Arizona Water Restrictions 2026
Published: April 23, 2026 · Updated: May 10, 2026
Sources: Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR), Central Arizona Project (CAP), Salt River Project (SRP), Water Use It Wisely
Arizona operates the most complex water-restriction system in the United States because it runs on two parallel tracks that both apply to every homeowner. The Colorado River Lake Mead Shortage Declaration is a federal framework that cut Arizona's allocation by 21% when it entered Tier 2 in 2023; Tier 3 triggers at Lake Mead elevation 1,025 ft (current: 1,050 ft). Simultaneously, every incorporated Arizona city maintains its own internal drought-response framework with permanent odd/even or group-day baselines plus temporary stage escalations based on local Salt River Project (SRP) storage.
As of May 2026, SRP combined storage stands at 52% of capacity — below the 60% threshold that automatically triggers Stage 2 conservation across the Phoenix metro. Twelve Phoenix-area cities — Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Glendale, Surprise, Peoria, Goodyear, Buckeye, and Tucson — are all in Stage 2 mandatory conservation. Flagstaff operates under a separate snowpack-driven framework and is on voluntary conservation rather than Stage 2 — its water comes from Upper Lake Mary, the Inner Basin springs of the San Francisco Peaks, and groundwater, so it is NOT subject to the SRP/CAP Tier 2 framework that drives Phoenix-area rules. Phoenix recorded only 2.1 inches of rainfall between October 2025 and April 2026 — 4.3 inches below the normal seasonal average.
Arizona's permanent odd/even watering schedules exist in virtually every incorporated city regardless of drought status. These are baseline rules; drought stages restrict further on top of them. Ryegrass overseeding for winter green lawns is either prohibited or heavily restricted under Stage 2 in most cities — a major change from the region's traditional landscape pattern.
How Arizona Manages Drought
The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) regulates groundwater in the five Active Management Areas (AMAs): Phoenix, Tucson, Pinal, Prescott, and Santa Cruz. ADWR enforces assured water supply requirements for new subdivisions and monitors aquifer levels. It does not set city-by-city outdoor watering schedules — those are set by local utilities.
The Central Arizona Project (CAP) delivers Colorado River water through a 336-mile canal system to Phoenix-area and Tucson-area cities plus agricultural users. CAP allocations are subject to the Lake Mead shortage tiers: Tier 1 (triggered 2022) cut 512,000 acre-feet; Tier 2 (triggered 2023) cut 592,000 acre-feet; Tier 3 would cut 720,000+ acre-feet and has never been activated.
The Salt River Project (SRP) operates six reservoirs on the Salt and Verde Rivers serving Phoenix-area cities. SRP water is allocated through historical on-project water rights; when combined storage drops below 60% of capacity, automatic Stage 2 conservation triggers cascade to member cities.
City-level utilities — City of Phoenix Water Services, Tucson Water, Scottsdale Water, Mesa Water Resources, Chandler Water — set and enforce outdoor watering schedules, mid-day blackout windows, and fines. They coordinate closely with ADWR, CAP, and SRP but have full operational authority within their service areas.
Arizona Conservation Framework
Colorado River Tier (Federal): Lake Mead elevation determines the tier. Above 1,075 ft = Normal. Below 1,075 = Tier 1 (active 2022). Below 1,050 = Tier 2 (active 2023). Below 1,025 = Tier 3 (unprecedented). Current elevation (April 2026): 1,050.02 ft — just above Tier 3 trigger. Tier 2 means Arizona's CAP allocation is cut 592,000 acre-feet/year.
City Stage (Local): Each city operates a 4-stage or 5-stage system. Stage 1 requests voluntary 5–10% reduction. Stage 2 makes reductions mandatory and narrows the baseline 3-day/week schedule to 2 days (Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler) or 1 day (Tucson summer). Stage 3 would further cut to 1 day or less. Stage 4 would ban all outdoor irrigation.
Phoenix baseline: permanent 3 days/week (odd Mon/Wed/Fri, even Tue/Thu/Sat, HOA common Wednesday, no Sunday irrigation any year). Under Stage 2: residential cut to 2 days (odd Mon only, even Tue only). No irrigation 10 AM – 6 PM year-round.
Tucson baseline: permanent summer 3 days/week, winter 1 day/week. Under Stage 2: summer cut to 1 day/week by route group. No irrigation 10 AM – 6 PM year-round. Tucson's permanent xeriscape ordinance (1991) prohibits new potable-water turf without variance.
