Concord, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Concord, 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
- Hosing Ban
- Permanent runoff and hard-surface
- Watering After Rain
- No 48 hours after
- Drought Schedule
- Assigned days only
- Drought Hours
- Morning/evening only
- MWELO
- Applies landscapes 500+ sq ft
- Violation Fine
- CCWD up to $500
Summary
Concord water customers served by Contra Costa Water District must follow permanent statewide conservation rules: no runoff, no watering during or 48 hours after rain, no hosing hard surfaces. Outdoor watering is limited to assigned days and early morning or evening hours during drought declarations.
About 40% of the water Californians use at home is used outdoors. Large water savings can be gained by efficient landscape design, installation, management, and maintenance. This is accomplished by choosing climate adapted plants, improving soil conditions, using, and maintaining high efficiency irrigation equipment and managing the irrigation schedule to fit the plants water needs as they are influenced by local climate. To increase water efficiency and better use a valuable resource, rainwater and stormwater collection and graywater and recycled water can replace or augment potable water use in landscapes. New development and retrofitted landscape water efficiency standards are governed by the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) .
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Concord residents are served by Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) for treated water and by the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) in some annexed areas. The State Water Resources Control Board imposes permanent statewide water waste prohibitions (Cal. Code Regs. Title 23 §§ 980-987): no application of water to non-permeable surfaces such as sidewalks or driveways, no runoff onto adjacent property or streets, no watering during or within 48 hours of measurable rainfall, no washing vehicles without a shutoff nozzle, no serving water in restaurants except on request, and hotels must offer linen reuse options.
During drought declarations, CCWD typically restricts outdoor watering to assigned days (odd-numbered addresses on specific days, even-numbered on others) and to the hours before 9 AM and after 6 PM to reduce evaporation. Fines for violations escalate from written warnings to $50, $100, $250, and up to $500 for repeated violations. New construction and rehabilitation landscapes over 500 square feet must comply with the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) under California Code of Regulations Title 23 §492, which requires water budgets, smart irrigation controllers, and drought-tolerant plant selections. Rebate programs for turf replacement, high-efficiency toilets, and smart controllers are available through CCWD.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I water my lawn in Concord?
Does MWELO apply to my home renovation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Concord
How Concord compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Concord to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Contra Costa County handle water restrictions.