Santa Monica, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Santa Monica, 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
- Prohibited hours
- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: no spray irrigation any day
- Spray heads / bubblers
- Max 10 minutes per station per watering day
- Rotors / multi-stream heads
- Max 15 min per cycle, up to 2 cycles per watering day
- Phase I restriction
- 3 days per week (alternating odd/even addresses)
- Phase II restriction
- 2 days per week
- Phase III restriction
- 1 day per week
- Phase IV restriction
- No outdoor watering without City Manager written approval
Summary
Santa Monica bans spray irrigation of lawns and landscapes between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. every day, limits sprinkler run times, and can activate tiered outdoor watering day-of-week restrictions from 3 days per week down to a complete ban during declared water shortage phases.
§ 7.16.020. Water conservation requirements. (a) Landscape. (1) Watering Hours. No lawn or landscape area shall be spray irrigated between the hours of nine a.m. and five p.m. on any day. ... (3) Limitations on Sprinkler Use. All irrigating of landscape with potable water using spray head sprinklers and bubblers shall be limited to no more than ten minutes per watering day per station. All irrigating of landscape with potable water using standard rotors and multi-stream rotary heads shall be limited to no more than fifteen minutes per cycle and up to two cycles per watering day per station. (4)(A) Phase I Outdoor Watering Restrictions. Outdoor watering limited to three days per week. ... (B) Phase II Outdoor Watering Restrictions. Outdoor watering limited to two days per week. ... (C) Phase III Outdoor Watering Restrictions. Outdoor watering limited to one day per week. ... (D) Phase IV Outdoor Watering Restrictions. No outdoor watering will be allowed unless exceptions, if any, are approved in writing by the City Manager or designee.
Full Breakdown
Spray head sprinklers and bubblers are capped at 10 minutes per station per watering day; standard rotors and multi-stream rotary heads are limited to 15 minutes per cycle with no more than two cycles per watering day. Under Phase I (drought advisory) watering is limited to 3 days per week (odd addresses: Mon/Wed/Fri; even: Tue/Thu/Sat). Phase II cuts to 2 days; Phase III to 1 day; Phase IV prohibits all outdoor watering unless the City Manager grants a written exception. Drip irrigation approved by the City Manager and recycled water use are generally exempt from the time restrictions. A hardship waiver is available for properties with unique circumstances.
Violations & Fines
Any failure to comply with a Phase I through IV outdoor watering restriction is an infraction punishable by a fine of $250–$500 or a misdemeanor punishable by a $300–$500 fine. Each day of violation is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I water my lawn in the middle of the day?
Are there limits on how long my sprinklers can run?
What happens during a drought emergency?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Monica
How Santa Monica compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Monica to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle water restrictions.