Harris County has no countywide lawn-watering schedule, but the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District requires groundwater conservation and many cities impose two-day-per-week schedules. Houston runs voluntary watering rules under City Code chapter 47 with mandatory restrictions during drought stages declared by Houston Public Works.
Lawn watering across Harris County is governed by a patchwork: the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District regulates groundwater pumping countywide under Special District Local Laws Code chapter 8801, requiring large permittees to reduce groundwater use to 20 percent or less of total water by 2035. Houston Code of Ordinances chapter 47 sets default twice-weekly residential watering and mandatory drought-stage restrictions. Pasadena, Sugar Land, La Porte, and other cities maintain their own outdoor-watering schedules. The unincorporated areas served by municipal utility districts (MUDs) follow Public Utility Commission and individual MUD rules. The Texas Water Development Board issues drought guidance. Harris County Engineering does not enforce lawn-watering rules countywide.
Houston outdoor-watering violations under City Code chapter 47 are Class C misdemeanors with fines from one hundred fifty to two thousand dollars per day. MUD rules carry administrative penalties up to ten thousand dollars per violation under Water Code 49.
Harris County, TX
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See how Harris County's lawn watering restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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