Water restrictions in San Francisco, CA — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
California's State Water Resources Control Board issues statewide drought emergency regulations and waste prohibitions that apply to every household, overriding more lenient local rules.
Under Water Code section 1058.5, the State Water Resources Control Board may adopt emergency conservation regulations during declared drought. Permanent waste prohibitions ban hosing down driveways, irrigating during or 48 hours after measurable rain, and runoff onto sidewalks. Cities and water suppliers must enforce statewide minimums but may impose stricter rules. The Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) under Government Code 65591-65599 also sets baseline irrigation efficiency standards for new and renovated landscapes.
Fines up to $500 per day per California Code of Regulations Title 23 section 879; suppliers may add surcharges or restrict service.
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See how San Francisco's water restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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