Sugar Land, TX Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Sugar Land, TX, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 5-307
- Who declares stage
- City manager, ratified by council
- Stage 1-2 residential days
- Household trash collection day
- Stage 3 residential days
- Recycling collection day, once weekly
- Stage 4
- All landscape irrigation prohibited
- Watering hours
- Midnight-10am or 8pm-midnight
- After 3 convictions
- Water service may be disconnected
Summary
Lawn and landscape irrigation in Sugar Land is restricted to specific days and overnight hours once the city manager declares a drought stage, under City Code Sec. 5-307. In Stages 1 and 2, residential customers may only irrigate on their neighborhood's trash collection day; by Stage 4, all landscape irrigation is prohibited outright.
(1)Drought stage 1 and 2:a.Residential customers. Landscape irrigation watering days are their established neighborhood solid waste collection days between the hours of midnight and 10:00 a.m. or 8:00 p.m. and midnight.b.Commercial customers, agricultural irrigation, green space and right-of-way. Landscape irrigation watering days are Wednesday and Saturday between the hours of midnight and 10:00 a.m. or 8:00 p.m. and midnight.(2)Drought stage 3:a.Residential customers. Landscape irrigation are allowed only one (1) day a week on the customers' designated recyclable waste collection day between the hours of midnight and 10:00 a.m. or 8:00 p.m. and midnight.b.Commercial customers, agricultural irrigation, right-of-way, and greenspace irrigation. Landscape irrigation are only allowed on Wednesday between the hours of midnight and 10:00 a.m. or 8:00 p.m. and midnight.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Development Code: Supplement 14 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 55).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 5-307, the city's drought contingency ordinance, ties watering restrictions to four escalating drought stages that the city manager alone has authority to declare, subject to city council ratification at its next meeting. to midnight. In Stages 1 and 2, residential customers may only irrigate on their household's established neighborhood solid waste collection day, while commercial customers, agricultural irrigation, green space, and right-of-way irrigation are limited to Wednesdays and Saturdays within those same hours; Stage 1 restrictions are framed as voluntary, but Stage 2 makes the same schedule mandatory.
Stage 3 tightens further: residential customers get only their designated recyclable-waste collection day, a single day a week, and commercial and agricultural users are cut to Wednesday only. Stage 4 is a full shutoff: all residential, commercial, agricultural, right-of-way, and green space landscape irrigation is prohibited, the city stops approving new water service connections, and the city manager can disconnect service to non-essential businesses to protect essential uses like hospitals and fire flow. Every stage still allows hand-watering at any time with a hand-held hose fitted with a positive shut-off nozzle, a five-gallon bucket, or a drip irrigation system, and foundation watering is treated the same way.
Violations & Fines
Intentionally or knowingly violating the drought contingency schedule, or knowingly letting water be used contrary to it, is an offense under Sec. 5-307(g), and the property owner or person in apparent control of the property is presumed responsible under subsection (h), with parents presumed responsible for a minor child's violation. There is an affirmative defense for a written temporary variance from the city manager. After three or more convictions, the city manager may disconnect water service under subsection (j) until the customer gives written assurance the violations will stop and pays reconnection charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What days can I water my lawn in Sugar Land?
Can I hand-water during a drought stage?
What happens if I violate the watering restrictions repeatedly?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sugar Land
How Sugar Land compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Sugar Land to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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