Built in the 1970s or later: newer does not mean finished

Stories filed for houses of this age

• Built in the 1970s or later: newer does not mean finished
• Lead at an L.A. tap: the street is not where to look

Newer houses avoid some of the old problems and pick up different ones. They also tend to have clearer permit records, which is worth using.

What was usually built then in L.A.

History sources get thinner here, because these houses aren't yet old enough for most historic surveys. SurveyLA's residential study runs to 1980, and its Ranch House context runs through 1975, so late Ranch tracts overlap this page. Burbank's report calls the 1960s and 1970s a lull there. This paper can't offer a sourced neighborhood list for later decades. Your own building record is a better guide.

What the pipes usually were

Copper supply was common, sometimes with soldered joints that matter for lead. LADWP says lead solders were banned in 1986 and it treats solder as a minor concern in homes built after 1990. Its own sampling targets this window: in 2023, 105 first-draw samples from 1982 to 1987 homes with original plumbing gave a 90th-percentile lead result of 3.9 ppb, against an action level of 15, and copper of 529 ppb against 1,300.

Plastic drains became common. A City of Tempe document notes plastic piping entered the Uniform Plumbing Code in the early 1970s, while cast iron and clay stayed in use, so not every house of the period matches. Polybutylene supply pipe was installed from the late 1970s and drew a national class settlement, Cox v. Shell, in the mid-1990s. This paper does not know how much of it reached Los Angeles houses. Later owners may have swapped any of this, so the year only tells you where to start looking. See lead and your tap.

What to check first this year

1. Find out the water heater's age from its label. Check straps, and never block the relief valve.
2. Look for gray or blue plastic supply pipe at the water heater or under sinks, stamped PB. If you find it, ask a licensed plumber; no cutting.
3. For drinking water in a pre-1990 house, follow LADWP's advice: cold water only, flush 1 to 2 minutes after sitting, and use an NSF-53 certified filter at the tap if you want one.
4. Read your toilets' flow rates. LADWP's $250 toilet rebate wants a change from a 1.6-gallon flush or higher down to 1.1 or lower.
5. Pull your permit history from LADBS or your own city to learn what's been done.

Which jobs are licensed

Replacing supply lines, any gas work and sewer work remain licensed jobs, whatever the age of the house. A C-36 contractor is the usual choice. In the City of Los Angeles, gas valve and sale rules also apply, along with LADWP's retrofit on resale, and California's Civil Code 1101.4 reaches noncompliant fixtures. The high-bill leak check works in any house.

By part of town

• The Valley Late tracts at the edges; summer tier blocks still apply.
• Hills & Eastside Hillside infill may rely on a pump; ask for its service history.
• Westside & Beach Rebuilds in the Palisades are far newer than the neighborhood.
• Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank Each city has its own permits and its own report.
• South L.A. & Inglewood Newer houses are scattered among older blocks; check your own year.
• Long Beach & Harbor Check which water zone serves you, whatever the age.

Questions that come up

Is a house from after 1990 free of lead concerns?

LADWP says solder shouldn't be a significant source for those houses. Faucets are a separate matter, since LADWP names them as the most common source.

What should an owner do about polybutylene?

Have a licensed plumber look at it. Don't count on an old class settlement to pay for it; plan on this being your own decision.

Do low-flow rules apply to a 1985 house?

Often, yes, since a sale or permit can trigger them. LADWP's retrofit rule covers property sold in the city, and the state's rule reaches single-family houses as well.

What this was checked against

1. Sampling and solder ban: LADWP FAQ and 2026 report
2. Polybutylene settlement: U.S. Fifth Circuit opinion
3. Plastic pipe in the code: City of Tempe
4. State fixture rule: California Civil Code, section 1101.4
5. Toilet rebate: LADWP rebate page

Sources read in November 2026. Rules and prices change: check the agency before you act.