Polk County, FL Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Polk 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
- Primary district
- SWFWMD (Swiftmud)
- Even addresses
- Thursday and/or Sunday
- Odd addresses
- Wednesday and/or Saturday
- Prohibited hours
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Current order (2026)
- Phase III, ~1 day/week
Summary
Most of Polk County is in the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), which sets year-round twice-weekly limits: even addresses Thursday/Sunday, odd addresses Wednesday/Saturday, before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. A Modified Phase III shortage order currently tightens this to about one day per week.
Even addresses may water on Thursday and/or Sunday before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Odd addresses may water on Wednesday and/or Saturday before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Locations without a discernable address, such as rights-of-way and other common areas inside a subdivision, may water on Tuesday and/or Friday before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
Full Breakdown
Polk County spans three water management districts SWFWMD, SFWMD and SJRWMD so exact rules vary by location; the majority and most populated area is SWFWMD ("Swiftmud"). SWFWMD's year-round rule limits lawn irrigation to two days per week: even/no-address-mix addresses on Thursday and/or Sunday, odd addresses on Wednesday and/or Saturday, and locations without a discernable address (rights-of-way, common areas) on Tuesday and/or Friday all only before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. In 2026 SWFWMD declared a Modified Phase III "Extreme" Water Shortage (through October 1), cutting most properties to one day per week with tighter overnight hours; check your local utility for the current order.
Violations & Fines
Water-restriction violations are enforced by SWFWMD and local utilities/code enforcement, typically by warning then escalating fines for repeat offenders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which water district governs my Polk County property?
Can I water any time on my assigned day?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Polk County
How Polk County compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Polk County to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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