Scottsdale Water Restrictions 2026
Maricopa County · Arizona
Published:
Restrictions Active - Water Use Reduction Level 2 - SRP + Colorado River Tier 2
2
Days/Week
Before 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
$250 first · $500 second
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
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| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Odd | Sunday & Wednesday |
| Even | Monday & Thursday |
Allowed Watering Hours
No outdoor irrigation between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Stage 2 restricts sprinklers to 2 days per week (permanent baseline is 3). No irrigation Tuesday, Friday, or Saturday under Level 2.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any day with a shut-off nozzle.
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
$250 first · $500 second
Scottsdale Water's Water Waste Investigator program issues citations starting at $250 for residential first offenses and $500 for second. Commercial properties face up to $2,500. Scottsdale uses AMI smart meters to automatically flag off-schedule consumption above thresholds.
Citations begin September 2025🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Arizona Revised Statute §33-1902 prohibits HOAs from fining residents for brown or dormant lawns during a declared water shortage. ARS §33-1808 explicitly protects homeowner rights to desert-adapted xeriscape. Scottsdale's Level 2 ordinance supersedes conflicting HOA covenants.
If your homeowners association sends a violation notice for a dormant or brown lawn during the current restriction period, respond in writing citing the applicable law and include a copy of the Scottsdale Water's current restriction order. Most HOAs will rescind the notice once they are made aware of the legal protections in place. If the issue persists, contact your county’s code enforcement division for assistance.
Why These Restrictions Exist
Scottsdale Water serves 260,000 customers and sources primarily from Salt River Project (SRP) surface water and a Central Arizona Project (CAP) Colorado River allocation. SRP combined storage stood at 52% of capacity as of April 2026, well below the 60% threshold that triggers automatic Stage 2 activation. Simultaneously, Scottsdale's CAP deliveries were cut 21% under the ongoing Tier 2 Shortage declaration at Lake Mead. The city's Planning 2100 blueprint projects continued reductions to Colorado River allocations through the 2040s, making conservation now a long-term imperative rather than temporary response.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Scottsdale area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Scottsdale Water Restrictions
11 tips tailored for Scottsdale homeowners during Water Use Reduction Level 2 - SRP + Colorado River Tier 2 restrictions.
Scottsdale's ban on ryegrass overseed means Bermuda dormancy (golden November–March) is now the expected look, lean into it rather than fight it.
Replace front-yard turf under the Scottsdale Xeriscape Rebate: $2/sq ft up to $3,000 per household through 2026.
Install subsurface drip on shrubs and trees, Scottsdale's afternoon sun cracks topical drip lines within 2 seasons.
Apply 3 inches of decomposed granite or pea gravel over ornamental soil, wood chip mulch dries out in Scottsdale's 6% summer humidity.
Use a smart controller with the SRP ET preset; WaterSense-labeled units qualify for Scottsdale Water rebates up to $150.
Cycle-and-soak on any slope or hardpan: 2 minutes on, 30-minute pause, 2 minutes on, Sonoran hardpan sheds continuous spray in under 90 seconds.
Drip-irrigate all citrus and ornamental trees, they're the highest-value landscape assets in Scottsdale and the most expensive to replace.
Take full advantage of the Free Water Wizard home audit, Scottsdale Water sends a specialist who identifies waste and recommends upgrades.
Harvest AC condensate and pool backwash for bubbler irrigation of potted plants, both are exempt from the schedule.
Monsoon July–September: after any 0.5"+ rainfall, skip the next scheduled irrigation cycle for 7–10 days.
Track use at scottsdaleaz.gov 'My Account', Level 2 targets 110 gal/person/day total (indoor + outdoor).
Scottsdale Water Restriction FAQs
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