Ventura, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Ventura, 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
- Governing chapter
- Ch. 22.171, Water Shortage Regulations
- Stage 3 (20% mandatory)
- 2 irrigation days/week
- Sprinkler blackout
- 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Stage 5 limit
- 1 irrigation day/week
- Stage 6
- No outdoor potable irrigation
- Enforcer
- Ventura Water / city manager
Summary
When the Ventura City Council declares a Stage 3 water-shortage event, Municipal Code Section 22.171.070 caps outdoor potable irrigation at two days a week and bars sprinklers from running between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Higher stages tighten further, down to a total outdoor-irrigation ban at Stage 6, enforced by Ventura Water.
22.171.070 Stage 3 water shortage restrictions (20 percent reduction goal (mandatory)). ... 4. ... Comply with prohibited outdoor irrigation of ornamental landscape or turf with potable water through an irrigation system between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and limiting the use of irrigation systems to two days a week.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-008, passed May 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
040, running from Stage 1 (Advisory, 0-10 percent below demand projection) to Stage 6 (Critical, 50 percent or more below demand). 050. , and limits the use of irrigation systems to two days a week; it also bars handheld hoses without automatic shutoff nozzles, restaurant water service except on request, and non-recirculating fountains. 100 prohibits all outdoor irrigation with potable water once Stage 6 is called. 150.
Violations & Fines
Section 22.171.120 sets an escalating penalty ladder: a written notice for a first violation, a surcharge equal to the lesser of 100 percent of the most recent water bill or $25 for a second violation, and 50 percent of the bill or $50, whichever is greater, for a third. Each day of a continuing violation is a separate offense under Section 22.171.160, and water service can ultimately be discontinued.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days a week can I water outdoors in Ventura?
Who decides which watering stage applies?
What happens if I violate the watering schedule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura
How Ventura compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura 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.