Water restrictions in Santa Cruz, CA — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Santa Cruz Municipal Code §16.02.040 bans irrigating turf, gardens, and ornamental landscape between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. except by drip or hand-held shutoff nozzle, and prohibits runoff and other wasteful uses.
Hoses used to wash exterior surfaces, vehicles, or buildings must have automatic shutoff nozzles. Ornamental fountains must recycle water. Single-pass cooling is barred in new equipment. Plumbing leaks must be repaired within 24 hours of discovery. Nonfunctional turf irrigation on commercial/institutional/HOA common areas is being phased out beginning Jan 1, 2027 and 2028 per §16.02.040(a)(12). Construction projects must use reclaimed water where reasonably available.
Infraction or administrative citation under §16.02.050. Water service may be suspended for serious or repeated violations.
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