San Antonio, TX Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in San Antonio, 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 code
- City Code § 34-323
- Stage I frequency
- Once per week by address
- Prohibited hours
- 11 a.m.–7 p.m. (in-ground)
- Enforced by
- San Antonio Water System
- First-violation fine
- About $137
Summary
San Antonio City Code section 34-323 assigns each property a landscape watering day by street address and bars in-ground sprinklers between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Under Stage I, irrigation is limited to that one assigned day per week, and the San Antonio Water System issues citations to violators.
During any period when stage restrictions have been declared to be in effect, irrigation with a sprinkler or irrigation system of existing landscape on any property ... may occur only on certain designated days and at certain times... For Stage I ... Irrigation with a soaker hose, hose-end sprinkler or in-ground irrigation system is allowed on the day specified in subsection (1) between the hours of 12:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to midnight. Landscape irrigation with a handheld hose, drip irrigation system or five-gallon bucket is allowed at any time on any day.
Full Breakdown
The rule keys off the last digit of your street address: 0 or 1 water Monday, 2 or 3 Tuesday, 4 or 5 Wednesday, 6 or 7 Thursday, 8 or 9 Friday (no street address defaults to Wednesday). During Stage I, in-ground systems, hose-end sprinklers and soaker hoses run only on that assigned day, from midnight to 11 a.m. and from 7 p.m. to midnight. A handheld hose, drip irrigation system or five-gallon bucket is allowed any time, any day. Stages tighten as the Edwards Aquifer level drops. The San Antonio Water System enforces the rules and issues citations starting around $137 for a first violation.
Violations & Fines
Watering on the wrong day, or running an in-ground sprinkler system between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., draws a San Antonio Water System citation, with fines starting near $137 and escalating for repeat offenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which day can I water my lawn in San Antonio?
Can I hand-water any time?
What does Stage I actually limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Antonio
How San Antonio compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Texas rules heatmap·Compare San Antonio to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Bexar County handle water restrictions.