[villagetinker]

Originally Posted by Blueblaze

Do none of the houses in Sumter County have a master water shut off valve in the house, or did the plumber just forget to install mine?

I raised the issue at closing, but was told that it is perfectly legal in Sumter County for the only shutoff valve to be the one on the water meter in the yard. I couldn't believe it, but the independent inspector I hired confirmed it.

The house is a seasonal rental, and I've worried about it ever since. Like all the Villages houses, it has those cheap, easily breakable CPVC stubouts. If there's a plumbing leak, there's no way I can expect a renter to fish around in the garage for the special tool, and then figure out which black box in the yard contains the correct meter. And for most of the year, the house is un-occupied. I guess I ought to just turn it off, but I'm there every week or so to mow and I'd have to turn it back on every time just to wash my hands.

Has anybody ever had one of those new smart safety valves installed that can sense a leak, just from the change in water pressure, and shut it off automatically? Amazon sells one that even lets you turn the water on and off with your phone.

A quick call to the Sumter County building department will confirm if there was a building code requirement for a water cutoff valve in the house. As noted is some of the previous replies our 2013 vintage house has the cutoff in the garage behind the plastic panel.
If your house truly does not have a cutoff, I would contact a plumber (actually contact several for FREE estimates) to install a valve in a suitable location.