Hillsboro, OR Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Hillsboro, OR, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Citation
- HMC § 10.04.040
- Trigger
- Emergency declared under HMC 2.60
- 1st fine
- After 1 warning, 1 notice
- 3rd violation
- Fine plus service shutoff
- Appeal window
- 10 days to City Recorder
Summary
Hillsboro has no standing lawn-watering schedule; non-voluntary water curtailment activates only after the City Manager declares an emergency under HMC 2.60, with escalating fines then service shutoff for violators.
A.Curtailment Plan Activation. After declaration of an emergency under HMC 2.60, non-voluntary curtailment of water usage may be required of all customers. If an emergency declaration made does not impact water supply or demands, water curtailment may not be implemented.B.Issuance of Fines. The City, acting by and through its utilities commission or its designee, may, after 1 warning and 1 formal notification, fine any customer who violates any provision of a current curtailment requirement, up to 2 separate incidences, in accordance with HMC 1.08.010.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 1 | Community Development Code: Supplement 1).
Full Breakdown
Hillsboro's water code sets no standing lawn-watering calendar. HMC 10.04.040 instead authorizes the utilities commission to order non-voluntary curtailment only after the City Manager declares an emergency under HMC 2.60 that affects water supply or demand. Once active, a violator gets a warning, then a formal notice and fine (up to two incidents) under HMC 1.08.010; a third violation adds termination of water service. Service is restored only after fines are paid and the customer signs an agreement against repeat violations; a repeat during the same emergency means immediate termination for its duration.
Violations & Fines
A first curtailment violation draws a warning, then a fine under HMC 1.08.010; a third violation triggers both a fine and termination of water service until fines are paid and a no-repeat agreement is signed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hillsboro restrict lawn watering to certain days?
What happens if I violate a Hillsboro water curtailment order?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hillsboro
How Hillsboro compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Hillsboro to another location·View the Oregon landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Washington County handle water restrictions.