Do You Know Your County’s Water Rules?
In Central Florida, the sun is always shining. And although we are in the heart of the Sunshine State, where the lakes and rivers are endless, water management is a responsibility we all share.
Knowing your county’s watering regulations isn’t just about following the rules; it’s stewardship. It’s about maintaining the delicate equilibrium of our ecosystems and ensuring sustainable use for future generations.
Whether you’re watering your front yard in Orange County or enjoying Polk County’s sprawling citrus groves, each area has its own management challenges and considerations.
Click to jump to your county:
Orange County
From: Orange County, FL Official Website
REMINDER: Watering is limited to two days a week from March 10 to November 2, 2024.
Mandatory lawn watering restrictions specify the days when you may water. These days depend on whether you have an odd- or even-numbered address, and the time of year. Per County ordinance, the following restrictions apply to landscape irrigation regardless of whether the water comes from groundwater or surface water, from a private well or pump, or from a public or private utility:
- Outdoor irrigation is limited to one day a week during Eastern Standard Time (from the first Sunday in November until the second Sunday in March) and two days a week during Daylight Saving Time (from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November).
- Water only if necessary and not between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- Water for no more than one hour per zone.
Time of year | Homes with odd-numbered or no addresses | Homes with even-numbered addresses | Nonresidential properties |
---|---|---|---|
March 10 to November 2, 2024 | Wednesday Saturday | Thursday Sunday | Tuesday Friday |
November 3, 2024 to March 8, 2025 | Saturday | Sunday | Tuesday |
Seminole County
From: Seminole County, FL Official Website
Seminole County Irrigation Schedule Now until Sunday, November 3, 2024
These restrictions are mandatory in Seminole County, regardless of whether your water comes from a private well or city/county utility.
- No watering permitted between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. any day
- Water only twice per week:
- Residential customers with odd street addresses may irrigate on Wednesday & Saturday.
- Residential customers with even street addresses may irrigate on Thursday & Sunday.
- Non-residential customers may irrigate on Tuesday & Friday, unless using reclaimed water.
- Reclaimed water customers may irrigate two times per week year round.
- Watering with a hand-held hose is permitted anytime, provided it is fitted with an automatic shutoff nozzle.
If you own an automatic lawn sprinkler system, you must have a rain sensor or switch installed to override the system when adequate rainfall occurs.
Lake County
From: Lake County, FL Official Website
The majority of Lake County is located in the St. Johns River Water Management District. As part of its charter, the District established rules for lawn and landscape irrigation.
The St. Johns River Water Management District’s permanent watering restrictions are designed to ensure the efficient use of water for landscape irrigation. The restrictions allow enough water to maintain healthy landscapes year-round.
“Landscape irrigation” means the outside watering of plants in a landscape such as shrubbery, trees, lawns, grass, ground covers, plants, vines, gardens and other such flora that are situated in locations such as residential areas, public, commercial and industrial establishments, and public medians and right-of way. “Landscape irrigation” does not include agricultural crops, nursery plants, cemeteries, golf course greens, tees, fairways, primary roughs, and vegetation associated with intensive recreational areas, such as playgrounds, football, baseball and soccer fields.
Know Your Days:
Time of Year | Home with odd numbered or no addresses | Home with even numbered addresses | Nonresidential properties |
---|---|---|---|
Daylight Saving Time | Wednesday/Saturday | Thursday/Sunday | Tuesday/Friday |
Eastern Standard Time | Saturday | Sunday | Tuesday |
- Daylight saving time:Second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November.
- Eastern Standard Time:First Sunday in November until the second Sunday in March
- Water only when needed and not between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Water for no more than one hour per zone.
- Restrictions apply to private wells and pumps, ground or surface water and water from public and private utilities.
- An odd numbered address is one that ends in 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9.
- An even numbered address is one that ends in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8.
Summary of the restrictions:
- During daylight saving time irrigation is limited to no more than two days per week on scheduled days.
- Residential irrigation at odd numbered addresses or no addresses is allowed on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Residential irrigation at even numbered addresses is allowed on Thursday and Sunday.
- Nonresidential irrigation is allowed on Tuesday and Friday.
- During Eastern Standard Time irrigation is limited to no more than one day per week on scheduled days.
- Residential irrigation at odd numbered addresses or no addresses is allowed on Saturday.
- Residential irrigation at even numbered addresses is allowed on Sunday.
- Nonresidential irrigation is allowed on Tuesday.
- Irrigation is limited to no more than ¾ inch of water per zone per irrigation day.
- Irrigation is limited to no more than one hour per irrigation zone per irrigation day.
- Irrigation is limited to only that amount necessary to meet landscape needs.
- When reclaimed water is available for irrigation use, the use of private irrigation wells is not authorized.
- Irrigation limitations apply to water withdrawn from ground or surface water, from a private well or pump, or from a public or private utility.
