Westminster, CO Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Westminster, CO, 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
- City-declared drought/water shortage emergency
- Governing section
- WMC § 8-7-24
- Max fine
- $1,000 per violation
- Who's liable
- Person billed for water service
- Appeal window
- 30 days from notice
Summary
During a declared drought or water shortage emergency, Westminster's City Manager can limit lawn watering to specific days or times, ban new lawn installs and outdoor irrigation, and fine violators up to $1,000, under Code Section 8-7-24.
8-7-24. - Water Shortage or Drought. (A)The City Council may adopt by resolution a Drought Management Plan, which authorizes the City Manager to declare a drought or water shortage emergency and to implement a response consistent with the Drought Management Plan. Upon the declaration of a drought or water shortage emergency, and pursuant to the Drought Management Plan, the City Manager's authority shall include, but not be limited to, the ability to order and enforce the following:(1)Limiting lawn watering to certain days of the week or times during the month...(4)Prohibiting new lawns from being planted or installed...(6)Prohibiting any outside irrigation use of water...(B)...Any person, corporation, partnership or association who violates any of the provisions of the Drought Management Plan as adopted by resolution may be punished by a fine or penalty not to exceed $1,000.00, which may be added to the water bill for the property where the violation occurred and/or the installation of a flow restrictor device to limit usage.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12).
Full Breakdown
lets the City Council adopt a Drought Management Plan by resolution, which authorizes the City Manager to declare a drought or water shortage emergency and enforce a range of responses. Once declared, the City Manager's authority includes limiting lawn watering to certain days of the week or times during the month, prohibiting wasteful water use, banning noncommercial car washing and sidewalk or driveway washing, prohibiting new lawns from being planted or installed, rationing water by customer or household, prohibiting outside irrigation entirely, running a public information campaign, and any other similar restriction the City Manager deems necessary.
C. Subsection (C) gives a violator the right to appeal a notice of violation in writing within 30 days; the hearing runs before the City Manager or a designee acting as hearing officer, is informal, and puts the burden of proof on the City to establish the violation by a preponderance of the evidence, with a written decision including findings of fact required afterward.
Violations & Fines
Violating a declared drought watering restriction is punishable by a fine or penalty up to $1,000.00 under Section 8-7-24(B), W.M.C., which can be added straight to the water bill, combined with installation of a flow restrictor, or pursued as a noncriminal citation under Section 1-8-1, W.M.C. A written appeal must be filed within 30 days of the notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who decides when Westminster restricts outdoor watering?
What kinds of watering restrictions can the city impose?
How much is the fine for violating a watering restriction?
Can I appeal a watering violation notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westminster
How Westminster compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Westminster to another location·View the Colorado landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Adams County handle water restrictions.