Water restrictions in Riverside County, CA — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Unincorporated Riverside County is served by multiple water districts — Eastern Municipal, Western Municipal, Coachella Valley Water District, Desert Water Agency, Rancho California, and others. Under California Water Code §10608 (SB X7-7) and the AB 1668/SB 606 framework, all enforce permanent outdoor water efficiency rules. Typical restrictions limit landscape irrigation to 2-3 days per week and prohibit runoff.
California's SB X7-7 required urban water suppliers to reduce per-capita use 20% by 2020; AB 1668 and SB 606 (2018) set ongoing long-term efficiency standards for indoor use, outdoor use, and water loss. Riverside County water agencies implement these through tiered rate structures and permanent outdoor watering rules. Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) and Desert Water Agency (DWA) limit outdoor irrigation to non-daytime hours and prohibit water running off onto hardscape. Eastern Municipal (EMWD) and Western Municipal (WMWD) typically restrict landscape irrigation to specified days based on address (odd/even) and limit watering to non-daytime hours during spring-fall. Washing down driveways with potable water is generally prohibited. During state drought emergencies additional measures have included 1-3 day-per-week watering caps, fill bans on new pools, and prohibitions on ornamental turf irrigation at commercial/industrial sites under AB 1572 (2023, functional-turf only after 2027). The Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) applies to new and rehabilitated landscapes over 500 sq ft.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact Riverside County code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
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See how Riverside County's water restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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