Simi Valley, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Simi Valley, 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
- Water provider
- Ventura County Waterworks District No. 8 (City-operated)
- Governing ordinance
- Ord. No. WWD-08 (2009)
- No-water window
- 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily
- Per-zone limit
- 15 minutes/day (exempts drip and 70%-efficient sprinklers)
- Hardscape washing
- Prohibited
- Decorative fountains
- Recirculated water only
- Stage IV (2022-2023)
- One day per week outdoor watering (Res. WWD-286)
- Current stage (2023+)
- Stage I voluntary conservation
- New / rehab landscapes
- Must meet MWELO (23 CCR Section 490 et seq.)
Summary
Simi Valley's Ventura County Waterworks District No. 8 imposes year-round permanent water conservation standards under Ordinance WWD-08 (2009), including watering only before 9:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m., a 15-minute-per-zone irrigation cap, and prohibitions on washing hardscapes and non-recirculating fountains. The Board of Directors can declare Stage I through Stage IV water supply shortage conditions that layer additional restrictions on top of the permanent rules.
Water before 9:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. Irrigate no more than 15 minutes per day, per irrigation station/zone (does not apply to low-flow drip irrigation or sprinklers meeting 70% efficiency standard). Eliminate any excessive irrigation flow and/or runoff. Cease washing exterior hard surfaces such as sidewalks and driveways. Use only recirculated water in decorative fountains or water features. Serve water only upon request of customers, at restaurants and other food service establishments. Provide guests the option to decline daily linen service at hotels and motels. Use recirculated water at commercial car washes and decorative fountains.
Full Breakdown
The City of Simi Valley operates Ventura County Waterworks District No. 8 (VCWWD No. 8) as the local retail water utility for most of Simi Valley. The District's Water Conservation Program was adopted by the Board of Directors in 2009 through Ordinance No. WWD-08, which added Article 1 to Chapter 11 of Title 6 of the Simi Valley Municipal Code. ; irrigate no more than 15 minutes per day, per irrigation station or zone (the time limit does not apply to low-flow drip irrigation or to sprinklers meeting the 70% efficiency standard); eliminate any excessive irrigation flow or runoff; cease washing exterior hard surfaces such as sidewalks and driveways; use only recirculated water in decorative fountains or water features; serve water only on request at restaurants and other food-service establishments; provide hotel and motel guests the option to decline daily linen service; and use recirculated water at commercial car washes.
Layered on top of the permanent rules, the Board can declare escalating Water Supply Shortage stages. On May 9, 2022, the Board adopted Resolution No. WWD-286 declaring a Stage IV Water Supply Shortage that limited outdoor watering to one day per week, effective June 1, 2022. On February 27, 2023, Resolution No. WWD-291 stepped the District back to a Stage II Water Supply Shortage and rescinded WWD-286, and on May 1, 2023 the Board adopted a Stage I (voluntary conservation) condition, rescinding WWD-291. ) makes permanent statewide prohibitions, including the ban on irrigating non-functional turf at commercial, industrial, and institutional sites.
New construction and rehabilitated landscape projects in Simi Valley must also comply with California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), codified at 23 CCR Sections 490-495, which applies to new landscapes of 500 square feet or more with irrigation and to rehabilitated landscapes of 2,500 square feet or more.
Violations & Fines
Violations of WWD-08 and the resolutions implementing higher-stage shortages are enforced by the District. The District's standard progression starts with a courtesy notice or warning, escalates to administrative fines, and can include flow-restriction devices for repeat or egregious waste. The City's Water Conservation staff (805-583-6790) responds to water-waste complaints. Failure of a new or rehabilitated landscape project to meet MWELO is corrected at plan check, and a Certificate of Occupancy will not be issued until landscape and irrigation plans comply.
Frequently Asked Questions
When am I allowed to water my lawn in Simi Valley?
Can I hose down my driveway, sidewalk, or patio?
Do I have to install drought-tolerant landscaping for a new build?
Is there a rebate for replacing my lawn?
Sources & Official References
- [1]City of Simi Valley - Water Conservation
- [2]City of Simi Valley - Water Conservation Ordinances & Resolutions
- [3]Ordinance No. WWD-08 (Water Conservation Program)
- [4]City of Simi Valley - Water Shortage Emergency FAQ
- [5]City of Simi Valley - Turf Removal Programs
- [6]California DWR - Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
Other rules in Simi Valley
How Simi Valley compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Simi Valley to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle water restrictions.