Denton, TX Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Denton, TX, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Base schedule
- Mandatory twice-weekly irrigation
- Governing plan
- Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan
- Criminal fine
- Up to $2,000 per offense
- Utility surcharge
- 20% during drought stages
- Enforcer
- Assistant city manager for utilities
Summary
Denton requires all irrigation systems to follow a mandatory twice-weekly watering schedule under the city's Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan, with tighter drought-stage limits and fines up to $2,000 for violations.
All irrigation systems shall be designed, installed, maintained, altered, repaired, serviced, and operated in a manner that promotes water conservation and adheres to sections 26-233 and 26234 of the Code of the City of Denton, Texas and the City of Denton Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan, as amended, including, without limitation, those portions ... relating to Denton's mandatory twice-weekly irrigation schedule and landscape management ordinance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37 Update 1 | Development Code: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 28-445 ties every irrigation system's operation to the city's Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan and Sections 26-233/26-234, including the mandatory twice-weekly irrigation schedule. Under Sec. 26-233, the assistant city manager for utilities can trigger drought-stage emergency orders (announced publicly and published in a newspaper within 24 hours) that tighten watering days further and add a 20% commercial, industrial, or residential surcharge. Enforcement escalates during Stages 3 and 4 of the plan.
Violations & Fines
Watering outside your assigned days violates Sec. 26-234: up to $2,000 per offense on conviction during Stages 3-4, plus a possible 20% bill surcharge and a civil fine up to $1,000 per day sought by the city attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days a week can I run my sprinklers in Denton?
What's the penalty for watering on the wrong day?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denton
How Denton compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Denton to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Denton County handle water restrictions.