Houston, TX Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Houston, TX, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Stage 1 schedule
- 2 nights/wk, 7pm-5am, voluntary
- Even addresses
- Sun & Thu watering nights
- Odd addresses
- Sat & Wed watering nights
- Stage 2+ status
- Schedule becomes mandatory
- Fine range
- $100 to $2,000 per violation
Summary
When Houston declares a water shortage stage, irrigation drops to two nights a week on a set schedule tied to whether your address ends in an odd or even number, escalating to a full outdoor-use ban at higher stages.
(3)Irrigate between 7:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. of the following day on no more than two days per week in conformity with the following schedule:a.Sundays and Thursdays for single-family residential customers with even-numbered street addresses; andb.Saturdays and Wednesdays for single-family residential customers with odd-numbered street addresses; andc.Tuesdays and Fridays for all other customers.
Full Breakdown
Houston's Code sets four escalating water shortage stages (Ch. 47, Art. VII). At Stage One, customers are asked to irrigate only 7:00 p.m.-5:00 a.m., two days a week: Sunday/Thursday for even-numbered addresses, Saturday/Wednesday for odd-numbered addresses, and Tuesday/Friday for all other (non-residential) customers. Stage Two makes that same schedule mandatory and makes outdoor watering outside it unlawful. Stage Three bans essentially all outdoor water use, and Stage Four adds monthly usage caps. The director or, at higher stages, the mayor or city council issues a written declaration filed with the city secretary before any stage takes effect.
Violations & Fines
Stage Two-Four violations: $100-$2,000 fine per offense, each day a separate offense; repeat Stage Three/Four violators can have water service shut off after three violations in 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the twice-a-week schedule always apply?
Which nights can I water if my address ends in an even number?
What happens at Stage Three or Four?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Houston
How Houston compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Houston to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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