Hayward, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Hayward, 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
- Primary provider
- EBMUD
- No-water hours
- 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Shutoff nozzle
- Required on hoses
- Leak repair
- Within 72 hours
- AB 1572
- Non-functional turf ban
Summary
Hayward customers are served by EBMUD or SFPUC. Both impose outdoor watering limits and enforce permanent waste prohibitions year-round.
New development and retrofitted landscape water efficiency standards are governed by the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) . The MWELO is also referenced by Title 24, Part 11, Chapters 4 and 5 CalGreen Building Code. All local agencies must adopt, implement, and enforce the MWELO or a local Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (WELO) that is at least as effective as the MWELO. Usually, local agencies that adopt WELOs create a more stringent ordinance than MWELO. The purpose of water efficient landscape ordinances is to not only increase water efficiency but to improve environmental conditions in the built environment. Landscaping should be valued beyond the aesthetic because l
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Most Hayward residents are served by the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), with some parcels receiving water from San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Hetch Hetchy system via the City of Hayward water utility. Both agencies enforce permanent water waste prohibitions: no watering between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., no runoff onto sidewalks or streets, no washing hard surfaces with potable water, and mandatory shutoff nozzles on hoses. During droughts EBMUD imposes stage-based restrictions limiting irrigation to 2 or 3 days per week and capping gallon allocations per household. Customers must fix visible leaks within 72 hours. New landscaping above 500 square feet must comply with the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) and AB 1572, which bans irrigation of non-functional turf at commercial, industrial, and HOA common areas beginning in 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find my water provider?
What is non-functional turf?
Sources & Official References
- [1]EBMUD Water Use
- [2]AB 1572
Other rules in Hayward
How Hayward compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Hayward to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle water restrictions.