Orange, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Orange, 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
- Daily watering ban
- 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Sprinkler runtime cap
- 15 minutes per station per day
- Efficient-system exemption
- Low-flow drip or 70% efficient controllers
- Rain restriction
- No irrigation during or 48 hrs after rain
- First violation
- Written warning only
- Repeat violation fines
- Up to $100 / $250 / $500
- Governing chapter
- Municipal Code Chapter 7.02 (Ord. 16-21)
Summary
Orange bans landscape irrigation with potable water between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. any day, and caps automatic sprinkler runtime at 15 minutes per station per day unless the system uses low-flow drip or a certified weather-based controller. The rules, set in Municipal Code Chapter 7.02, also bar watering during and 48 hours after rain and impose escalating fines for repeat violations.
A. Limits of Watering Hours. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable water is prohibited between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on any day, except by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system. B. Limit on Watering Duration. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable water using a landscape irrigation system or a watering device that is not continuously attended is limited to no more than 15 minutes watering per day per station.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4796775; v10 updated 2026-01-27).
Full Breakdown
02 sets permanent, year-round water conservation rules that apply to every water customer, not just customers under an active shortage declaration. m. Pacific Time, with narrow exceptions for a hand-held bucket, a hand-held hose fitted with a positive self-closing shutoff nozzle, or brief adjustments and repairs to an irrigation system. 060(B) limits any unattended landscape irrigation system or watering device to 15 minutes per station per day, though very low-flow drip emitters (no more than two gallons per hour) and weather-based controllers or stream rotor sprinklers meeting a 70% efficiency standard are exempt from the duration cap. 060(G)). 110 for a waiver, which the City Manager must act on within 10 days. 060(O)).
Violations & Fines
Under Section 7.02.120, a first violation draws only a written warning mailed or posted at the property. A second violation within 12 months carries a fine up to $100.00, a third up to $250.00, and a fourth or later violation up to $500.00, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense. The City may also install a flow restrictor or disconnect service for willful violations, billing the customer for installation, disconnection, and reconnection fees. Customers can appeal a notice of violation to the City Manager before the enforcement date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I water my lawn during the day in Orange?
How long can my sprinklers run each day?
What happens if I keep breaking the watering rules?
Can I wash my car in my driveway?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Orange
How Orange compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Orange to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle water restrictions.