Wichita Falls, TX Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Wichita Falls, 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
- Base rule
- No spray irrigation 10 a.m.-7 p.m., any day
- Stage 1 trigger
- Lakes at 65% combined capacity
- Stage 1 schedule
- 2 days/week by address parity
- Exempt methods
- Hand-held hose, drip, soaker hose
- Max fine
- $2,000 per offense, per day
Summary
Year-round irrigation rules plus a five-stage drought plan that cuts sprinkler days as Lakes Arrowhead and Kickapoo drop.
It shall be unlawful to: i) Run outside irrigation systems (including sprinklers, automatic sprinkler systems, and unattended hoses) except for two days a week, based on the following physical address schedule where the sprinkler system is located: Addresses ending in an Even Number = Mondays and Thursdays. Addresses ending in an Odd Number = Tuesdays and Fridays.
Full Breakdown
Wichita Falls bans outdoor spray irrigation between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. every day of the year under City Code § 106-186, regardless of drought status. Once the director of public works declares a Stage 1 drought watch (combined lake levels at 65% capacity), sprinkler use is further cut to two days a week by address: even-numbered addresses water Mondays and Thursdays, odd-numbered addresses water Tuesdays and Fridays. Hand-held hoses with a shut-off nozzle, soaker hoses, drip irrigation, and buckets under five gallons are exempt and allowed any day, any time. Later stages (2-5) tighten the schedule further, and Stage 4-5 bans all potable-water irrigation outright.
Violations & Fines
Violating an active drought restriction is a Code violation; the Code's general penalty caps fines at $2,000 per offense, and each day of continued violation is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the current watering days in Wichita Falls?
Can I hand-water anytime during a drought stage?
Is spray irrigation ever restricted even without a drought declared?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wichita Falls
How Wichita Falls compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Wichita Falls to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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