Arizona Regional Breakdown
Phoenix Metro East Valley (SRP Service Area)
Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Tempe, Gilbert — inner East Valley cities served by SRP and CAP. All in Stage 2 tied to SRP storage 52%. Dual Colorado River + Salt River dependency. Ryegrass overseed prohibited or strongly discouraged under Stage 2.
Phoenix Metro West Valley (SRP + CAP + Groundwater)
Glendale, Surprise, Peoria, Goodyear, Buckeye — fast-growing West Valley cities. All in Stage 2 in coordination with the SRP-area framework. Buckeye and Surprise have a heavier groundwater share than the inner metro. Some master-planned communities served by EPCOR Water rather than the city utility — verify your provider on your bill.
Tucson (CAP Service Area)
Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley — 1 million residents. Conservation Stage 2 due to CAP allocation –21%. Permanent xeriscape ordinance means minimal turf already. Groundwater plus recycled water covers remaining demand.
Flagstaff & Northern Arizona — Snowpack-Driven (NOT Tier 2)
Flagstaff sits at 7,000 ft elevation in the San Francisco Peaks. Water sources: Upper Lake Mary, Inner Basin springs, Lake Mary and Woody Mountain well fields, and in-city wells. NOT served by SRP and NOT directly subject to Colorado River Tier 2 / CAP cuts. After a historically dry 2025–26 winter, Upper Lake Mary entered the season at very low levels and the city has shifted toward greater groundwater reliance — voluntary conservation guidance applies, not Phoenix-area Stage 2.
Pinal County Agriculture
Hardest hit by CAP cuts — agricultural pool has been nearly zeroed out under Tier 2. Groundwater pumping has surged, accelerating subsidence. ADWR has paused new subdivision assured-water-supply certifications in parts of Pinal.
Arizona Lawn Grass and the 2026 Drought
Arizona lawns are 95% Bermuda in the Phoenix and Tucson metros. Bermuda tolerates 115°F summer heat, recovers quickly from drought, and accepts full winter dormancy (golden-brown November–March). This is the ONLY practical summer turf for Arizona's desert cities. Mow at 1–1.5" during summer; raise to 1.5" under drought stress to shade the crown.
Ryegrass overseed for winter green lawns is the biggest water-use decision. Overseeding doubles annual water consumption. Under Phoenix Stage 2 and Scottsdale Level 2, overseeding is prohibited. Even where allowed, Arizona water agencies strongly discourage it — golden winter dormancy is now the expected look.
Xeriscape is the recommended path for most Arizona homeowners. Turf replacement rebates pay $0.50–$2 per sq ft across Phoenix metro ($0.50 removal + $1.50 plant replacement in Scottsdale; flat $2 in Phoenix; $2 in Chandler and Mesa; $0.50–$1.50 in Tucson). Native desert plants — Red Yucca, Desert Spoon, Palo Verde, Mesquite, Desert Willow — need minimal supplemental irrigation after establishment.
Monsoon strategy: July through September, Arizona receives 4–6 inches of intense rainfall from the North American Monsoon. After any 0.5"+ storm, skip the next scheduled irrigation cycle — deep monsoon soak resets soil moisture for 10+ days. This alone can cut summer irrigation by 20% in compliant households.
Drought-Survival Watering by Grass Type
| Grass | Survival Watering | Mowing Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bermuda (summer) | 0.5 in every 5–7 days (2 days/wk) | 1–1.5 inches | Only practical AZ summer turf; accept winter dormancy |
| Bermuda (overseeded ryegrass) | 1 in/week (prohibited under Stage 2) | 2–2.5 inches | Banned in Phoenix/Scottsdale Stage 2; doubles water |
| Zoysia | 0.5 in every 10 days | 2–3 inches | Limited adoption; handles dry gaps well |
| Fescue | Not recommended in Phoenix metro | N/A | Cannot survive Phoenix summer; fine in Flagstaff |
| Desert Xeriscape | Minimal drip post-establishment | N/A | The recommended long-term solution |
HOA Protection During Drought
Arizona Revised Statute §33-1902 prohibits HOAs from fining residents for brown or dormant lawns during a declared water shortage. Phoenix Stage 2, Tucson Conservation Stage 2, Scottsdale Level 2, Mesa Stage 2, and Chandler Stage 2 all qualify as the triggering declarations — any HOA fine for a brown lawn while these are active is unenforceable.
Arizona Revised Statute §33-1808 goes further. It explicitly guarantees every homeowner's right to install desert-adapted xeriscape regardless of any CC&R restrictions. HOAs cannot require grass-based yards. They cannot prohibit decomposed-granite ground cover, native plants, or gravel mulch. This protection applies year-round, not only during droughts.
