Victoria, TX Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Victoria, TX, 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
- Guadalupe River flow / reservoir level
- Stage 3+ watering days
- 2 days/week by address parity
- Allowed hours
- 6-10 a.m. and 8 p.m.-midnight
- Stage 4
- Sprinklers/automatic systems banned outright
- Max fine
- $500 per violation per day
Summary
Victoria's Drought Contingency Plan restricts landscape irrigation to Designated Watering Days and set morning/evening hours once the City Manager declares Stage 3 (Severe) or higher water shortage conditions.
Irrigation of landscaped areas (including golf course greens) with hose-end sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems shall be limited to Designated Water Days, and irrigation of landscaped areas are further limited to the hours of between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and between 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. on Designated Watering Days. However, irrigation of landscaped areas is permitted at any time if it is by means of hand-held hose equipped with a positive shut-off nozzle, hand-held bucket or watering can of five (5) gallons or less, or drip irrigation system.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 42).
Full Breakdown
Once the City Manager declares Stage 3 or higher, sprinkler and automatic-system irrigation is confined to Designated Watering Days, Sundays and Thursdays for even-numbered addresses, Saturdays and Wednesdays for odd, and to the hours of 6-10 a.m. and 8 p.m.-midnight. Stage 4 bans sprinklers and automatic systems outright, permitting only hand-held hoses, buckets, or drip lines on those days; Stage 5 halts landscape irrigation entirely. Stages trigger on Guadalupe River flow and the elevation of off-channel Reservoir #8, publicized by the City Manager. Violations are enforced by the Director of Public Works, including service termination and fines.
Violations & Fines
Violating an active drought stage is a criminal offense punishable by up to $500 per day; the Director of Public Works can also terminate water service after 7 days' notice, with a $200 reconnection fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lawn watering restricted right now in Victoria?
Which days can I water my lawn during a drought stage?
Can I still hand-water during restrictions?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Victoria
How Victoria compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Victoria to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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