San Ramon, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in San Ramon, 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
- Water Districts
- EBMUD serves western San Ramon; DSRSD serves Dougherty Valley/eastern areas
- Statewide Bans
- No runoff, no hosing hard surfaces, no watering 48 hrs post-rain
- Drought Schedules
- Drought stages trigger 2–3 day watering schedules with AM/PM windows
- Penalties
- Fines range from warnings to $500 plus flow restrictor for repeat offenders
- New Construction
- Landscaping >500 sf must comply with MWELO
Summary
San Ramon water service is provided by EBMUD and Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD). Permanent statewide water waste rules under SWRCB prohibit runoff, watering within 48 hours of rain, and hosing hard surfaces. Local drought stages trigger day-of-week watering limits, typically 2-3 days per week during drought.
About 40% of the water Californians use at home is used outdoors. Large water savings can be gained by efficient landscape design, installation, management, and maintenance. This is accomplished by choosing climate adapted plants, improving soil conditions, using, and maintaining high efficiency irrigation equipment and managing the irrigation schedule to fit the plants water needs as they are influenced by local climate. To increase water efficiency and better use a valuable resource, rainwater and stormwater collection and graywater and recycled water can replace or augment potable water use in landscapes. New development and retrofitted landscape water efficiency standards are governed by the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) .
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
San Ramon water customers are served primarily by East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) in the older portions of the city and by Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD) in Dougherty Valley and newer eastern neighborhoods. Both agencies enforce water conservation rules adopted by the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) plus their own local measures. Permanent statewide prohibitions apply year-round: no hosing sidewalks, driveways, or other hard surfaces except for health and safety; no watering that causes runoff onto sidewalks or streets; no watering within 48 hours after measurable rainfall; no watering ornamental turf on public medians; no washing vehicles without a shut-off nozzle; no serving water in restaurants unless requested; and no decorative water features without recirculation.
, before 9 AM or after 6 PM), and reduced total minutes per zone. Penalties start at warnings, progress to fines ($25-$500 range for residential), and can include water flow restrictor installation for chronic violators. Non-functional turf at commercial, industrial, and institutional properties is banned statewide under 2022 SWRCB emergency regulations. New development must comply with MWELO (Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance) limiting turf and requiring high-efficiency irrigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What days can I water my lawn in San Ramon?
How do I report a neighbor's water waste?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Ramon
How San Ramon compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare San Ramon to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Contra Costa County handle water restrictions.