Does Charlotte County, FL have its own water restrictions ordinance?

No. Charlotte County, FL does not appear to have a local water restrictions ordinance, Florida state law applies instead. The rules summarized on this page come from Florida Statutes.

Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in Charlotte County

Charlotte County, FL Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Heavy Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Water restrictions in Charlotte County, FL, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.

Key Facts

District: SWFWMD (Swiftmud)
Schedule: One day per week
Assigned by: Last digit of address
Rain sensor: Required, Fla. Stat. 373.62

Summary

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.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Charlotte County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Any person who purchases and installs an automatic landscape irrigation system must properly install, maintain, and operate technology that inhibits or interrupts operation of the system during periods of sufficient moisture.

Source: Florida StatutesView official code

Full Breakdown

Charlotte County follows SWFWMD conservation rules, limiting landscape irrigation to one day per week set by the last digit of the address: 0 or 1 Monday, 2 or 3 Tuesday, 4 or 5 Wednesday, 6 or 7 Thursday, 8 or 9 Friday. Watering is allowed in the early morning only, and hand watering or micro-irrigation of plants rather than lawns is exempt any day. Florida Statute 373.62 separately requires every automatic sprinkler system to have working technology that shuts it off during sufficient moisture. During declared shortages the district and county tighten the window further, most recently to the 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. period under a Modified Phase III order.

Violations & Fines

Watering outside your assigned day or hours violates the county and SWFWMD schedule, drawing a warning then escalating fines. Running an automatic system without a working rain or moisture sensor violates Florida Statute 373.62.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which day can I water my lawn in Charlotte County?

Once a week by the last digit of your address: 0 or 1 Monday, 2 or 3 Tuesday, 4 or 5 Wednesday, 6 or 7 Thursday, 8 or 9 Friday, early morning only. Drought orders tighten this.

Do I need a rain sensor?

Yes. Florida Statute 373.62 requires every automatic landscape irrigation system to have working technology that shuts it off during periods of sufficient moisture.

Sources & Official References

[1]Florida Statutes

Other rules in Charlotte County

Parking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome Restrictions Artificial TurfSome Restrictions Weed OrdinancesSome Restrictions Tree TrimmingSome Restrictions Tree Removal & Heritage TreesFew Restrictions Native PlantsFew Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseSignificant Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant Restrictions Parking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Driveway RulesSome Restrictions

All Charlotte County rules

How Charlotte County compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Charlotte County to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.