Pittsburg, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Pittsburg, 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
- Permanent Ban
- Permanent ban on runoff, 48-hour post-rain watering, and hosing hardscapes
- Ornamental Fountains
- Ornamental fountains must recirculate; hoses need shut-off nozzles
- Mwelo
- MWELO applies to new landscaping over 500 sq ft
- Fees
- CCWD can declare drought stages with assigned-day watering and surcharges
- Indoor Use
- Indoor use goal: 42 gallons per capita per day by 2030 1668/SB
Summary
Pittsburg water customers are served by Contra Costa Water District and the city's municipal system. Permanent statewide conservation rules prohibit runoff, watering within 48 hours of rain, hosing hard surfaces, and non-recirculating fountains. Additional drought-stage restrictions apply when declared by the State Water Board or CCWD.
About 40% of the water Californians use at home is used outdoors. Large water savings can be gained by efficient landscape design, installation, management, and maintenance. This is accomplished by choosing climate adapted plants, improving soil conditions, using, and maintaining high efficiency irrigation equipment and managing the irrigation schedule to fit the plants water needs as they are influenced by local climate. To increase water efficiency and better use a valuable resource, rainwater and stormwater collection and graywater and recycled water can replace or augment potable water use in landscapes. New development and retrofitted landscape water efficiency standards are governed by the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) .
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Water use in Pittsburg is regulated by permanent statewide conservation rules adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board, overlaid with Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) and the City of Pittsburg Water Division restrictions as conditions change. Permanent prohibitions under the State Water Board's conservation regulation include: no application of potable water to outdoor landscapes in a way that causes runoff onto sidewalks, driveways, streets, or gutters; no watering within 48 hours after measurable rainfall; no hosing down of driveways, patios, and other hardscapes except for health and safety reasons; no operating ornamental fountains unless they recirculate water; no watering turf on public street medians; no washing vehicles with a hose lacking a positive shut-off nozzle; and no serving water in restaurants except on request.
Under AB 1668 and SB 606 (Making Conservation a Way of Life), urban water suppliers must meet indoor residential use standards (42 gallons per capita per day by 2030) and outdoor budgets tied to MWELO. During drought emergencies, CCWD can activate stages with assigned-day watering schedules (for example, even-numbered addresses on even days), reduced watering duration, and surcharges on excessive use. New landscaping over 500 square feet must comply with MWELO water-budget standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I water my lawn every day?
Can I wash my car in the driveway?
What is MWELO?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pittsburg
How Pittsburg compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Pittsburg to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Contra Costa County handle water restrictions.