Indian River County, FL Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Indian River County, FL, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- District
- SJRWMD
- Watering days
- 2 days/week by address
- No watering
- 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Fertilizer blackout
- June 1–Sep 30
- Rain sensor
- Required, Fla. Stat. 373.62
Summary
Indian River County sits in the St. Johns River Water Management District, which limits lawn irrigation to two days a week and bans watering from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A summer fertilizer blackout runs June 1 through September 30 to protect the Indian River Lagoon.
Any person who purchases and installs an automatic landscape irrigation system must properly install, maintain, and operate technology that inhibits or interrupts operation of the system during periods of sufficient moisture.
Full Breakdown
The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) sets year-round irrigation limits countywide. During daylight saving time, odd-numbered addresses water Wednesday and Saturday and even addresses Thursday and Sunday; the winter schedule drops to roughly one day each. Watering is never allowed between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and no more than one hour per zone. Separately, the county's Fertilizer and Landscape Management Ordinance bans nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer from June 1 through September 30, the rainy season, to keep nutrients out of the Indian River Lagoon. Florida Statute 373.62 requires a working shutoff sensor on every automatic sprinkler.
Violations & Fines
Watering outside your assigned day or hours draws a warning then escalating fines under SJRWMD and county rule. Applying fertilizer during the summer blackout, or running a sprinkler without a working rain sensor, violates county code and Statute 373.62.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which days can I water my lawn?
When is the fertilizer blackout?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Indian River County
How Indian River County compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Indian River County to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.