If your HOA sends a violation letter, respond in writing with: (1) a copy of the current Stage 2 order from your city's water utility, (2) citations to ARS §33-1902 and §33-1808, and (3) a request that the notice be rescinded. File a complaint with the Arizona Department of Real Estate if the HOA persists. Most HOA boards withdraw violations once state law is cited.
Arizona Cities — Local Water Restriction Guides
Key Contacts & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arizona in a drought in 2026?
Yes. Arizona has been in continuous drought since 2000, with the Colorado River Lake Mead Shortage Declaration entering Tier 2 in 2023 (cutting state allocation 21%). SRP combined storage sits at 52% of capacity as of April 2026. Phoenix recorded only 2.1 inches of rainfall since October 2025 — 4.3 inches below normal. Every major city is in Stage 2 drought response.
What is the Colorado River Tier 2 Shortage?
The Tier 2 Shortage is a federal declaration triggered when Lake Mead elevation drops below 1,050 ft. It cuts Arizona's Colorado River allocation by 592,000 acre-feet/year (roughly 21% of state share). Tier 2 has been active since 2023 and would deepen to Tier 3 if Lake Mead drops below 1,025 ft. As of April 2026, elevation is 1,050.02 ft — just above the Tier 3 trigger.
Is ryegrass overseeding banned in Arizona?
Overseeding is prohibited under Phoenix Stage 2 (current) and Scottsdale Level 2 (current) for the 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 winter seasons. Tucson's permanent xeriscape ordinance effectively prohibits new ryegrass overseeding. Mesa and Chandler strongly discourage overseeding under Stage 2 but have not implemented a hard ban. Even where allowed, overseeding doubles annual water consumption and is not recommended during the current drought.
Can my Arizona HOA fine me for a brown lawn?
No. Arizona Revised Statute §33-1902 prohibits HOA fines for drought-compliant brown lawns during declared shortage. ARS §33-1808 further guarantees your right to install desert-adapted xeriscape regardless of HOA CC&Rs. With every major city currently in Stage 2, these protections are active statewide. Document compliance with your city's Stage 2 order and cite both statutes if your HOA sends a violation notice.
What rebates are available to replace my Arizona lawn?
Turf replacement rebates vary by city. Phoenix pays $2/sq ft through Water Use It Wisely (up to $3,000 per household). Scottsdale pays $0.50/sq ft turf removal plus $1.50/sq ft desert plant replacement (up to $3,000). Mesa and Chandler both pay $2/sq ft (up to $3,000). Tucson pays $0.50/sq ft removal plus $1.50/sq ft replacement (up to $3,000). All programs require pre-approval — apply before removing turf.
Is Flagstaff under the same Stage 2 rules as Phoenix?
No. Flagstaff sits at 7,000 ft elevation in the San Francisco Peaks and is structurally different from the Phoenix-area cities. Flagstaff is NOT served by Salt River Project (SRP) and is NOT directly subject to Colorado River Tier 2 cuts via CAP. Flagstaff's water comes from Upper Lake Mary, Inner Basin springs, and groundwater wells — its drought response is snowpack-driven, not tied to Lake Mead elevation. As of this update Flagstaff is on voluntary conservation, not Stage 2. Verify the current status at flagstaff.az.gov.
Is Glendale, AZ the same as Glendale, CO?
No. Glendale, Arizona is a West Valley city of roughly 250,000 in Maricopa County, served by City of Glendale Water Services and currently under Stage 2 mandatory conservation tied to SRP storage and the Colorado River Tier 2 Shortage. Glendale, Colorado is a separate municipality of about 5,000 residents near Denver, served by Denver Water and operating under Denver's Stage 1 framework. The two cities share a name but are not related and operate under entirely different drought rules.
Is Peoria, AZ the same as Peoria, IL?
No. Peoria, Arizona is a West Valley city of roughly 195,000 in Maricopa County, served by City of Peoria Utilities and currently under Stage 2 mandatory conservation tied to SRP and the Colorado River Tier 2 Shortage. Peoria, Illinois is a separate city on the Illinois River in a temperate humid climate; it is served by Illinois American Water and does not have equivalent drought restrictions. The two cities share a name but operate under entirely different water frameworks.
I'm in Buckeye — am I served by the city or by EPCOR?
Buckeye is unusual in that several master-planned communities within city limits are served by private water companies (most commonly EPCOR Water) rather than the City of Buckeye. Check your monthly bill to confirm your provider. EPCOR's rules are aligned with the regional Stage 2 framework but the specific watering days, fines, and enforcement contacts can differ from City of Buckeye Water Resources. Always follow the provider listed on your bill.