Water restrictions in Butte County, CA — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Butte County itself does not impose a county-wide outdoor water-use ordinance. Restrictions are set by individual water purveyors — California Water Service Co. (Chico, Oroville), Paradise Irrigation District, Del Oro Water Co., and Tuscan Aquifer-based well users — plus any active State Water Resources Control Board emergency regulations.
The county sits over the Tuscan Aquifer; many rural residents rely on private wells, which are not subject to outdoor watering schedules. Urban customers follow their water purveyor's tariff rules: California Water Service (Chico/Oroville districts) and Paradise Irrigation District set day-of-week watering schedules and prohibit obvious waste (washing paved surfaces, runoff to street, refilling fountains without recirculation). California's emergency conservation regulation prohibiting wasteful water uses expired December 21, 2023; the State Water Board can reactivate similar rules during a declared drought emergency. Butte County's Water Conservation page recommends drought-tolerant 'All-Star Plants' suited to the local climate but does not impose mandatory irrigation schedules.
Enforced by the individual water purveyor — typically a written warning, then escalating surcharges or flow restrictors. State Water Board regulations carry administrative fines up to $500 per day for waste violations when in effect.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Butte County, CA
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Butte County, CA
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Butte County, CA
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