Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions (2026)

Top 25: Tightest Schedules

Locations are sorted by the severity rating assigned when each row was authored from the city's code, with ties broken alphabetically by name. For this topic, "strict" means a fixed year-round watering schedule with limited days and hours, a runoff prohibition, and fines or service penalties. "Permissive" means restrictions apply only under a declared drought stage, or the code sets no day or time limits.

1. 1

   Albuquerque, NMHeavy Restrictions

   Albuquerque enforces mandatory time-of-day watering restrictions. Under the Water Conservation Landscaping and Water Waste Ordinance (ROA 1994, Sec. 6-1-1-5), all spray irrigation from April 1 through October 31 must occur between 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 a.m. Drip irrigation, low-precipitation bubblers, and hand watering are exempt.

2. 2

   Charlotte County, FLHeavy RestrictionsOne day per week

   Charlotte County sits in the Southwest Florida Water Management District (Swiftmud) and enforces a once-per-week irrigation schedule assigned by the last digit of the street address, morning hours only. Florida Statute 373.62 requires a working shutoff sensor on every automatic sprinkler.

3. 3

   Coral Springs, FLHeavy Restrictions

   Coral Springs is within the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) jurisdiction. Current Modified Phase III restrictions limit landscape irrigation to one day per week with restricted hours. Violations are enforced by both the district and city code compliance.

4. 4

   Dade City, FLHeavy Restrictions

   Dade City follows SWFWMD water restrictions. Lawn irrigation is limited to one day per week under the current Modified Phase I Water Shortage Order. Watering hours are restricted to 6 PM–8 AM for potable water and midnight–8 AM for reclaimed water. Note: wastewater capacity is currently fully allocated in Dade City.

5. 5

   Fillmore, CAHeavy Restrictions

   Fillmore's water supply comes from local groundwater in the Santa Clara River watershed. The city enforces water conservation measures including irrigation day/time restrictions during drought conditions. Outdoor watering is typically limited to specific days and prohibited during the heat of the day.

6. 6

   Hernando County, FLHeavy RestrictionsOne day per week

   Hernando County sits in the Southwest Florida Water Management District (Swiftmud) and enforces a strict one-day-per-week irrigation schedule year-round, assigned by address. Florida Statute 373.62 requires a working rain sensor on every automatic sprinkler.

7. 7

   Indian River County, FLHeavy Restrictions2 days/week by address

   Indian River County sits in the St. Johns River Water Management District, which limits lawn irrigation to two days a week and bans watering from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A summer fertilizer blackout runs June 1 through September 30 to protect the Indian River Lagoon.

8. 8

   Largo, FLHeavy Restrictions

   Largo follows Southwest Florida Water Management District restrictions, currently a Modified Phase III shortage limiting irrigation to one day per week within designated overnight or evening hours, with violations carrying citations and escalating fines.

9. 9

   Lee County, FLHeavy RestrictionsWednesday and/or Saturday

   Unincorporated Lee County bans landscape irrigation between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. every day and assigns watering days by address, tightening to one day a week from February through May.

10. 10

    Long Beach, CAHeavy Restrictions

    Long Beach follows the MWELO (Smartscape) ordinance for new landscaping. Projects 500-2,500 sq ft have streamlined permits; over 2,500 sq ft require a landscape professional. High-water turf is prohibited in parkways and medians.

11. 11

    New Port Richey, FLHeavy Restrictions

    New Port Richey follows SWFWMD water restrictions enforced through Pasco County Ordinance Ch. 62, Art. II, Div. 3. Currently under a Modified Phase I Water Shortage Order, lawn irrigation is limited to one day per week based on address number. Watering is only permitted between midnight and 8 AM (reclaimed) or 6 PM to 8 AM (potable/well).

12. 12

    Oceanside, CAHeavy RestrictionsDuring and 48 hrs after rain

    Oceanside enforces water conservation measures through Oceanside Water Utilities. Landscape irrigation is subject to seasonal watering schedules. Standard restrictions prohibit watering during rain, excessive runoff, and using potable water to wash hardscapes.

13. 13

    Orange County, CAHeavy RestrictionsNone set by county; varies by water district

    Unincorporated Orange County does not set a single countywide watering schedule; outdoor water rules are set by each retail water district (coordinated through MWDOC) plus statewide law. California permanently prohibits wasteful practices like runoff, hosing pavement, and using non-recirculating fountains under State Water Board rules.

