Madera, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Madera, CA, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Trigger
- City Council drought resolution, Levels A-F
- Base hours
- Midnight-10am and 7pm-midnight
- Day limits
- By even/odd address, Levels B-D
- Gray water
- Up to 100 gal/household/day allowed
- Penalty
- Infraction under § 1-9.06(B)
Summary
When Madera declares a drought restriction level, outdoor irrigation is confined to the hours of midnight to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to midnight, with Levels B through F also limiting sprinkling to two or three set days a week by odd or even address, under Madera Municipal Code § 5-5.13.
(A) Drought levels. When the City Council by resolution determines that water supplies are limited and additional conservation measures are necessary to reduce water consumption, the Council may enact one of six drought water restriction levels A through F as set forth in this subsection, and restrictions under each section shall be enforced for such period of time as designated by the City Council or until lifted by them by separate resolution. ... Level B ... Outdoor application of water for irrigation and recreation uses shall be restricted to the hours of 12:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., and restricted to usage on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday for parcels with even numbered street addresses, and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for parcels with odd numbered street addresses. ... (G) Penalties for violation of restrictions. Violation of the provisions of this section shall be an infraction, and fines shall be imposed pursuant to § 1-9.06(B) of the Madera Municipal Code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2024 S-50: Current through Ordinance 1010 C.S., passed 6-5-24).
Full Breakdown
Madera Municipal Code § 5-5.13 lets the City Council impose one of six graduated drought restriction levels, A through F, by resolution whenever water supplies run short. Level A limits outdoor irrigation and recreation-water use to 12:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Levels B and C add a watering-day schedule on top of those hours: even-numbered addresses water Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday, odd-numbered addresses Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday under Level B, tightening to two days each under Level C. Level D cuts watering to a single day a week per address parity, Level E confines irrigation to a minimal drip system for trees and bushes only, and Level F eliminates all outdoor irrigation except for edible crops grown for personal consumption.
The Public Works Department can grant a hardship exception on written application if enforcement would cause a severe, unique hardship injurious to public health, safety, or economic welfare; mere convenience does not qualify. Food gardens grown for personal consumption may be drip-irrigated any day except between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., so long as they sit in a concentrated growing area outside the front or street-side yard. Households may also reuse up to 100 gallons per day of gray water from showers and washing for outdoor watering. Violating any restriction is an infraction under § 1-9.06(B) of the Madera Municipal Code.
Violations & Fines
Watering outside the restricted hours or on the wrong day for your address parity is an infraction under § 5-5.13(G), with fines set under Madera Municipal Code § 1-9.06(B). The City Council can also ban organized carwashes outright during declared restrictions, and Public Works grants only narrow, written hardship exceptions, never for mere convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What days can I water my lawn in Madera?
Can I still water my vegetable garden during a drought restriction?
Can I use gray water to water my lawn?
What is the penalty for violating Madera's watering restrictions?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madera
How Madera compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Madera to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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