Santa Maria, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Santa Maria, 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
- Code section
- SMMC 8-10.33
- Stage 2 noon-to-4pm ban
- Yes: irrigation prohibited
- Post-rain irrigation
- Banned within 48 hours
- Water waste hotline
- (805) 925-0951 x2802
Summary
Santa Maria Municipal Code Section 8-10.33 prohibits runoff irrigation, hosing of driveways and sidewalks, washing vehicles with an un-nozzled hose, and operating non-recirculating decorative fountains. In June 2022 the City Council enacted Stage 2 of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan, banning landscape irrigation from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. and irrigation during or within 48 hours of rainfall.
Notwithstanding Section 1845, any person or entity that violates a regulation adopted by the board pursuant to this section is guilty of an infraction punishable by a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500) for each day in which the violation occurs. Any fines imposed for violations of an emergency conservation regulation shall be deposited in the Water Rights Fund, established under Section 1550, and separately accounted for, and shall, upon appropriation by the Legislature, be expended to implement actions to respond to conditions of drought.
Full Breakdown
Santa Maria's everyday outdoor water rules sit in Title 8, Chapter 8-10 (Water Service) of the Municipal Code. 33 (Water Waste: Outdoor Water Use Restrictions) bars (a) applying potable water to landscapes in a way that causes runoff onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, walkways, roadways, parking lots, or structures; (b) washing a vehicle with a hose that lacks a shut-off nozzle; (c) hosing down driveways and sidewalks; and (d) operating decorative fountains or water features without a recirculating system. Consumers must keep pipes, faucets, valves, and fixtures in good repair to prevent waste.
On June 21, 2022 the City Council unanimously enacted Stage 2 of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan in response to the State Water Resources Control Board's emergency conservation regulation (adopted May 24, 2022 under Executive Order N-7-22). and prohibits irrigation during or within 48 hours of measurable rainfall. The statewide non-functional turf ban (SWRCB emergency regulation, 23 CCR §§ 996-997) also applies, prohibiting potable irrigation of ornamental turf at commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) properties, including HOA common areas, but not residential lawns or trees.
Violations & Fines
Willful or negligent water waste through misuse of sprinklers or outdoor watering can result in the Utilities Department shutting off and sealing water service; service is not restored until the consumer pays the turn-on fee in the City's Schedule of Fees and Charges. Violations of the SWRCB non-functional turf rule carry civil liability of up to $500 per day under Water Code § 1058.5.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I water my lawn in the middle of the day in Santa Maria?
Can I hose off my driveway?
What if my sprinklers cause water to run into the street?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Maria
How Santa Maria compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Maria to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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