Pearland, TX Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Pearland, TX, 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 plan
- Drought Contingency Plan, Ch. 9¾, Art. II
- Watering schedule
- Even/odd address matches even/odd calendar day
- Allowed hours
- 6-10 a.m. and 8-10 p.m. on assigned days
- Stage 2 trigger
- 80% capacity for 3 days or 90% on 1 day
- First violation
- No fine; each later violation is $500/day
- Service shutoff
- After 3+ convictions, water can be disconnected
Summary
Under Pearland's Drought Contingency Plan, once the city manager declares Stage 2 or worse, landscape irrigation is restricted to odd or even calendar days matching your street address, and only between 6 to 10 a.m. and 8 to 10 p.m., with fines up to $500 per day for violators.
Water customers shall limit landscape irrigation use with hose-end sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems to even numbered days of the month for customers with a street address ending in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6 or 8), and odd numbered days of the month for water customers with a street address ending in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9), and to only between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on designated watering days
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 28).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 9¾, Article II sets out Pearland's Drought Contingency Plan, adopted by Ordinance No. 1009 in 2001. Section 9¾-16 defines landscape irrigation as a category of "nonessential water use" once drought stages are triggered by supply or demand thresholds under Section 9¾-17. , with an exception for hand-held five-gallon containers or drip irrigation used any time. Stage 2, severe shortage conditions triggered when daily demand hits 80% of system capacity for three straight days or 90% on a single day, converts that same odd/even, time-of-day schedule from voluntary to mandatory under threat of penalty.
The city manager or designee monitors supply daily and can escalate to Stage 3 emergency conditions, which imposes even tighter restrictions, for events like major water line breaks. Public notice of any stage change runs through newspaper publication, the city website, and the CityView cable channel per Section 9¾-18, and residents whose planned use would otherwise violate the schedule can seek a written variance from the city manager under Section 9¾-19 by filing a petition describing the hardship and proposed alternative measures.
Violations & Fines
Section 9¾-20 makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly or intentionally use water contrary to the drought plan or in excess of the current stage's limits. The first violation carries no fine, but each subsequent violation is punishable by a $500 fine, with every day of noncompliance a separate offense. After three or more distinct convictions, the city manager may discontinue water service to the property until normal reconnection charges are paid and assurance is given the violation will not recur; the city can also seek injunctive relief in district court. Anyone in apparent control of the property where a violation occurs is presumed to be the violator, though that presumption can be rebutted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What days can I water my lawn in Pearland?
Is the odd/even watering schedule always mandatory in Pearland?
Can I get an exception to Pearland's watering restrictions?
What's the penalty for watering on the wrong day in Pearland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pearland
How Pearland compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Pearland to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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