San Francisco, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
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.
Key Facts
- Runoff
- Prohibited from any landscape area
- Turf cap
- 25% of landscaped area (Tier 1)
- New-project threshold
- 500 sq ft or more
- Enforcer
- PUC General Manager
Summary
San Francisco bans irrigation runoff and caps water use for new and rehabbed landscapes citywide under the Water Efficient Irrigation Ordinance.
(b) Water runoff leaving the landscape area due to low head drainage, overspray, broken irrigation hardware, or other similar conditions where water flows onto adjacent property, walks, roadways, parking lots, structures, or non-irrigated areas designated for non-development such as open spaces and existing native vegetation, is prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-96: Codes: last updated to include changes made by legislation through Ordinance 133-26, File No. 260686, approved July 23, 2026, effective August 23, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Administrative Code Chapter 63 bars water runoff from irrigation onto sidewalks, roadways, or neighboring property, and requires new and rehabilitated landscape projects of 500+ sq ft (new) or 1,000+ sq ft (rehab) to stay within a Maximum Applied Water Allowance set by the PUC General Manager and to limit turf to 25% of the landscaped area. The rules apply to all landscape irrigation systems in the City and County.
Violations & Fines
PUC General Manager enforces under Administrative Code Chapter 100; noncompliant projects can be blocked from further building permits, inspections, or a certificate of occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I let my sprinklers run onto the sidewalk?
Does this apply to existing lawns?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Francisco
How San Francisco compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare San Francisco to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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