Fort Worth, TX Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Fort Worth, 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
- Even addresses
- Wednesday and Saturday only
- Odd addresses
- Thursday and Sunday only
- Nonresidential
- Tuesday and Friday only
- Restricted hours
- No watering 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Exempt methods
- Hand hose, drip, soaker hose, bubbler
- Max fine
- Up to $2,000 per offense
Summary
Fort Worth limits sprinkler and irrigation-system watering to two designated days a week tied to street address, and bans watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. year-round. Hand watering, drip irrigation, soaker hoses and tree bubblers are exempt and allowed any day, any time.
a. On a day designated as an outdoor water use day for the property's address as shown below; and b. Between the hours of 12 midnight to 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. on such day. 1. Residential addresses ending in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6 or 8) may water on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 2. Residential addresses ending in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9) may water on Thursdays and Sundays. 3. All nonresidential locations (apartment complexes, businesses, industries, parks, street and/or roadway medians and the like) may water on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 35-151, addresses ending in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) may run sprinklers or irrigation systems only on Wednesdays and Saturdays; odd-numbered addresses (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) are limited to Thursdays and Sundays. Apartment complexes, businesses, industrial sites, parks and street or roadway medians water on Tuesdays and Fridays instead. is a separate offense regardless of the day. Hand-held hoses, drip irrigation, soaker hoses and tree bubblers are carved out of the schedule entirely so residents can protect foundations, trees and high-value landscaping any day at any time.
The ordinance also makes it an offense to run an irrigation system during any form of precipitation, or to let a substantial amount of water pool onto pavement or run off into a street or drainage area. 5-599. The water department director may grant a variance from the twice-a-week schedule for health, sanitation or fire-safety emergencies, technical limitations, or to establish new hydromulch, sod or seeded lawns; petitions must be in writing and identify the specific relief sought. A limited exception also allows dust control on sports fields or irrigation-system testing/repair for up to two days once every 30 days without a variance.
Violations & Fines
Watering on the wrong day, during restricted daytime hours, or during rainfall is a criminal offense under § 35-151(b)-(d), enforced by the Fort Worth Water Department. Because irrigation restrictions fall under the code's public health and sanitation penalty tier, fines under the general penalty provision, City Code § 1-6(b), can run up to $2,000; each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense under § 1-6(e).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hand-water my flower beds any day in Fort Worth?
What days can I run my sprinkler system if my house number ends in 4?
Can I get an exception to water more often for new sod?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Worth
How Fort Worth compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Fort Worth to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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