Tampa, FL Landscaping Rules: Rainwater Harvesting (2026)

Tampa actively promotes rainwater harvesting as part of its Southwest Florida Water Management District conservation strategy. Simple rain barrels (typically 50 to 110 gallons) connected to residential downspouts for outdoor irrigation use are unregulated and require no permit under City Code. The Tampa Water Department and SWFWMD have historically offered rain-barrel workshops and discounted barrels to residents. Larger above-ground cisterns (generally over 500 gallons) or below-ground storage tanks trigger Florida Building Code review for structural, overflow, and mosquito-control provisions, and may require a Building permit through Tampa Construction Services. Any system connecting collected rainwater to interior plumbing, pools, or potable fixtures is regulated under the Florida Building Code — Plumbing (Chapter 13 — Nonpotable Water Systems) and requires cross-connection control, backflow prevention, and clear purple-pipe labeling distinguishing non-potable lines. Potable reuse (drinking, cooking, bathing) is permitted only with engineered treatment and permitting through Tampa Water. HOA restrictions on visible rain barrels are limited by Florida Statutes §373.185, which protects water-conserving landscaping and Florida-Friendly practices from being prohibited, though HOAs may still impose reasonable aesthetic requirements such as screening. Mosquito control is critical: containers must be sealed with fine mesh at all openings to prevent Aedes aegypti breeding, which is enforced by the Hillsborough County Mosquito Control program.