Water restrictions in Phoenix, AZ — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Phoenix is in the Phoenix Active Management Area with strict water conservation requirements from ADWR. The city provides landscape watering guidelines recommending irrigation before 8 AM or after 6 PM to minimize evaporation. Section 507 of the zoning ordinance requires native/desert-adapted plants for new landscaping. High-water-use species are prohibited in new development. Phoenix water rates include conservation pricing tiers.
Phoenix enforces water conservation measures through the Phoenix Water Services Department and compliance with the Arizona Groundwater Management Act, which is administered by the Arizona Department of Water Resources for the Phoenix Active Management Area. Outdoor watering is discouraged during peak heat hours (10 AM to 6 PM from May through October) to reduce evaporative loss, and the city offers rebates for converting grass lawns to desert-adapted landscaping through the Water Smart program. Phoenix's long-term water conservation goal is a 10% reduction per capita, and the city has mandatory water waste prohibitions including bans on allowing water to flow onto streets, sidewalks, or neighboring properties. New residential developments are increasingly required to incorporate low-water-use landscaping under the city's revised landscaping standards. Contact Phoenix Water Services at (602) 262-6251 for current watering schedules and rebate programs.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact Phoenix code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Maricopa County.
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