14. 14

    Pasco County, FLHeavy Restrictions

    Unincorporated Pasco County limits irrigation of established lawns and landscaping to one address-assigned day per week under County Code Chapter 62, Article II, Division 3. A SWFWMD Modified Phase III Extreme Water Shortage Order tightens the hours and is in effect through October 1, 2026.

15. 15

    Pinellas County, FLHeavy RestrictionsWater Wednesdays

    Pinellas County enforces twice-weekly to once-weekly irrigation rules tied to Southwest Florida Water Management District phases, with $193 first-violation citations doubling per repeat offense.

16. 16

    Pinellas Park, FLHeavy RestrictionsAllowed anytime

    Pinellas Park follows Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and Pinellas County watering rules, which currently limit landscape irrigation to once per week with hours based on address.

17. 17

    Pomona, CAHeavy Restrictions

    Pomona is served by multiple water providers following MWELO requirements. New landscapes over 500 sq ft must meet Maximum Applied Water Allowance calculations. CA Gov Code Section 65595 prohibits banning drought-tolerant landscaping.

18. 18

    Richmond, CAHeavy Restrictions

    Richmond is in the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) service area. EBMUD's Section 29 (Water Use Restrictions) permanently prohibits outdoor watering that causes runoff, watering during or within 48 hours of measurable rainfall, washing sidewalks/driveways with potable water, washing vehicles with a hose that lacks a shut-off nozzle, and use of potable water in non-recirculating decorative fountains. New and rehabilitated landscape projects in Richmond must also comply with California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), 23 CCR Section 490 et seq.

19. 19

    Riverside County, CAHeavy RestrictionsBanned within 48 hrs of 1/4-inch rainfall

    Day-to-day outdoor watering in unincorporated Riverside County is governed mainly by California State Water Board permanent prohibitions and the watering rules of your local water district, not a single county ordinance. Statewide bans prohibit watering within 48 hours of rain, hosing hard surfaces, runoff, and nozzle-less car washing.

20. 20

    Safety Harbor, FLHeavy RestrictionsWednesday and Saturday

    Safety Harbor follows SWFWMD watering rules: even addresses irrigate Thursday/Sunday, odd addresses Wednesday/Saturday, with no watering 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Modified Phase III restrictions are currently in effect through July 2026.

21. 21

    Salt Lake County, UTHeavy Restrictions

    Salt Lake County is not a water utility and does not set outdoor watering schedules. Restrictions are set by the water provider serving each property - Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District (JVWCD wholesale), Granger-Hunter Improvement District, Hexagon Water (Murray), and Sandy City Public Utilities. Utah Division of Water Resources' Weekly Lawn Watering Guide is the regional baseline. Watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. is widely prohibited or strongly discouraged during the irrigation season (typically May 1 - October 1).

22. 22

    San Bernardino County, CAHeavy RestrictionsLocal water purveyor and the State, not a County ordinance

    Day-to-day outdoor watering limits in unincorporated San Bernardino County are set by your local water purveyor and by statewide rules from the State Water Resources Control Board, not by a County watering-days ordinance. State law permanently prohibits wasteful uses such as hosing hard surfaces and watering that runs off or follows rainfall.

23. 23

    Seminole, FLHeavy RestrictionsTue even, Thu odd south of SR 580

    Seminole, FL follows Pinellas County and SWFWMD watering rules. Under the current Modified Phase III order, irrigation is limited to one day per week tied to address number, with restricted overnight watering windows.

24. 24

    Visalia, CAHeavy RestrictionsTuesday, Saturday

    Visalia operates under a permanent Stage 2 Water Alert: sprinkler irrigation is allowed only twice a week (Wednesday/Sunday for even-numbered addresses, Tuesday/Saturday for odd) between March 1 and November 30, only before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m., and is banned entirely Mondays/Thursdays/Fridays. All sprinkler watering is prohibited city-wide from December 1 through the end of February each year.

25. 25

    Yolo County, CAHeavy Restrictions

    Unincorporated Yolo County is subject to a tiered drought-response ordinance at Title 6, Chapter 8 of the Yolo County Code. Under the permanent Level 1 restrictions, potable water cannot be applied to landscapes in a manner causing more than incidental runoff, and landscape watering with sprinklers is prohibited between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Higher levels (up to Level 5, targeting a 50% reduction) can be triggered by the Board of Supervisors during declared drought emergencies.

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