San Diego County, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Outdoor water use in unincorporated San Diego County is shaped by three layers. First, the County's Water Conservation in Landscaping Ordinance (County Code Title 8, Division 6, Chapter 7, sections 86.701 and following) requires an outdoor water use authorization for projects receiving a building or discretionary permit; new landscaped areas of 500 square feet or more, and rehabilitated landscapes of 2,500 square feet or more, must meet a water budget (Maximum Applied Water Allowance) and efficiency standards. Second, statewide permanent prohibitions on wasteful water use, administered by the State Water Resources Control Board, ban practices such as hosing down driveways and sidewalks, letting irrigation run off onto pavement, and irrigating ornamental turf during and shortly after measurable rain; these apply regardless of drought, with infraction fines up to $500 per day during declared drought. Third, the Making Conservation a California Way of Life framework (SB 606 / AB 1668, with SWRCB rules effective 2025) sets long-term efficiency budgets for urban water suppliers. Specific day-of-week or time-of-day watering schedules are set by each retail water district (for example based on Water Authority supply conditions), not by a single county ordinance. As of 2026 San Diego's supply is comparatively secure, so check your retail water provider for the current mandatory schedule.