Water restrictions in Sarasota County, FL — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Sarasota County follows Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) rules. The standard year-round schedule allows watering twice per week by address (odd Wed/Sat, even Thu/Sun) before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Drought orders can tighten this to one day weekly.
Landscape irrigation across unincorporated Sarasota County is governed by SWFWMD year-round restrictions. Under the district's standard schedule, odd-numbered addresses may water Wednesday and Saturday, even addresses Thursday and Sunday, and locations without an address (common areas) Tuesday and Friday, only before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m., to avoid daytime evaporation. During declared water shortages, the district cuts this back; the 2026 Modified Phase III order limited most customers to one assigned day per week with reduced hours. Hand watering and low-volume micro-irrigation of non-lawn plants are generally allowed anytime. Always confirm the current order, since drought phases override the year-round schedule.
Watering off-schedule violates the SWFWMD order and county code; enforcement runs from warnings to citations and fines. In April 2026, Sarasota County issued 18 citations for restriction violations.
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