Manitou Springs, CO Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Manitou Springs, CO, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Restriction levels
- Four escalating levels, § 13.28.030
- Watering window
- 5-8 a.m. or 7-10 p.m., 2 hrs max
- Level Four
- Outdoor watering banned except 1 night/month
- Minimum fines
- $100 to $1,000 by level
- Exemption permit
- 90-day permit via § 13.28.040
Summary
When the city declares a water shortage, Manitou Springs cuts outdoor watering to specific days by address parity and caps it at two hours a session. Municipal Code Section 13.28.030 lays out four escalating restriction levels, from odd/even-day watering up to a Level Four outright ban.
1.Level One Restrictions. Upon the adoption of a resolution imposing level one restrictions, outdoor watering at properties with even-numbered addresses shall be restricted to Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and outdoor watering at properties with odd-numbered addresses shall be restricted to Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. ... During a level one restriction, outdoor watering is permitted for a maximum of two hours on a day on which watering is permitted, and such watering is permitted only between the hours of five a.m. to eight a.m. or seven p.m. to ten p.m. (either two-hour period, not both). ... F.Penalties for Violations. Violation of any provision of this section is punishable in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.01.100 of this Code of Ordinances; provided, however, that violation of a level one restriction is subject to a minimum fine of one hundred dollars; violation of a level two restriction is subject to a minimum fine of two hundred fifty dollars; violation of a level three restriction is subject to a minimum fine of five hundred dollars; and violation of a level four restriction is subject to a minimum fine of one thousand dollars.
Full Breakdown
030 lets the city council, or the city administrator if authorized, declare a water shortage and impose one of four restriction levels. , limited to twenty minutes per irrigation zone. Level Two narrows the allowed days to two per week per address parity, keeping the same two-hour, twenty-minutes-per-zone limits. Level Three narrows further to one day per week per parity and additionally halts acceptance of new residential or commercial water tap applications. Level Four bans outdoor watering entirely except for a single two-hour window on the third Saturday of each month, and bans refilling pools, hot tubs and spas outright.
Hand watering with an automatic shutoff hose and drip irrigation stay allowed at any time under Levels One through Three. Vehicle washing and sidewalk washing during Levels One through Three require a hose with a shutoff valve engaged when not in use; Level Four confines car washing to commercial car washes and bars washing sidewalks with water altogether. The city's own non-potable Fountain Creek water rights are exempt from every level. 040, valid for ninety days.
Violations & Fines
Violating any watering restriction is punishable under Section 1.01.100 of the Municipal Code, with escalating minimum fines set directly in Section 13.28.030(F): at least one hundred dollars for a Level One violation, two hundred fifty dollars for Level Two, five hundred dollars for Level Three, and one thousand dollars for a Level Four violation. A special exemption or alternate watering plan permit can also be revoked by the municipal judge or city council for a violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What days can I water my lawn during a Level One restriction in Manitou Springs?
Is drip irrigation restricted during a water shortage?
Can I get an exception if I just planted new sod?
What is the fine for watering on the wrong day?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manitou Springs
How Manitou Springs compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Manitou Springs to another location·View the Colorado landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in El Paso County handle water restrictions.