Summer Water Restriction Rules by City (2026)
Lawn Watering Schedules & Drought Rules
Find the rules for your area:
Find outdoor watering schedules, drought restrictions, and irrigation rules for your city. See which cities have the strictest water conservation ordinances.
The table below breaks down the rules across 42 states and 441 cities and counties. Every entry is based on the actual municipal code for that location, not a guess or a generic template. Click any location to see the full ordinance details, including fines, exceptions, and local FAQs.
Rules by State
Each state is colored by the most common local rule. Click a state to see the cities and counties we cover there.
| State | Locations | Strict | Moderate | Permissive | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 149 | 10 | 139 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Florida | 71 | 14 | 55 | 2 | Some Restrictions |
| Texas | 39 | - | 38 | 1 | Some Restrictions |
| Georgia | 22 | - | 22 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Colorado | 15 | - | 15 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Illinois | 13 | - | 13 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Utah | 13 | 1 | 12 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Washington | 13 | - | 13 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Virginia | 12 | 1 | 10 | 1 | Some Restrictions |
| Arizona | 11 | 1 | 10 | - | Some Restrictions |
| North Carolina | 11 | - | 11 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Pennsylvania | 11 | - | 10 | 1 | Some Restrictions |
| New York | 9 | - | 9 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Michigan | 8 | - | 8 | - | Some Restrictions |
| South Carolina | 7 | - | 7 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Alabama | 6 | - | 5 | 1 | Some Restrictions |
| Nevada | 6 | - | 6 | - | Some Restrictions |
| New Jersey | 6 | - | 6 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Oregon | 6 | - | 6 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Kansas | 5 | - | 5 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Massachusetts | 5 | - | 5 | - | Some Restrictions |
| New Mexico | 5 | 2 | 3 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Minnesota | 4 | - | 4 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Connecticut | 3 | - | 3 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Kentucky | 3 | - | 3 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Maryland | 3 | - | 2 | 1 | Some Restrictions |
| Wisconsin | 3 | - | 3 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Hawaii | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Iowa | 2 | - | 2 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Louisiana | 2 | - | 2 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Ohio | 2 | - | 1 | 1 | Some Restrictions |
| Oklahoma | 2 | - | 2 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Tennessee | 2 | - | 1 | 1 | Some Restrictions |
| Delaware | 1 | - | 1 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Idaho | 1 | - | 1 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Indiana | 1 | - | 1 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Missouri | 1 | - | 1 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Montana | 1 | - | 1 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Nebraska | 1 | - | 1 | - | Some Restrictions |
| North Dakota | 1 | - | 1 | - | Some Restrictions |
| South Dakota | 1 | - | 1 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Wyoming | 1 | - | 1 | - | Some Restrictions |
How Cities Compare
These rankings are based on verified municipal code data, not opinion. A "strict" rating means the city has heavy restrictions, high fines, or outright bans. "Permissive" means few or no local restrictions beyond state law.
Most Restrictive
- 1Lee County, FL$100.00 by Hearing Examiner order
Unincorporated Lee County bans landscape irrigation between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. every day and assigns watering days by address, tightening to one day a week from February through May.
- 2Safety Harbor, FL$193 citation
Safety Harbor follows SWFWMD watering rules: even addresses irrigate Thursday/Sunday, odd addresses Wednesday/Saturday, with no watering 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Modified Phase III restrictions are currently in effect through July 2026.
- 3Seminole, FLTue even, Thu odd south of SR 580
Seminole, FL follows Pinellas County and SWFWMD watering rules. Under the current Modified Phase III order, irrigation is limited to one day per week tied to address number, with restricted overnight watering windows.
- 4Charlotte County, FLOne day per week
Charlotte County sits in the Southwest Florida Water Management District (Swiftmud) and enforces a once-per-week irrigation schedule assigned by the last digit of the street address, morning hours only. Florida Statute 373.62 requires a working shutoff sensor on every automatic sprinkler.
