Thornton, CO Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Section 74-58(b)(1) sets the outdoor irrigation rules, in effect unless the city council has declared a drought stage under Section 74-59. Under subparagraph a., 'Turf may be watered not more than three days per week, selected at the customer's discretion,' and 'Turf shall not be watered between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., except for very short periods of time to adjust or repair an irrigation system.' Subparagraph b. gives newly planted turf a grace period: 'Newly planted turf seed or sod may be watered as needed and appropriate for up to 21 days for sod and 28 days for seed,' after which the standard three-day schedule applies. Subparagraph c. exempts 'large areas of turf located on school property, homeowners' association property, city maintained public areas, public parks, recreational fields, golf courses, and other similar properties,' letting them irrigate as needed if they use practices that meet the city's water-saving goals. Subparagraph d. allows trees, shrubs, perennial beds, annual flowers, and vegetable gardens to be watered 'as needed and appropriate using deep root, drip, or hand irrigation' without a day restriction.

These rules run seasonally from April 1 through October 31 each year. If the city council declares a drought stage under Section 74-59, the utilities director's drought-stage rules and regulations replace this schedule instead, and can add further curtailments, restrictions, or exemptions as needed to address the shortage.