, in itself, shall not constitute evidence of waste or unreasonable use, unreasonable method of use, or unreasonable method of diversion and shall not affect any determination of forfeiture applicable to water appropriated pursuant to the Water Commmission Act or this code or water appropriated prior to December 19, 1914. This section does not constitute a change in, but is declaratory of, existing law. (Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 933, Sec. 6.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

sale, lease, exchange, or transfer of water or water rights waste or unreasonable use unreasonable method of use unreasonable method of diversion forfeiture Water Commission Act declaratory of existing law

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Water Code. Section 1244.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References