San Bernardino Water Restrictions 2026
San Bernardino County · California
Published:
Restrictions Active - Stage 2 + MWD Level 1 – Mandatory Conservation
3
Days/Week
Before 9:00 AM
Allowed Hours
$50 first · $100 second · $250+ repeat
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
Enter the last digit of your street address:
View full address schedule table
| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Odd | Monday & Wednesday & Friday |
| Even | Tuesday & Thursday & Saturday |
Allowed Watering Hours
No sprinkler irrigation between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM year-round. Maximum 10 minutes per spray-head zone per watering day; rotary nozzles 30 minutes. SBMWD's Stage 2 schedule mirrors Riverside's because both cities draw from the shared Bunker Hill Basin and coordinate stage-by-stage triggers.
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
$50 first · $100 second · $250+ repeat
SBMWD Water Conservation issues a warning letter on first detected violation, then $50, $100, and $250 for repeat offenses within 12 months. Commercial properties face up to $1,000 per occurrence. SBMWD enforcement coordinates with the City Code Enforcement office for properties straddling the SBMWD / private-utility service boundary.
Citations begin MWD Level 1 declared March 2026🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
California Water Code §10631.5 prohibits HOAs from fining residents for drought-compliant brown lawns during a declared shortage. California Civil Code §4735 prevents HOAs from penalizing homeowners who reduce irrigation under a state or local conservation order, and explicitly allows artificial turf installation notwithstanding CC&R restrictions. The MWD Level 1 declaration plus your local agency's retail stage qualify as the state-recognized triggers – document both 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 San Bernardino Municipal Water Department. 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
San Bernardino is served by San Bernardino Municipal Water Department (SBMWD), a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). On March 2026 MWD declared a Level 1 Water Shortage Condition for all 26 member agencies (covering roughly 19 million residents) – the first regional Level 1 since 2022. The trigger: State Water Project allocation cut to 30% for the 2026 water year, continued Colorado River shortage operating under post-2007 Interim Guidelines, and Diamond Valley Lake (MWD's largest local storage) dropping below the 65% planning threshold.
SBMWD draws primarily from the Bunker Hill Basin (shared with Riverside), the Santa Ana River, and the State Water Project. The Inland Empire experiences hotter and drier summers than coastal Los Angeles – the Cajon Pass funnels desert air down into the San Bernardino Valley, regularly pushing afternoon highs above 105°F July through September. Important geographic note: the City of San Bernardino (population roughly 220,000) is distinct from San Bernardino County (population roughly 2.2 million, the largest US county by area). This page covers City of San Bernardino addresses on the SBMWD system; outlying communities like Highland, Loma Linda, Redlands, Rialto, and Fontana have their own retail water utilities.
MWD's Level 1 framework asks member agencies to target a 20% reduction in potable water use versus a 2020 baseline. Each retail agency translates that target into local rules – typically 2–3 days per week outdoor watering with a mid-day blackout window. California's permanent year-round baseline (no hosing hardscape, no irrigation within 48 hours of measurable rainfall, no runoff onto sidewalks, shut-off nozzle required on hoses) applies on top of MWD Level 1, regardless of conditions.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the San Bernardino area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During San Bernardino Water Restrictions
15 tips tailored for San Bernardino homeowners during Stage 2 + MWD Level 1 – Mandatory Conservation restrictions.
San Bernardino summers regularly hit 105–110°F – warm-season Bermuda is the only Stage-2-compliant grass that reliably greens through August.
Cajon Pass winds drive evaporation. Mulch beds 3 inches deep and use drip on all shrubs and trees to compensate.
Cycle-and-soak on the inland clay-loam: 3 minutes on, 20-minute pause, 3 minutes – slope properties shed continuous spray fast.
SoCal Water$mart $3/sq ft turf rebate is the primary program for SBMWD residents – apply before removing turf, not after.
Programme your controller now for San Bernardino's assigned 2-day-per-week schedule (see the watering days finder above) and respect the mid-day blackout – automatic enforcement runs from smart-meter data plus neighbourhood patrols.
Bermuda is the most MWD-Level-1-friendly grass for SoCal lawns – set mower height to 1.5 inches and let summer dormancy set in rather than fight the schedule.
St. Augustine and tall fescue both brown noticeably under 2 days/week. Cut ¾ inch maximum on assigned days, raise mowing height to 3.5–4 inches, and hand-water mature trees with a shut-off nozzle on off-days.
Apply cycle-and-soak on slopes and clay soils: 3 minutes on, 20-minute pause, 3 minutes – SoCal clay sheds continuous spray inside 90 seconds.
Mulch ornamental beds 3 inches deep with arborist wood chips. Bare soil in inland SoCal loses 0.5 inch of moisture per day in May–September.
Replace overhead spray heads on narrow strips with subsurface drip – drip is exempt from day-of-week limits and uses 30–50% less water.
Fix broken or misaligned sprinkler heads within 48 hours. Visible runoff onto sidewalks and driveways is a same-day citation under California's permanent year-round baseline.
Stack rebates: SoCal Water$mart ($3/sq ft turf removal) plus your retail agency's local match brings most front-yard conversions to $4–$5/sq ft.
Install a WaterSense-labeled smart controller with a rain sensor – most SoCal retail agencies offer $80–$200 rebates and the controller pays back in one summer.
Skip your assigned cycle after 0.5 inch of rainfall in the prior 48 hours. California law requires rain sensors on any system installed after 1991.
Track weekly water use at sbmwd.org – Level 1's reduction target is 20% below 2020 baseline; meter-level alerts catch leaks before the bill arrives.
San Bernardino Water Restriction FAQs
What days can I water my lawn in San Bernardino?
What hours can I run my sprinklers in San Bernardino?
What are the fines for water violations in San Bernardino?
Can I install new sod or seed in San Bernardino during restrictions?
When will water restrictions end in San Bernardino?
City of San Bernardino vs San Bernardino County – same rules?
I'm in Highland or Loma Linda but my water bill says San Bernardino MWD – what applies?
Cajon Pass / Mojave Desert influence – why so hot?
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