- 5Fillmore, CATypically 10 AM to 5 PM no watering
Fillmore's water supply comes from local groundwater in the Santa Clara River watershed. The city enforces water conservation measures including irrigation day/time restrictions during drought conditions. Outdoor watering is typically limited to specific days and prohibited during the heat of the day.
- 6Pomona, CA
Pomona is served by multiple water providers following MWELO requirements. New landscapes over 500 sq ft must meet Maximum Applied Water Allowance calculations. CA Gov Code Section 65595 prohibits banning drought-tolerant landscaping.
- 7Richmond, CA
Richmond is in the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) service area. EBMUD's Section 29 (Water Use Restrictions) permanently prohibits outdoor watering that causes runoff, watering during or within 48 hours of measurable rainfall, washing sidewalks/driveways with potable water, washing vehicles with a hose that lacks a shut-off nozzle, and use of potable water in non-recirculating decorative fountains. New and rehabilitated landscape projects in Richmond must also comply with California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), 23 CCR Section 490 et seq.
- 8Dade City, FL6 PM to 8 AM
Dade City follows SWFWMD water restrictions. Lawn irrigation is limited to one day per week under the current Modified Phase I Water Shortage Order. Watering hours are restricted to 6 PM–8 AM for potable water and midnight–8 AM for reclaimed water. Note: wastewater capacity is currently fully allocated in Dade City.
- 9Hernando County, FLOne day per week
Hernando County sits in the Southwest Florida Water Management District (Swiftmud) and enforces a strict one-day-per-week irrigation schedule year-round, assigned by address. Florida Statute 373.62 requires a working rain sensor on every automatic sprinkler.
- 10Riverside County, CABanned within 48 hrs of 1/4-inch rainfall
Day-to-day outdoor watering in unincorporated Riverside County is governed mainly by California State Water Board permanent prohibitions and the watering rules of your local water district, not a single county ordinance. Statewide bans prohibit watering within 48 hours of rain, hosing hard surfaces, runoff, and nozzle-less car washing.
Fewest Restrictions
- 1Lakewood, OHNone (voluntary program)
Lakewood imposes no mandatory lawn-watering ban; it buys water from Cleveland and offers a voluntary Summer Sprinkling Program that credits summer outdoor water use against the sewer charge.
- 2Rutherford County, TNNone (voluntary)
Rutherford County and its water providers have not imposed mandatory watering restrictions; conservation is voluntary. Tennessee sets no statewide homeowner watering ban. During drought, the county and utilities such as the Consolidated Utility District ask residents to cut non-essential water use.
- 3Okaloosa County, FL
Florida law bars any Okaloosa County ordinance, deed restriction or homeowners' association covenant from prohibiting a property owner from installing Florida-friendly, water-conserving landscaping. Fla. Stat. § 373.185(3)(b)-(c) overrides local watering and turf restrictions that would otherwise stand in the way of a drought-tolerant yard.
- 4Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh has no standing outdoor watering ban. PA Code Chapter 119 authorizes restrictions only during declared drought emergencies. Pgh2O may impose temporary limits during supply shortages.
- 5Bay County, FLNo mandatory schedule
Bay County lies in the Northwest Florida Water Management District, the only Florida district with no mandatory two-day-per-week watering schedule. Watering is largely unrestricted outside declared shortages. State law protects your right to install Florida-Friendly Landscaping.
- 6Williamson County, TX
Williamson County does not run water utilities. Outdoor watering limits come from your retail provider, such as Georgetown, Round Rock, Brushy Creek MUD, Jonah Water, or Chisholm Trail SUD, whose drought contingency plans set stage watering schedules under state law.
- 7Birmingham, ALNo watering 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; none Wed/Sat/Sun
Birmingham has no permanent municipal lawn-watering ordinance. Outdoor watering limits are set by the Birmingham Water Works Board through voluntary drought-stage advisories tied to reservoir conditions.
All 441 Locations
Every city and county below has verified ordinance data for this topic. Click any location for the full breakdown including fines, exceptions, and local FAQs.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions come from the most common things people ask about this topic across different cities.