Yakima, WA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Yakima, WA, 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
- Declared water-supply emergency only
- Authority
- City manager, per council finding
- Possible limits
- Alternate-day, time-of-day, full ban
- No emergency
- No standing watering-day rule
Summary
Yakima has no standing odd/even watering schedule; instead, once the city council declares a water-supply emergency, the city manager can ban or ration outdoor irrigation, turf watering, and other outdoor water use citywide.
Upon declaration of a water supply emergency, the city manager may direct that no water shall be used for outdoor uses including, but not limited to, irrigation of lawns, turf or use on other outdoor surfaces...except at times and under conditions as specified by the city manager. Such conditions may include but are not limited to: Alternate day limitations; Time of day limitations; Limitation of uses; and/or Suspension of domestic water irrigation service.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4980636; v1 updated 2026-08-03; through 08-03-2026).
Full Breakdown
Yakima Municipal Code § 7.68.203 gives the city manager authority to restrict water use only after the city council finds an emergency threatens the municipal supply. Once declared, the city manager may bar outdoor uses, including lawn and turf irrigation, at any residence, apartment, or commercial property, except under conditions the city manager sets. Those conditions can include alternate-day watering, time-of-day limits, use restrictions, or a full suspension of domestic irrigation service. Outside a declared emergency, the code does not impose routine watering-day restrictions on Yakima, Washington properties.
Violations & Fines
Once a water emergency is declared, ignoring the city manager's outdoor watering order can lead to water service being restricted or shut off; the ordinance sets no separate fine for this section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Yakima have regular odd-even day lawn watering rules?
How far can Yakima go during a water emergency?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yakima
How Yakima compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Yakima to another location·View the Washington landscaping rules overview
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