Westminster, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Westminster, 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
- Watering days, Apr-Oct
- 5 days/week
- Watering days, Nov-Mar
- 3 days/week
- Banned watering hours
- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
- Max run time per station
- 15 minutes/day
- Post-rain watering ban
- 48 hours after 1/16-inch rain
- Repeat-violation fine cap
- up to $250 (5th offense)
- Misdemeanor penalty
- up to $1,000 or 30 days jail
Summary
Westminster caps outdoor irrigation to five days a week year-round under Code § 13.14.050(A), tightening to three days a week from November 1 through March 31. Watering between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. is banned every day under § 13.14.050(B). Drip lines under two gallons per hour and hand-held hoses with shut-off nozzles are exempt.
Limits on Watering Days. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable water is limited to five days per week on a schedule established and posted by the city. From November 1 through March 31, watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable water is limited to no more than three days per week on a schedule established and posted by the city. This provision does not apply to landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use city approved very low flow drip type irrigation systems, when no emitter produces more than two gallons of water per hour. Limits on Watering Hours. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable water is prohibited between the hours of nine a.m. and five p.m. year-round, local time, on any day, except by use of a hand-water shut-off nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4982734; v10 updated 2026-06-10).
Full Breakdown
050 makes these limits permanent, not just drought measures. Subsection (A) allows five watering days a week on the schedule the city posts, dropping to three days a week from November 1 through March 31; the cutback does not apply to drip zones where no emitter exceeds two gallons per hour, or to hand-held buckets and shut-off-nozzle hoses. , 365 days a year. Subsection (C) caps unattended watering at fifteen minutes per station per day unless the system uses qualifying drip or a weather-based controller meeting a 70% efficiency standard.
Subsection (D) bans runoff onto sidewalks, streets, alleys or gutters, and Subsection (J) forbids irrigating for 48 hours after any rain event of 1/16 inch or more. 110(A). 120, with mandatory measures taking effect the tenth day after declaration.
Violations & Fines
Under § 13.14.140, a first and second violation within twelve months draw a written notice only. A third violation is punishable by a fine up to $50, a fourth up to $150, and a fifth or subsequent violation up to $250. The city may also install a flow-restrictor device after 48 hours' written notice, and may disconnect service for willful violations. Each day of noncompliance counts as a separate offense (§ 13.14.160), and § 13.14.180 allows misdemeanor prosecution carrying up to 30 days in county jail or a $1,000 fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westminster
How Westminster compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Westminster to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle water restrictions.