Water restrictions in Sarasota, FL — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
The City of Sarasota observes the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) year-round watering restrictions: two days per week for residential addresses (even-odd schedule) typically before 10:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. SWFWMD can declare additional Phase I-IV drought restrictions tightening the schedule further.
SWFWMD year-round restrictions assign watering days by street address (odd-ending addresses water Wed/Sat, even or no-number Thu/Sun, locations using reclaimed water on Tue/Fri) and prohibit watering between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (when up to 50% of water can be lost to evaporation). Phase I-IV declarations during drought further restrict frequency or impose total bans. Sarasota County and the City enforce SWFWMD restrictions locally through Code Compliance. Hand-watering, micro-irrigation, and reclaimed-water systems are typically exempt or have different schedules. The City's Sustainability office promotes Florida-Friendly Landscaping (F.S. §373.185) which preempts most HOA bans on water-conserving landscapes.
First violation typically results in a written warning. Repeat violations can result in fines up to $250 per offense under Code Compliance with daily fines up to $1,000 under F.S. §162.09 for ongoing violations. SWFWMD can also pursue civil penalties for repeated violations.
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