Lawn Watering Restrictions: Mesa vs Tempe
How do lawn watering restrictions rules compare between Mesa, AZ and Tempe, AZ?
Mesa and Tempe have similar restriction levels.
Mesa, AZ
Maricopa County
Mesa Utilities customers follow a year-round watering schedule with seasonal frequency limits and prohibited daytime hours during summer. The rules conserve Salt River Project and Central Arizona Project supplies amid Colorado River shortage declarations.
View full Mesa rules →Tempe, AZ
Maricopa County
The Phoenix Active Management Area, administered by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, sets groundwater rules across most of Maricopa County. Outdoor watering schedules are imposed by individual cities and water providers, not by county-wide ordinance, though AMA conservation requirements still apply.
View full Tempe rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Mesa | Tempe |
|---|---|---|
| No-water hours (summer) | 10am-6pm May-September | - |
| Raw water sources | SRP and CAP | - |
| Colorado River | Tier shortage active | - |
| Plan | Mesa Drought Management Plan | - |
| AMA | - | Phoenix AMA |
| Authority | - | ARS title 45 chapter 2 |
| Agency | - | AZ DWR |
| County schedule | - | None imposed |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Mesa FAQ
Is there a watering day schedule?
Mesa does not assign odd/even watering days like some Phoenix metro cities. Instead it limits the hours of day during peak summer months and prohibits waste through overspray rules.
What is Tier shortage?
The federal Bureau of Reclamation declared shortage tiers on the Colorado River that reduce CAP deliveries to Arizona. Mesa absorbs cuts through conservation and SRP balancing rather than rationing.
Tempe FAQ
Are there odd-even watering days in unincorporated areas?
No. Maricopa County has not adopted day-of-week watering rules. Cities like Scottsdale and Mesa run their own programs; well-served unincorporated parcels follow ADWR conservation programs through the Phoenix AMA.
Do I need a permit for a private well?
Wells producing under thirty-five gallons per minute are exempt but must be registered with ADWR. Larger wells need a Type-1 or Type-2 grandfathered groundwater right or a service-area right under ARS title 45.
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