Los Angeles Water Restrictions 2026
Los Angeles County · California
Published:
Restrictions Active - Level 1 Water Shortage Emergency - MWD Level 1 Notice Active
2
Days/Week
Before 9:00 AM
Allowed Hours
$100 first · $200 second · $400 third+
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
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| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Odd | Tuesday & Friday |
| Even | Wednesday & Saturday |
Allowed Watering Hours
No sprinkler irrigation between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM year-round. Maximum 8 minutes per sprinkler station per watering day (4 minutes for high-efficiency rotating nozzles, double the duration but still capped).
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any day with a shut-off nozzle; drip and soaker hoses exempt.
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
$100 first · $200 second · $400 third+
LADWP's conservation enforcement team patrols by neighborhood and responds to complaints via the online Water Waste reporting form. First offense: $100 citation. Second within 12 months: $200. Third: $400. Repeat commercial violators face up to $2,000 per occurrence. Beyond fines, LADWP can install a flow-restricting device on the meter after four violations.
Citations begin June 2022 (permanent) · MWD Level 1 notice March 2026🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
California Water Code §10631.5 prohibits HOAs from fining residents for drought-compliant brown lawns during a declared water shortage. In addition, California Civil Code §4735 prevents HOAs from penalizing homeowners who reduce irrigation in response to a state or local agency water-conservation order, and explicitly allows artificial turf installation notwithstanding CC&R restrictions. Document your compliance with LADWP Level 1 and any MWD notice if your HOA sends a violation letter.
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 current restriction order from Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. 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
LADWP serves 4 million Angelenos and imports roughly 85% of its supply from the Owens Valley (LA Aqueduct), the State Water Project (SWP), and the Colorado River via the Metropolitan Water District (MWD). Basin rainfall is 7.2 inches below seasonal average, with the LA Reservoir at 61% capacity. MWD issued a Level 1 conservation notice to all member agencies in March 2026 after SWP allocation was cut to 30% for the water year. Level 1 is the active, year-round permanent framework established after the 2012–2017 mega-drought, it does not expire and can escalate to Level 2 or 3 if conditions worsen through summer 2026.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Los Angeles area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Los Angeles Water Restrictions
11 tips tailored for Los Angeles homeowners during Level 1 Water Shortage Emergency - MWD Level 1 Notice Active restrictions.
Bermuda and St. Augustine both tolerate LA's Mediterranean climate, set Bermuda to 1.5" and St. Augustine to 3.5" to shade the crown during afternoon heat.
Use the LADWP Turf Replacement Rebate ($3–$5/sq ft) to swap parkway strips, highest-visibility and lowest-irrigation-loss first.
Run each station for 2 minutes, pause 30 minutes, run 2 minutes again (cycle-and-soak), LA's clay-loam soils shed water if irrigated in one long pulse.
Check sprinkler heads weekly for broken risers or overspray onto sidewalks; LADWP issues citations for visible runoff even on allowed watering days.
Install a WaterSense-labeled smart controller (LADWP rebate: $80–$200) and enable the MWD rain sensor override so the system skips after measurable rainfall.
Raise mower height to the top 1/3 for your grass type and leave clippings (grasscycle), the mulch layer cuts evaporation by roughly 25%.
Mulch ornamental beds with 3" of wood chips and use drip at the base of shrubs and trees rather than overhead spray.
Check for leaks monthly, a 1 gallon/minute leak wastes 43,200 gallons per month and costs roughly $150 on LA's tier-2 rates.
Harvest shower warm-up water and AC condensate for potted plants, these are exempt from the day-of-week schedule.
Let cool-season fescue go fully dormant July–September rather than push irrigation against the cycle, it greens up once fall rain returns.
Track your water use at ladwp.com 'My Account', a 15% reduction versus your 2020 baseline is the current target under the MWD notice.
Los Angeles Water Restriction FAQs
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