San Benito County, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Unincorporated San Benito County does not impose its own universal day-of-week outdoor watering schedule; instead, residents are governed by California statewide water rules and by their local water provider, such as the San Benito County Water District or a municipal supplier. California's emergency drought conservation regulations, which had temporarily banned things like hosing down sidewalks, expired on June 5, 2024. However, longer-term state law continues to restrict wasteful water use: the 'Making Conservation a California Way of Life' framework (SB 606 and AB 1668) sets permanent efficiency standards for urban water suppliers, and Assembly Bill 1572 phases in a permanent ban on using potable water to irrigate non-functional (purely decorative) turf at commercial, industrial, and institutional properties. The State Water Resources Control Board notes that local agencies may adopt their own, sometimes stricter, conservation measures, so the controlling watering rules for a given home usually come from its water supplier. New and renovated landscapes are separately regulated by the County's Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance (which follows the state MWELO standards). Property owners should check current restrictions directly with their water district, especially during drought declarations.