Monroe County, FL Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Monroe County, FL, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Midday ban
- No irrigation 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
- Even addresses water
- Tuesday, Thursday, and/or Sunday
- Odd addresses water
- Monday, Wednesday, and/or Saturday
- New landscaping grace
- Extra watering days for first 90 days
- Penalty
- Up to $500.00 civil infraction, Sec. 12-84
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Monroe County only
Summary
In the unincorporated Florida Keys (Monroe County), Section 12-82 of the County Code bans landscape irrigation between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. year-round and limits sprinkler use to three days a week: even-numbered addresses water Tuesday, Thursday and/or Sunday, odd-numbered addresses water Monday, Wednesday and/or Saturday, under the county's Article IV irrigation-conservation rules.
(a)Landscape irrigation shall be prohibited between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., except as otherwise provided. ... (d)Irrigation of existing landscaping shall comply with the following provisions:(1)Even addresses, as defined in section 12-81, installations with irrigation systems that irrigate both even and odd addresses within the same zones, such as multi-family units and homeowners' associations, and rights-of-way or other locations with no address shall have the opportunity to accomplish necessary landscape irrigation three days a week, only on Tuesday and/or Thursday and/or Sunday.(2)Odd addresses, as defined in section 12-81, shall have the opportunity to accomplish necessary landscape irrigation three days a week, only on Monday and/or Wednesday and/or Saturday.
Full Breakdown
Monroe County's Article IV, Irrigation Conservation (County Code Sections 12-79 through 12-85), sets a permanent, year-round watering schedule for the unincorporated Florida Keys rather than a drought-only rule. for every user covered by the article, and separately bans operating any irrigation system in a 'wasteful and unnecessary manner' that lets potable water spill onto driveways, sidewalks or other impervious surfaces. For existing landscaping, the section splits properties by street address: even-numbered addresses, including rights-of-way, multi-family and homeowners'-association zones that mix even and odd lots, may water three days a week on Tuesday, Thursday and/or Sunday, while odd-numbered addresses may water Monday, Wednesday and/or Saturday.
New landscaping gets extra allowance: it may be watered once on the day it is installed, then on any day for its first 30 days, and on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and/or Saturday from day 31 through day 90, tracked from a dated purchase receipt. Automatic systems installed after the ordinance took effect must carry a rain sensor that shuts off irrigation during rainfall. 00 fine, with each day of violation treated separately.
Violations & Fines
Watering outside the permitted three-day-a-week schedule or during the 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. midday ban is a civil infraction under Section 12-84, punishable by a fine of up to $500.00 through the county's code-enforcement citation system; each day the violation continues is a separate offense. A South Florida Water Management District shortage order that is stricter than the county schedule automatically supersedes it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days a week can I water my lawn in unincorporated Monroe County?
Does new sod get any extra watering allowance?
What happens if the water district declares a shortage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monroe County
How Monroe County compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Monroe County to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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