Hercules, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Hercules, 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
- Governing section
- Municipal Code § 13-30.700(2)(D)
- Watering hours
- Controllers set 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m.
- Turf watering frequency
- Maximum once every 3 days
- Turf/water-surface cap
- 25 percent of irrigated area
- Applies to
- New development and major reconstruction, not existing homes
Summary
Hercules requires new landscape projects and major renovations to run irrigation controllers only between 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. and to schedule turfgrass watering no more than once every 3 days, under the irrigation standards in Section 13-30.700.
9. Electrical controllers shall be set to water between 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. ... 12. Plans shall include a water budget that includes: A) Estimated annual water use (in gallons). B) Irrigated area (in square feet). C) A monthly irrigation schedule for the plant establishment period and the following year. This irrigation schedule will include the following information for each valve: (1) Plant type. (2) Precipitation rate. (3) Run times in minutes per day. (4) Number of watering days per week (turfgrasses should be irrigated a maximum of once every 3 days).
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 555, passed March 25, 2025).
Full Breakdown
700 of the Hercules Municipal Code applies landscaping and irrigation requirements to new development on undeveloped parcels, common areas of single-family subdivisions, new single-family estate lots, multifamily common areas, model homes, commercial and industrial projects, public facilities, and reconstruction or rehabilitation exceeding 25 percent of a property's assessed value or landscaped area; it exempts projects using reclaimed or well water and additions to existing single-family homes. 5 gallons per minute per device is required for trees. Every plan must include a water budget with estimated annual water use, irrigated area, and a monthly irrigation schedule for each valve covering plant type, precipitation rate, run times, and the number of watering days per week, expressly stating that turfgrasses should be irrigated a maximum of once every 3 days.
Plant selection rules require at least 75 percent of nonturf plants to be climate-suited and low-water, and combined turf and open-water surface area is capped at 25 percent of irrigated areas, with exceptions for drought-tolerant turfgrass approved by the Planning Commission.
Violations & Fines
Landscape and irrigation plans for covered new development or major renovation that omit the required water budget, exceed the 25 percent turf/water-surface cap, or fail to schedule turfgrass watering within the once-every-3-days limit are not approved by the Community Development Director, and installed systems not matching the approved plan are subject to Section 13-30.700(2) maintenance and correction requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often can turfgrass be watered on a new Hercules landscape project?
What hours can sprinklers run under Hercules's landscaping rules?
Does this Hercules watering rule apply to my existing house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hercules
How Hercules compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Hercules to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Contra Costa County handle water restrictions.