Escondido, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Escondido Municipal Code § 31-230 sets year-round water use restrictions enforced by the utilities department. 2 inches in 24 hours) or within 48 hours of one. , though tees and greens may be watered at any time and new plantings, including grass, may be watered as needed until established. Leaks or breaks in a customer's plumbing or distribution system must be repaired within five days of notification by the utilities department, or within another timeframe set by the director of utilities. If the city later declares a higher water shortage response level under § 31-232, tighter rules kick in, such as capping station run times at 10 minutes under level two, except for drip-micro-irrigation or stream rotor sprinklers.

Under § 31-235, administrative fines run $100 for a first violation, $200 to $400 for a second violation depending on the active shortage response level, and $500 for each additional violation within one year, assessed under the procedures in Chapter 1A. Separately, willful violations during a level four emergency, or a customer's failure to implement conservation measures under §§ 31-230 through 31-233, can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor under California Water Code Section 377, punishable by up to 30 days in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both.

The city may also enforce compliance by installing a flow-restricting device in the meter or, for willful level-four violations, by discontinuing water service, both authorized under California Water Code Section 356.