Shasta County, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Shasta County does not run a single county-wide outdoor watering schedule for all residents; restrictions come from layered authorities. The State Water Resources Control Board has adopted permanent statewide prohibitions on wasteful outdoor water use, such as applying potable water in a way that causes runoff onto pavement, hosing down sidewalks and driveways, watering during and shortly after measurable rain, and using a hose without a shutoff nozzle. These apply everywhere in California, including unincorporated Shasta County. For new and renovated landscapes, the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO; California Code of Regulations Title 23, Sections 490 et seq.) sets irrigation efficiency and water-budget limits. Day-to-day watering-day and time limits are set by each retail water supplier (for example local community services and water districts) under their own conservation and drought-response programs, which tighten during declared droughts. Residents on private wells are not metered by a provider but remain subject to the statewide waste prohibitions and any emergency curtailment orders. Because rules vary by provider and drought stage, property owners should confirm current watering days and any drought surcharges with their specific water district.