Boulder enforces a year-round outdoor watering schedule limiting lawn irrigation to assigned days based on address, with daytime watering bans during hot hours and tighter Stage 1 or 2 drought restrictions activated by reservoir levels.
Boulder Water Utility enforces watering rules under BRC Title 11. Standard schedule allows outdoor irrigation only on assigned days based on street address (odd/even or zone-based), and prohibits watering between 10 AM and 6 PM May through September to reduce evaporation losses. Drought-stage triggers — based on Boulder Reservoir, Barker Reservoir, and snowpack levels — activate tighter Stage 1 (further day reductions), Stage 2 (turf watering bans), and Stage 3 (essential use only) restrictions. Drip irrigation, hand-watering trees, and new-sod establishment receive limited exemptions with a permit. Customers can request schedule variances for landscape installation.
Violations begin with warnings, escalate to written notices, then fines starting around $100 for repeat offenses; severe drought-stage violations carry higher penalties under city water utility enforcement.
Boulder, CO
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See how Boulder's lawn watering restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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