Chino, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Chino, 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
- Automated irrigation hours
- Banned 6 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Runtime cap
- 15 min/day/station, non-drip
- Hand watering
- Allowed anytime, shutoff nozzle
- Runoff onto pavement
- Prohibited at all times
- Governing ordinance
- Ord. 2009-04, § 1, 2009
Summary
Chino permanently bans automated irrigation from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and caps non-drip sprinkler runtime at fifteen minutes per station per day, citywide.
B.Outdoor irrigation of landscape for more than fifteen minutes of watering per day per station. This restriction does not apply to landscapes that utilize drip irrigation systems.C.Automated irrigation of landscape during the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Customers are encouraged to avoid the use of sprinklers on windy days. Irrigation by hand held hoses with automatic shutoff nozzles, drip irrigation, or hand held buckets is permitted anytime.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 38).
Full Breakdown
Chino Municipal Code § 13.05.060 sets permanent, year-round water conservation rules for every customer in the city's water service area, not only during declared shortages. Automated sprinklers cannot run between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., and standard (non-drip) irrigation is capped at fifteen minutes per watering station per day; drip systems are exempt from the time cap. Hand watering with a shutoff-nozzle hose, drip irrigation, or a bucket is allowed anytime. Letting irrigation water run off onto gutters, driveways, sidewalks, or streets is also prohibited at all times. Enforcement escalates from a written warning to bill surcharges and eventually a flow-restricting device under § 13.05.120.
Violations & Fines
First violation draws a written warning; second draws a final notice. Third through fifth violations within twelve months add $50, $100, then $150 surcharges to the water bill under § 13.05.120.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run automated sprinklers early in the morning in Chino?
How long can each sprinkler zone run per day?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chino
How Chino compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Chino to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle water restrictions.