Sonoma County, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Sonoma County, 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
- Covered county systems
- Fitch Mountain, Freestone, Jenner, Salmon Creek
- Watering days
- Tuesday and Friday only
- Allowed hours
- 12:00-6:00 AM or 8:00-11:59 PM
- Food gardens
- Not subject to the day/time limits
- Most county residents
- Private wells / other providers + SWRCB rules
Summary
On Sonoma County-operated water systems (Fitch Mountain, Freestone, Jenner, Salmon Creek), outdoor watering of ornamental landscaping is limited to two days a week - Tuesday and Friday - during early-morning and late-evening hours. Most county properties are on private wells or other water providers and instead follow state (SWRCB) and water-supplier rules.
For development after October 4, 2022, grass lawns are prohibited unless compliant with Water Efficient Landscape Regulations. Grass lawns shall be no greater than 2,500 square feet for all sites unless compliant with Water Efficient Landscape Regulations.
Full Breakdown
Sonoma County's published water-use restrictions apply to the small water systems the County itself operates through Sonoma Public Infrastructure - Fitch Mountain, Freestone, Jenner, and Salmon Creek. For those customers, outdoor watering for ornamental landscaping is limited to two days per week: Tuesday and Friday, between 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM, or between 8:00 PM and 11:59 PM. Watering is not permitted Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday, and the restrictions do not apply to food grown for consumption. These watering windows reduce evaporation losses. Most unincorporated Sonoma County residents, however, are not on a county water system - they are on private wells or served by other providers such as California American Water or Sonoma Water contractors - and their day-to-day watering is governed by their supplier's rules and by statewide measures from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB).
California's permanent statewide prohibitions (such as no hosing down hardscape, no runoff onto streets, and no irrigating in a way that causes runoff) apply regardless of provider. During declared droughts, the SWRCB and Sonoma Water can impose additional emergency cutbacks; the most recent statewide drought emergency was lifted in March 2023.
Violations & Fines
Enforcement for county-system customers runs through Sonoma Public Infrastructure's water-systems division. Statewide SWRCB prohibitions on wasteful water use are enforceable by the state with fines during active drought regulations. Specific penalty amounts depend on the governing system and any drought stage in effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I water my lawn in unincorporated Sonoma County?
Do these restrictions apply to a vegetable garden?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sonoma County
How Sonoma County compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Sonoma County to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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