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Water Use Rules in Arizona (2026)

40 rules on the books across Arizona, 24 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.

Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions

Turf Replacement Rebates

Rebate programs paying residents to replace turf with drought-tolerant landscaping, including per-square-foot incentives and approved plant lists.

Sahuarita

Heavy Restrictions

Sahuarita's landscaping code bans turf grass under Town Code § 18.73.030(G)(2), with exceptions for town public parks…

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Flagstaff

Significant Restrictions

In the City of Flagstaff, turf grass is not a general landscape material: Section 10-50.60.050.C permits it only inside…

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Glendale

Significant Restrictions

Glendale's landscape code pushes water-intensive lawn out of new development. Non-residential projects over 10,000 (or…

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Casa Grande

Some Restrictions

In the City of Casa Grande, new landscaped areas cannot be finished mostly in grass. Municipal Code § 17.52.420 caps…

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Chandler

Some Restrictions

Chandler's Zoning Code caps turf at 0% of landscape area in street rights-of-way, 10% for commercial, office…

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Coconino County

Some Restrictions

Coconino County's landscaping standards require any turf area on a covered development site to use sod or seed…

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Gilbert

Some Restrictions

Gilbert bars new artificial lakes and large turf areas from running on the town's drinking-water supply. Under Code of…

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Surprise

Some Restrictions

Surprise prohibits homeowners associations and other private agreements from banning artificial or synthetic turf as a…

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Tempe

Some Restrictions

Tempe caps how much turf and other thirsty landscaping a new development can plant. Section 4-702(B)(1) of the Zoning…

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Scottsdale

Light Restrictions

Scottsdale pays property owners to remove lawn: the Water Conservation Office's Turf to Xeriscape rebate covers $2 per…

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Yavapai County

Light Restrictions

Yavapai County does not ban grass lawns countywide, but its Open Space and Sustainable Development density-bonus…

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Buckeye

Few Restrictions

Buckeye, Arizona guarantees homeowners the right to swap natural grass for artificial turf, City Code § 17-5-5 voids…

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Recycled Water Rules

Where purple-pipe recycled water is required for irrigation, dual-plumbing requirements for new construction, and cross-connection-control rules.

Lake Havasu City

Significant Restrictions

In Lake Havasu City, effluent water delivery does not fall to the Water Division: Section 4.08.120 requires a separate…

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Sedona

Significant Restrictions

Sedona's wastewater wetlands hold reclaimed water, and city code bans fishing, boating, swimming and any water contact…

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Buckeye

Some Restrictions

Buckeye, Arizona requires new developments to use city-owned reclaimed water for non-potable uses whenever it's…

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Flagstaff

Some Restrictions

In the City of Flagstaff, extending a public reclaimed (recycled) water pipeline is done at the reuser's expense under…

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Gilbert

Some Restrictions

The Town of Gilbert requires a signed use agreement and town-authorized connection before reclaimed water is delivered…

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Glendale

Some Restrictions

Anyone who uses effluent from Glendale's wastewater treatment plants, including someone who stores it for later use…

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Goodyear

Some Restrictions

Goodyear only delivers reclaimed effluent to non-potable customers through a Council-approved contract, and the City…

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Maricopa County

Some Restrictions

Maricopa County requires reclaimed wastewater lines to be built and separated from drinking water and sewer lines to…

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Peoria

Some Restrictions

Peoria, Arizona requires large turf developments near a reclaimed water line to irrigate with reclaimed water instead…

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Phoenix

Some Restrictions

New turf-related facilities of 10 or more acres in Phoenix must irrigate with non-potable or reclaimed water instead of…

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Prescott Valley

Some Restrictions

The Town of Prescott Valley, Arizona runs its own reclaimed water system under Article 9-05b of the Town Code…

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Surprise

Some Restrictions

Surprise requires landscaped areas near its reclaimed-water network to irrigate with nonpotable water instead of…

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Tucson

Some Restrictions

Tucson Code § 27-20 requires large-quantity water users, those projected to use 10,000 ccf or more per month, to file a…

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Sahuarita

Light Restrictions

Sahuarita's landscaping performance standards encourage reclaimed water for irrigation rather than requiring it. Town…

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Yavapai County

Light Restrictions

Yavapai County has no blanket recycled-water mandate, but its density-bonus zoning rewards it: Planning & Zoning…

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Maricopa

Few Restrictions

Maricopa has no mandatory recycled-water rule; instead, Maricopa City Code § 18.125.040 offers a voluntary…

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Mesa

Few Restrictions

Mesa's plumbing code lets homeowners install a gray water recycling system without a separate plumbing permit, as long…

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Leak Reporting Duty

Property owner's duty to report and repair water leaks within a set window once notified, plus how utilities issue leak-adjustment credits and impose penalties.

Buckeye

Some Restrictions

In Buckeye, Arizona, letting a water outlet or line leak or drip is itself an unlawful waste of water under City Code §…

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Flagstaff

Some Restrictions

In the City of Flagstaff, failing to repair a water leak counts as wasting water under City Code Section 7-03-001-0014…

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Glendale

Some Restrictions

In Glendale, everything past the water meter is on the property owner: Section 33-28 makes owners responsible for all…

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Lake Havasu City

Some Restrictions

A Lake Havasu City water user with a leak-driven high bill must report it fast. Section 4.16.020(A) allows a billing…

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Peoria

Some Restrictions

Peoria customers must repair a water leak on their property within 14 days of discovery, and the Water Services…

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Phoenix

Some Restrictions

Phoenix water customers must keep pipes, faucets, valves and fixtures in good repair to stop leaks, and pay for any…

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Pima County

Some Restrictions

Unincorporated Pima County bans wasting water at any time, not just during a drought. Code Section 8.70.030 makes it a…

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Scottsdale

Some Restrictions

Scottsdale account holders own every leak past their meter and must report unexplained usage to the Utility Billing…

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Surprise

Some Restrictions

Surprise property owners and property managers must act fast on a discovered water leak. City Code Sec. 58-803 requires…

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Tempe

Some Restrictions

Tempe's General Code makes it illegal to let a water leak run once you should reasonably have discovered it. Section…

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Yuma

Some Restrictions

Yuma makes it unlawful to willfully or negligently let water escape or flow in quantities that flood streets, block…

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