Gilroy, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Gilroy, 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
- Level 1 watering days
- 3/week Apr-Oct, 1/week Nov-Mar
- Watering hours ban
- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Level 1+)
- Post-rain irrigation ban
- 48 hours, in effect always
- First violation penalty
- written warning only
- Repeat violation fines
- $100 / $200 / up to $500
- Enforcing official
- Public Works Director
- Hardship waiver decision
- within 10 days of request
Summary
Gilroy City Code Section 27.98 sets year-round mandatory water conservation rules for landscape irrigation in the City of Gilroy, barring watering during or within 48 hours of measurable rainfall and banning irrigation of ornamental turf on street medians at all times. Once the City Council declares a Level 1 shortage, watering is capped at three days a week from April through October and one day a week from November through March.
§ 27.98. Wasting of water and drought emergencies. ... Mandatory. ... The following mandatory (as indicated with an “M”) water conservation measures are in effect at all times. Following these measures will help save water, and water users are encouraged to save water year round. ... M-0.24 Irrigating within Forty-Eight (48) Hours of Rainfall. The applications of potable water to outdoor landscapes during or within forty-eight (48) hours following measurable rainfall is prohibited. ... M-0.25 Prohibition against Watering Turf in Medians. The irrigation with potable water of ornamental turf on public street medians, including roundabouts, is prohibited. ... (3) Limits on Watering Days. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable water is limited to three (3) days per week from April through October. The watering days are designated depending upon house address and are to be determined by the public works director. During the months of November through March, watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable water is limited to no more than one (1) day per week to be determined by the public works director.
Full Breakdown
The baseline mandatory measures under Section 27.98(b)(2) apply every day of the year with no council declaration needed: irrigating outdoor landscape during or within 48 hours of measurable rainfall (M-0.24) and watering ornamental turf on public street medians or roundabouts (M-0.25) are both flatly prohibited. When the City Council declares a Level 1 water supply shortage (an 11 to 20 percent demand reduction), Section 27.98(c) layers on stricter rules: watering is prohibited between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., irrigation using an unattended system is limited to 15 minutes per station per watering day, and watering itself is limited to three days a week from April through October and one day a week from November through March, with specific watering days assigned by house address by the public works director.
Very low-flow drip systems (no emitter over two gallons per hour) and weather-based or high-efficiency stream rotor sprinklers are exempt from the duration limit. Escalating Level 2 and Level 3 declarations tighten watering days further, down to a total ban on irrigation except for narrow exceptions like fire protection landscaping or erosion control. Shortage levels are declared by council resolution and published within 10 days per Water Code Section 376. Property owners facing undue hardship, such as fire damage, may apply in writing to the public works director for a waiver, which must be decided within 10 days.
Violations & Fines
A first violation draws only a written warning and a mailed copy of the ordinance under Section 27.100(b)(1). A second violation within any 12-month period is punishable by a fine up to $100, a third up to $200, and any further violation up to $500, with each day of a continuing violation counted as a separate offense. The city may also install a flow restrictor or discontinue service to willful violators after written notice. Underlying misdemeanor exposure under Section 27.100(a) tops out at a $1,000 fine or 30 days in county jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I water my lawn any day I want in Gilroy?
What happens after my first watering violation?
Is drip irrigation exempt from the watering-day duration limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gilroy
How Gilroy compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Gilroy to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle water restrictions.