Water restrictions in San Jose, CA — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Valley Water sets countywide water conservation rules and drought stages. Outdoor watering is typically limited to three days per week before 9 AM or after 6 PM, with state law banning non-functional turf.
Water supply for Santa Clara County is managed by Valley Water (Santa Clara Valley Water District), which wholesales water to retailers such as San Jose Water Company, California Water Service, Great Oaks Water, and municipal utilities. During drought declarations, Valley Water and retailers impose outdoor watering limits, typically three days per week (assigned by address), prohibit watering between 9 AM and 6 PM to reduce evaporation, and ban runoff onto paved surfaces. Statewide, the State Water Resources Control Board prohibits specific wasteful practices: hosing down driveways and sidewalks, washing cars without a shutoff nozzle, irrigating within 48 hours of measurable rain, and using potable water in decorative fountains without recirculation. Assembly Bill 1572 (effective 2027-2031 in phases) bans irrigation of non-functional turf at commercial, industrial, and institutional properties with potable water. Landscape ordinances require MWELO-compliant design (Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance) for new and renovated landscapes over 500 square feet.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
San Jose, CA
San Jose Municipal Code Title 7 (Animal Care and Control) requires dogs in public places, city parks, and trails to be on a leash no longer than six feet, re...
San Jose, CA
San Jose imposes no general restriction on year-round lawn ornaments, statuary, or religious displays on private residential property. The sign code (SJMC Ch...
San Jose, CA
San Jose has no city ordinance specifically regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. Size, height, and motor noise are not restricted by the munic...
San Jose, CA
San Jose has no ordinance limiting the duration, brightness, or hours of residential holiday lighting. The general nuisance provisions in SJMC Title 6 and th...
San Jose, CA
A built-in outdoor kitchen in San Jose typically requires multiple permits: a building permit for any structural roof or counter exceeding the patio cover ex...
San Jose, CA
San Jose does not have a dedicated ordinance for backyard smokers, pellet grills, or wood-fired ovens. Use is governed by the multifamily balcony restriction...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Santa Clara County.
See how other cities in Santa Clara County handle water restrictions.
See how San Jose's water restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.