Dade City, FL Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

The District's Modified Phase III one-day-per-week water shortage restrictions are in effect April 3, 2026, through July 1, 2026.

The restrictions apply to all of Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and Sumter counties; portions of Charlotte, Highlands and Lake counties; the City of Dunnellon and The Villages in Marion County; and the portion of Gasparilla Island in Charlotte County.

Lawn Watering Days and Times

Lawn and landscape watering remains limited to a once-per-week schedule.

Residents should check with their city or county for their allowable day and times as many have different schedules or stricter hours in effect. Below is the standard watering days schedule based on addresses ending in: 0 or 1 shall only water on Monday 2 or 3, on Tuesday 4 or 5, on Wednesday 6 or 7, on Thursday 8 or 9, on Friday along with locations with a mix of addresses or for which an address cannot be determined (such as common areas associated with a subdivision)

Unless your city or county already has stricter hours in effect, watering hours are reduced to 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Properties less than one acre in size may only use one of these windows.

Unless your city or county already has stricter hours in effect, properties one acre or larger may only water before 4 a.m. and after 8 p.m.

The restrictions apply to residents on private wells however, reclaimed water is only subject to voluntary watering hours, unless restricted by the local government or utility.

Handwatering and Microirrigation

Residents may still handwater plants or use microirrigation on to water flower beds, shrubs, or other plant material (other than lawns) on any day, however under the Modified Phase III restrictions it is limited to the hours of before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.