- Irrigation limitations apply to all landscape irrigation not currently regulated by a consumptive use permit. Typically, this includes residential, commercial and industrial establishments.
- Persons irrigating with an automatic lawn irrigation system installed after May 1991 shall install, maintain and operate a rain sensor device or switch that overrides the system when adequate rainfall has occurred.
Exceptions to the restrictions:
- Irrigation using a micro-spray, micro-jet, drip or a bubbler irrigation system is allowed anytime.
- Irrigation of new landscape is allowed at any time of day on any day for the initial 30 days and every other day for the next 30 days for a total of one 60-day period, provided that the irrigation is limited to the minimum amount necessary for establishment.
- Watering in of chemicals, including insecticides, pesticides, fertilizers, fungicides and herbicides, when required by law, the manufacturer, or best management practices, is allowed anytime within 24 hours of application. Watering in of chemicals may not exceed ¼ inch of water per application except as otherwise required by law, the manufacturer, or best management practices.
- Irrigation systems may be operated anytime for maintenance and repair purposes and may not exceed 20 minutes per hour per zone.
- Irrigation using a hand-held hose equipped with a spray nozzle that can be adjusted so water flows only as needed is allowed anytime.
- Discharge of water from a water-to-air air-conditioning unit or other water-dependent cooling system is not limited.
- The use of water from a reclaimed water system is allowed anytime. A reclaimed water system includes systems in which the primary source is reclaimed water, which may or may not be supplemented from another source during peak demand periods.
- The use of recycled water from wet detention treatment ponds for irrigation is allowed anytime provided the ponds are not augmented from any ground or off-site surface water, or public supply sources.
For more in-depth information and water saving tips, visit the St. Johns River Water Management District’s watering restrictions Web site.
Volusia and Osceola County
From: Volusia County, FL Official Website
The St. Johns River Water Management District is the largest and includes Volusia and Osceola counties.
Watering restrictions:
Restrictions apply to all county residents, including those living in cities.
Watering is not allowed between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
During Eastern Standard Time:
- Residential irrigation is limited to 4 p.m. to 10 a.m. Saturdays for odd-numbered addresses and Sundays for even-numbered addresses.
- Businesses may irrigate from 4 p.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesdays.
During Daylight Saving Time:
- Residential irrigation is allowed at odd-numbered addresses from 4 p.m. to 10 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays and even-number addresses Thursdays and Sundays.
- Business may irrigate from 4 p.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays.
Daylight Saving Time begins the second Sunday in March and ends the first Sunday in November.
Irrigation is limited to no more than one hour and three-quarters inch of water per zone per irrigation day. A typical yard has four irrigation zones.
Restrictions apply to all water sources, including private wells, surface water, and water from public and private utilities, except for reclaimed water (see your reclaimed water provider for any restrictions.)
New plantings may be watered any time for 30 days, then every other day for another 30 days. Keep the store receipt for proof of purchase.
Hand watering is allowed any time with an automatic shutoff on the hose.
Watering of chemicals is allowed any time within 24 hours of application and may not exceed a quarter-inch of water.
Automatic landscape irrigation systems, regardless of the date of installation, must be equipped with functional rain-sensing devices or soil-moisture sensors.
Agricultural uses are exempt from the provisions of the Water Conservation Ordinance, as long as they follow the agricultural water conservation requirements of the St. Johns River Water Management District.
Polk County
From: Polk County, FL Official Website
Lawn watering is limited to twice-per-week using the lawn watering schedule for potable (drinking water) and other water resources, regardless of the source such as wells, surface water, etc.
Watering times are midnight to 10 a.m. and / or 4 p.m. to midnight. Hand watering or micro-irrigation of landscape other than actual lawn areas are allowed at any time.
Locations without a discernible address are areas such as rights-of-way and other common areas inside a subdivision are included in the restrictions.
If Your Address Is | Watering Days |
---|---|
Even Address | Thursday and/or Sunday |
Odd Address | Wednesday and/or Saturday |
*Common Areas | Tuesday and/or Friday |
*All common areas and properties where no address can be determined.
New Lawns and Plants:
- New lawns and plants may be irrigated at any time on planting day
- Days 2 – 30: Any day is allowed, but no watering within the 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. restricted times.
- Days 31- 60: Three days per week watering is allowed, except between restricted hours, on the following days:
- Even Address – Tuesday, Thursday and / or Sunday
- Odd Address – Monday, Wednesday and / or Saturday
- *Common Areas – Tuesday, Friday and / or Sunday
*All common areas and properties where no address can be determined.
Watering your lawn is one of the most important parts of lawn care maintenance. Not only does it keep your grass looking fresh and healthy, but it also makes it easier for your lawn care technician to work on your outdoor oasis. Click here to read more about our Central Florida lawn care services.