North Port, FL Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in North Port, 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
- Governing rule
- SWFWMD F.A.C. 40D-21.641, adopted as city law
- City authority
- Commission may set stricter hours by resolution
- First violation
- Written warning only
- Escalating fines
- $100, $200, $300, then $400
- Maximum fine
- $500, set by code enforcement board
Summary
North Port enforces the Southwest Florida Water Management District's year-round irrigation schedule as city law, with the city commission authorized to impose even stricter watering hours by resolution during shortages.
Upon the declaration of a water shortage or water shortage emergency pursuant to F.A.C. ch. 40D-21, for all or any part of the City of North Port, all water use regulations, restrictions or orders of the district adopted pursuant to F.S. ch. 373 and F.A.C. ch. 40D-21, applicable to the City of North Port or any portion thereof are hereby adopted as regulations and orders of the City of North Port until duly rescinded by the district and shall be subject to enforcement pursuant to section 38-23. Any person violating the provisions of F.A.C. ch. 40D-21, or any order issued pursuant thereto shall be deemed to be in violation of this article. The City of North Port shall recognize the validity of any variance issued by the district.
(Code 1990, § 222-4)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of the City: Supplement 65 | Unified Land Development Code: Supplement 22).
Full Breakdown
North Port doesn't set its own watering calendar in the code. City Code § 38-22 adopts the Southwest Florida Water Management District's water-shortage rules under F.A.C. ch. 40D-21, including the year-round irrigation-hours schedule in F.A.C. 40D-21.641, directly as city law. Violating the district's rule is automatically a violation of this article. § 38-19(c) additionally lets the city commission impose irrigation hours stricter than the district's by resolution during a declared shortage. Code enforcement officers, utilities personnel, or other city officials (§ 38-23) issue citations, mailed to the address of record and posted on the property.
Violations & Fines
First offense draws a written warning; the second costs $100, third $200, fourth $300, and fifth-plus $400, with a $500 cap the code enforcement board can impose if contested.
Frequently Asked Questions
What days can I water my lawn in North Port?
What happens if I violate the watering restrictions?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in North Port
How North Port compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Florida rules heatmap·Compare North Port to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sarasota County handle water restrictions.