Santa Cruz County, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Santa Cruz County, 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
- Statewide bans
- No runoff, no hosing pavement, shutoff nozzle
- Authority
- SWRCB permanent water-waste prohibitions
- County WELO watering
- No irrigation 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (regulated sites)
- Watering days
- Set by local water district, not the County
- State penalty cap
- Up to $500/day (Water Code)
Summary
Most outdoor water restrictions for unincorporated Santa Cruz County come from state law and local water districts, not one county ordinance. The State Water Board's permanent water-waste prohibitions ban hosing down pavement, irrigation runoff, and unattended hose washing statewide. Many residents are served by Soquel Creek Water District or other purveyors that set their own watering-day limits.
The Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA) for any landscape is set at 50% of reference evapotranspiration (ETo)... The combined area of turf, high water use plants and water features is not allowed to exceed 25 percent of the total landscape area... The controller is required [to] have a rain-detector to shut off the system during localized rain events, and to suspend irrigation for 48 hours after any detectable rainfall.
Full Breakdown
Outdoor water use in the unincorporated County is layered. At the state level, the State Water Resources Control Board's permanent water-waste prohibitions (originally adopted as emergency regulations and readopted) make certain practices unlawful regardless of drought: applying potable water to outdoor landscapes in a way that causes runoff onto pavement or into gutters; using a hose to wash down driveways or sidewalks; washing a vehicle with a hose lacking a shutoff nozzle; and running ornamental fountains without recirculation. California's 'Making Conservation a California Way of Life' framework (SB 606/AB 1668, SB 1572) also phases out irrigation of non-functional decorative turf at commercial and institutional sites.
for regulated projects unless plant health requires it). Day-of-week watering schedules and drought stages are set by the water purveyor serving each parcel (for example, Soquel Creek Water District), which can be looked up on the County GIS Special Districts layer.
Violations & Fines
State water-waste violations can carry fines of up to $500 per day under the Water Code. County WELO non-compliance is handled through building-permit holds and land-use enforcement. Water-district drought rules carry their own penalty schedules and surcharges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Santa Cruz County set watering days?
What outdoor watering is always prohibited?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Cruz County
How Santa Cruz County compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Cruz County to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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