Tulsa, OK Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Tulsa, OK, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Trigger
- 94% of daily water deliverability
- Stage 2 rule
- Odd/even address, midnight-noon watering
- Stage 4
- Total outdoor watering ban
- Penalty
- $100-$500 fine, up to 30 days jail
- Landscaper permit
- $35, covers 10 days after install
Summary
Tulsa's Mayor can restrict outdoor watering in four escalating stages once daily water use hits 94% of system capacity, from voluntary conservation up to a total outdoor watering ban.
A.Conditions. The conditions for Stage 2 shall exist when water usage reaches ninety-seven percent (97%) of deliverability each day for two (2) consecutive days. B.Mandatory restrictions. Upon the occurrence of the conditions for Stage 2, the Mayor may order the mandatory restriction of outside watering to the hours between midnight and noon every other day.
Full Breakdown
Under Title 11-C, Chapter 13, the Mayor may declare watering restrictions tied to the water system's deliverability. Stage 1 (94% of capacity for two straight days) is voluntary conservation. Stage 2 (97%) makes outdoor watering mandatory every other day between midnight and noon, keyed to whether a property's street address ends in an odd or even number. Stage 3 (100%) limits that same every-other-day window to hand-held hoses only. Stage 4 (usage exceeding capacity) bars all outside watering. Commercial nurseries, landscapers and sod farmers can get a $35 permit to water new plantings for up to 10 days after installation. Violators face a $100-$500 fine and up to 30 days in jail.
Violations & Fines
Watering in violation of an active Mayor's order is a misdemeanor: a fine of $100 to $500, plus up to 30 days in the City jail. Each day and each separate violation is charged as a distinct offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Tulsa always restrict watering to certain days?
Can I still use a hose during a Stage 3 restriction?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tulsa
How Tulsa compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Tulsa to another location·View the Oklahoma landscaping rules overview
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