Salt Lake City, UT Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Salt Lake City, UT, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Public Utilities
- Mandatory-limit trigger
- Supply at 60% or less of average
- First violation penalty
- Written warning, then $100 fine
- Repeat violation cap
- $1,000 (4th violation and beyond)
- Who declares restrictions
- Mayor, by proclamation
Summary
Salt Lake City's mayor can proclaim mandatory water-use restrictions during drought or supply shortages, activating a graduated water shortage contingency plan enforced by the public utilities department with civil fines for violations.
During times of water shortage caused by drought, facilities failure or any other condition or event, M&I water usage within the city's water service area shall be managed, regulated, prioritized and restricted in such a manner as to prevent the wasteful or unreasonable use of water, and to preserve at all times an adequate supply of M&I water for essential uses.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 40-26, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Salt Lake City Code § 17.16.092 directs the Department of Public Utilities to maintain a water shortage contingency plan with graduated stages of restriction, from voluntary conservation up to mandatory watering limits. Mandatory restrictions on residential and commercial customers can't take effect unless the projected water supply drops to 60% or less of the average annual supply, or the public utilities director determines essential needs are at risk. The mayor declares which stage applies by proclamation under § 17.16.080, and each stage's specific restrictions -- including irrigation-day schedules -- are set in the plan itself rather than spelled out in the code.
Violations & Fines
First violation of a mandatory water use restriction draws a written warning; repeat violations bring civil fines of $100, $250, $500, then $1,000 for a fourth violation and beyond within a 12-month period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Salt Lake City set fixed watering days every year?
What happens if I violate a mandatory watering restriction?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
How Salt Lake City compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Salt Lake City to another location·View the Utah landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle water restrictions.