Sacramento Water Restrictions 2026
Sacramento County · California
Published:
Restrictions Active - Stage 2 Mandatory Water Conservation
2
Days/Week
Before 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
$50 first · $100 second · $200 third+
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
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| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Odd | Wednesday & Saturday |
| Even | Thursday & Sunday |
Allowed Watering Hours
No sprinkler irrigation between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Maximum 15 minutes per zone per watering day under Stage 2 (was 20 minutes under Stage 1).
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 · $200 third+
The City of Sacramento Water Conservation Team issues a warning on first detection, then $50, $100, and $200 for subsequent violations within 12 months. Commercial properties and HOAs face up to $1,000 per occurrence. Sacramento uses block data from its smart-meter program (deployed citywide in 2024) to automate first-warning detection.
Citations begin October 2025🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
California Water Code §10631.5 prohibits HOAs from fining residents for drought-compliant brown lawns during declared shortage. Civil Code §4735 protects homeowners who reduce irrigation to comply with a state or local conservation order. Sacramento's Stage 2 declaration qualifies both 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 Sacramento Department of Utilities + Regional Water Authority'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
The Sacramento Regional Water Authority declared Stage 2 in October 2025 after Folsom Lake storage dropped to 48% of capacity and American River flows ran 23% below the historical April average. Sacramento's supply is split between the American River (Folsom), Sacramento River surface diversions, and groundwater. Three consecutive below-average snowpack years in the Sierra Nevada have depleted the region's reservoir carryover to the lowest level since 2016.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Sacramento area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Sacramento Water Restrictions
11 tips tailored for Sacramento homeowners during Stage 2 Mandatory Water Conservation restrictions.
Sacramento's Central Valley heat and clay soils favor warm-season Bermuda over cool-season fescue, Bermuda cuts irrigation demand by roughly 30%.
Apply cycle-and-soak on all slopes: Sacramento's adobe clay sheds water in under 90 seconds of continuous spray.
Regional Water Authority's $1.50/sq ft rebate covers up to 1,000 sq ft per household, combine with the Cash for Grass program for commercial properties.
Install a smart controller and rain sensor, Sacramento Utility Rebates cover up to $80 on WaterSense-labeled controllers.
Let tall fescue go dormant July through September; water deeply once every 10–14 days to keep crowns alive without triggering violations.
Mulch ornamental beds with wood chips to 3 inches, arborist-grade chips are free from Sacramento Urban Wood recycling.
Convert parkway strips (the area between the sidewalk and street) first, they're the lowest-use, highest-visibility turf to remove.
Use drip and soaker hoses on vegetable beds and fruit trees, exempt from day-of-week limits under Stage 2.
Audit sprinkler heads monthly for overspray onto sidewalks, driveways, and fences, enforcement citations are issued for visible waste.
Group all non-turf irrigation on its own valve and run only in the legal overnight window to avoid accidental mid-day activation.
Track meter usage at cityofsacramento.gov 'My Account', weekly trend alerts catch leaks before the monthly bill arrives.
Sacramento Water Restriction FAQs
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