Thousand Oaks, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Thousand Oaks, 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
- Daytime watering ban
- 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., every day, permanent
- Baseline watering days
- 3 days/week (set by Council resolution) when no shortage is declared
- Post-rain restriction
- No irrigation for 48 hours after 0.25" or more of rain
- Runoff
- Overspray/runoff onto pavement or neighboring property prohibited
- Escalating enforcement
- Fines → flow restrictor installed → service disconnection
Summary
Thousand Oaks bans outdoor watering with a hose or sprinkler between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. every day, and, under the baseline (Level 1) conservation tier that applies whenever no drought shortage has been declared, limits irrigation to three days per week on a schedule set by City Council resolution. Runoff onto sidewalks, streets, or a neighbor's property is also flatly prohibited.
Permanent measures: The following water conservation requirements are in effect at all times and are permanent. Violations of this section shall be considered waste and an unreasonable use of water. (a) Limits on Watering Hours: Watering or irrigating landscape and vegetated areas with potable water is prohibited between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on any day, except by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, or by use of a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device, or for short periods for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system, or for turf refurbishment on a public playing field. ... Level 1 measures: The following water conservation requirements are in effect at all times in the absence of a declared Water Supply Shortage at Level 2 or higher. (a) Limits on Watering Days: Watering or irrigating landscape and vegetated areas with potable water is limited to three days per week. These days may be designated by City Council through Resolution.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-78: 2026 S-78 Supplement contains: Current city legislation passed through March 31, 2026).
Full Breakdown
The daytime sprinkling ban (8 a.m.–6 p.m.) and the three-day-a-week schedule are 'permanent'/baseline rules that apply year-round in Thousand Oaks regardless of drought conditions: they only get stricter, never looser, once the City Council declares a higher water-shortage level (Level 2 through 6 tighten the days-per-week and add more exceptions/restrictions). Hand watering with a bucket or a hose fitted with a positive shut-off nozzle is exempt from the hours restriction, as is short-term work to repair a sprinkler system. Watering is also barred for 48 hours after any rainfall of a quarter-inch or more, and any runoff onto a sidewalk, driveway, street, or neighboring property is a separate violation. Under § 10-2.1103, every violation is enforced first by the water purveyor and, if it fails to act, by the City; each day of a continuing violation is a separate offense, and the ordinance also declares the conduct a public nuisance under TOMC § 1-6.01.
Violations & Fines
Each day of a violation is a separate offense, prosecutable and finable under Title 1, Chapter 2 of the Municipal Code, and the conduct is independently a public nuisance under TOMC § 1-6.01. For repeated violations the City or water purveyor may install a water flow restrictor at the violator's expense, and for continued willful violations may disconnect water service; all restrictor-installation, removal, disconnection, and reconnection charges must be paid before service is restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hand-water my flower beds in the middle of the day in Thousand Oaks?
How many days a week can I run my sprinklers right now?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Thousand Oaks
How Thousand Oaks compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Thousand Oaks 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.