Rainwater laws / Arizona
Is it legal to collect rainwater in Arizona?
Checked at Arizona's own statutes and agencies, November 2026. Not legal advice.
Allowed
Yes. Arizona has no state law against collecting rooftop rain. Its public-water statute covers streams, lakes, ponds and springs, not runoff from your roof.
What the rules say
- ARS 45-141 makes water "flowing in streams, canyons, ravines or other natural channels" and in "lakes, ponds and springs" public. Roof runoff isn't listed.
- Tucson and some other cities have their own rainwater rules for new building.
- The state income tax credit for water conservation systems is no longer in Arizona law, and Arizona has no HOA protection for rain barrels.
Before you buy a big tank
State law is only one layer. Cities and counties can set their own rules, especially for tanks plumbed into the house, and an HOA can limit where a barrel sits. Drinking rainwater needs treatment everywhere. For a barrel or two on a downspout for the garden, the state rule above is usually the one that matters.
Where the numbers come from
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