Rialto, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Rialto, 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
- Stage 2 watering days
- Four days per week maximum
- Station run time
- Ten minutes per station daily
- Rain rule
- No watering within 48 hours
- Maximum penalty
- $500 plus two-day service shutoff
Summary
Rialto Municipal Code Chapter 12.20 sets four escalating water-conservation stages. Stage 1 permanently bans runoff, washing pavement, and non-recirculating fountains; the Stage 2 Water Alert adopted in 2016 limits sprinkler irrigation to four days per week, ten minutes per station.
What are the prohibitions that apply to all Californians? Using potable water to wash sidewalks and driveways; Allowing runoff when irrigating with potable water; Using hoses with no shutoff nozzles to wash cars; Using potable water in decorative water features that do not recirculate the water; Irrigating outdoors during and within 48 hours following measureable rainfall; (for Rialto, measurable rain is defined as in excess of one-quarter inch [1/4"]) Irrigation with potable water of ornamental turf on public street medians; and Irrigation with potable water outside of newly constructed homes and buildings that is inconsistent with regulations or other requirements established by the California Building Standards Commission and the Department of Housing and Community Development.
Full Breakdown
Section 12.20.021 lists permanent Stage 1 prohibitions adopted under Water Code Section 350 et seq.: no water applied to sidewalks, driveways, or other hard surfaces; no non-recirculating fountains; leaks must be repaired promptly; vehicle washing requires a bucket or shutoff-nozzle hose; no use causing runoff into gutters or streets; and no potable irrigation of ornamental turf on street medians. Section 12.20.022 (Stage 2, the city's posted stage since July 26, 2016) adds a 20 percent reduction from base-year use, limits irrigation to four days per week and ten minutes per station (drip systems and weather-based controllers exempt), and bans irrigating during or within 48 hours after rainfall exceeding one-quarter inch. Ordinance Nos. 1550 (2014) and 1560 (2015) updated the chapter.
Violations & Fines
Escalating penalties within one year: two written warnings, then a $100 surcharge, then $300 plus a 96-hour flow restrictor, then $500 plus a two-day water shutoff (RMC 12.20.022(B)).
Frequently Asked Questions
What days can I water my lawn in Rialto?
Can I wash my driveway with a hose?
Is there a fine for water waste?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rialto
How Rialto compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Rialto to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle water restrictions.