Sanford, FL Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Sanford adopted its Water Conservation Rule by Ordinance No. 4208 in 2010, recognizing in Sec. 102-611 the St. Johns River Water Management District's exclusive preemptive authority over consumptive water use. Rather than write its own watering-day table, Sec. 102-612 adopts and incorporates Rule 40C-2.042(2)(a), Florida Administrative Code, directly into the Code of Ordinances of the City of Sanford, and applies the district's schedule to every person located within the city, enforced by the city under Sec. 102-614. A property owner who cannot comply may petition for a variance under Sec.

102-613: the applicant must show with particularity that strict compliance would cause substantial economic, health or other hardship, and where a contiguous property is divided into different irrigation zones, the city may grant a variance allowing each zone to water on a different day. Even with a variance, no single zone may be irrigated more than two days a week during Daylight Saving Time or more than one day a week during Eastern Standard Time. Variance petitions go in writing to the city manager or a designee and must include the petitioner's name and address, the facts supporting the request, the specific variance sought, and its requested duration; a denial by the manager's designee can be appealed to the city manager within ten days, and a denial by the city manager can be appealed to the city commission within a further ten days through the city clerk.

Enforcement runs through whatever code enforcement method the city has available under its ordinances or state law, but Sec. 102-614(c) expressly bars incarceration as a punishment for violating the division, and the city may also assess service fees and charges against noncomplying utility customers. Warning notices may be delivered by hanger, fax, mail or hand delivery.