Bishop, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Bishop, CA, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Water source
- Owens Valley groundwater basin
- Waste always banned
- BMC 13.04.050
- Stage 1 watering hours
- 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Address schedule
- Odd/even days by address
- After rain
- No irrigation for 48 hours
Summary
Bishop draws on the Owens Valley Groundwater Basin and enforces a Water Shortage Contingency Plan. Wasting water is always prohibited (BMC 13.04.050). During drought Stage 1, irrigation is limited to alternating odd/even address days and to the hours of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Water customers are requested to voluntarily limit the irrigation of landscaped areas to Even days of the month for customers even numbered addresses and Odd days of the month for water customers with odd numbered addresses, and to irrigate landscapes only between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Full Breakdown
Everyday, BMC 13.04.050 bars any unnecessary waste or water running on streets, alleys or vacant lots. The City's Water Shortage Contingency Plan (effective April 14, 2023) adds staged drought rules. In Stage 1 (Watch), customers are asked to irrigate on even days for even-numbered addresses and odd days for odd-numbered addresses, and only between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., and not within 48 hours after measurable rain. Higher stages make restrictions mandatory and add limits on car washing, fountains and pool filling. California's statewide rules (23 CCR 995) separately ban hosing down hard surfaces and causing landscape runoff.
Violations & Fines
Mandatory-stage violations are enforced by the Director of Public Works, escalating from notices to service limits; wasteful use under 13.04.050 and 23 CCR 995 is prohibited statewide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What days can I water in Bishop during a drought?
Can I let sprinklers run onto the sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bishop
How Bishop compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Bishop to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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