Fresno Water Restrictions 2026
Fresno County · California
Published:
Restrictions Active - Stage 2 Water Shortage Contingency
2
Days/Week
Before 9:00 AM
Allowed Hours
$50 first · $100 second · $250+ repeat
Max Fine
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| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Odd | Monday & Thursday |
| Even | Tuesday & Friday |
Allowed Watering Hours
No sprinkler irrigation between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM on any day. No outdoor watering Wednesday, Saturday, or Sunday under Stage 2. Maximum 12 minutes per zone per watering day.
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
$50 first · $100 second · $250+ repeat
Fresno's Water Conservation team issues warning letters on first detection, then $50, $100, and $250 for subsequent violations within a 12-month period. Commercial and multi-family violators face up to $1,000 per occurrence. Fresno uses neighborhood patrol plus automated smart-meter flagging for off-schedule irrigation.
Citations begin June 2025🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
California Water Code §10631.5 and Civil Code §4735 prohibit HOAs from fining residents for drought-compliant brown lawns during declared shortage and protect homeowners who reduce irrigation under a conservation order. The City of Fresno Stage 2 declaration qualifies as the state-recognized trigger for these protections.
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 City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities'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
Fresno sits in the San Joaquin Valley, one of the most critically over-drafted groundwater basins in the United States. Friant-Kern Canal deliveries (the city's primary imported-surface-water supply) have been reduced to 0% of contracted allocation for the 2026 water year due to continued below-average Sierra snowpack and Central Valley Project curtailments. Fresno's groundwater pumping has increased to compensate, accelerating aquifer decline. The City Council activated Stage 2 in June 2025 and extended it into 2026 as conditions worsened.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Fresno area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Fresno Water Restrictions
11 tips tailored for Fresno homeowners during Stage 2 Water Shortage Contingency restrictions.
Central Valley Bermuda and St. Augustine dominate Fresno lawns, Bermuda survives the summer heat on 2 days/week; St. Augustine needs protection from afternoon sun.
Cycle-and-soak on Fresno's heavy clay: 3 minutes, 20-minute pause, 3 minutes, dry clay sheds continuous spray in under 2 minutes.
Apply a 3-inch layer of wood chips on ornamental beds; bare soil in Fresno's 100°F+ summer loses 0.5 inches of moisture per day.
Replace parkway strips first, narrow, high-visibility, and easy to convert under the $2/sq ft Fresno rebate.
Use a smart controller (Rachio, Hunter Hydrawise, RainMachine) with rain-sensor override, Fresno rebates cover $80.
Let cool-season fescue go fully dormant June through September; water once every 14 days minimum to keep crowns alive.
Drip-irrigate all trees and shrubs, Fresno's Central Valley summer makes bubbler drip 3x more efficient than overhead spray.
Fix broken sprinkler heads within 48 hours; Fresno code enforcement cites for 'visible runoff' even during allowed watering hours.
Mow high (Bermuda 1.5", St. Augustine 3.5"), taller blades shade the crown and cut evaporation by 25%.
Stop fertilizing during Stage 2, nitrogen stimulates water-demanding growth your schedule cannot support.
Track weekly use at fresno.gov 'My Account', Stage 2 targets are 20% below 2020 baseline.
Fresno Water Restriction FAQs
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