Aurora Water Restrictions 2026
Arapahoe / Adams Counties · Colorado
Published: Updated:
Restrictions Active - Stage 1 Drought Response
2
Days/Week
6:00 PM – 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
$250+ per violation; potential water shutoff for repeat offenders
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
Enter the last digit of your street address:
View full address schedule table
| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Even | Thursday & Sunday |
| Odd | Wednesday & Saturday |
| Multi-family / HOA common areas | Tuesday & Friday |
Allowed Watering Hours
No outdoor watering between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Do not water while it is raining or during high winds.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any day during allowed hours (6:00 PM – 10:00 AM).
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
$250+ per violation; potential water shutoff for repeat offenders
New lawn installations banned citywide under Stage 1. Private pool filling is prohibited (topping off allowed). Aurora's smart meters monitor usage in 15-minute intervals, so off-schedule watering is detected automatically. Fine escalation begins at $250 per violation, with repeat violations potentially resulting in water shutoff. Aurora additionally caps each customer to a citywide outdoor watering budget; high users above the budget face additional surcharges similar to Denver Water's tiered pricing.
Citations begin March 25, 2026🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Colorado law (HB 21-1229) prohibits HOAs from requiring cool-season turf or penalizing homeowners for xeriscaping or drought-tolerant landscaping. Aurora's new-turf ban supersedes any HOA covenant requiring KBG sod replacement.
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 Aurora 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
Aurora Water operates independently from Denver Water and sources water from the Arkansas River basin, South Platte, and Colorado River. Aurora’s diverse water portfolio has helped buffer some drought impacts, but storage levels remain below target at 58% combined capacity. As of April 2026, Aurora has additionally banned all NEW turf lawn installations - the most aggressive grass-policy response on the Front Range outside of Erie's Level 4 emergency. The city’s aggressive water reuse program (Prairie Waters) helps stretch supply, but Stage 1 restrictions plus the new-turf ban are now necessary. Aurora has set a citywide outdoor watering budget and will escalate to Stage 2 if consumption targets are not met by June 2026.
Aurora is using smart meters that monitor water use in 15-minute intervals, off-schedule watering will be detected automatically and quickly. Additional Stage 1 restrictions unique to Aurora: pool filling is banned, decorative water features must be turned off, and no new lawn installations are permitted in 2026. Fines escalate from $250 and up with potential water shutoff for repeated violations.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Aurora area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Aurora Water Restrictions
11 tips tailored for Aurora homeowners during Stage 1 Drought Response restrictions.
Aurora residents can earn rebates of up to $3 per sq ft for replacing bluegrass with drought-tolerant alternatives through the Landscaping Incentive Program.
Aurora Water’s WaterSmart portal shows your daily usage and compares it to similar homes – use it to spot irrigation leaks early.
The city’s free Tree-for-Turf program provides shade trees when you remove at least 200 sq ft of lawn, reducing future irrigation needs.
Water between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM to minimize evaporation; early morning (before 10 AM) is the next best window.
Set mower height to 3–3.5 inches – taller cool-season grass develops deeper roots and tolerates drought better.
Convert ornamental turf areas to xeriscape using native Colorado plants like Blue Grama or Buffalo Grass.
Apply a slow-release organic fertilizer in early fall (not summer) to strengthen roots without stimulating water-hungry top growth.
Use a cycle-and-soak method: run each irrigation zone for 5 minutes, wait 30 minutes, then repeat to prevent runoff on Colorado’s clay soils.
Audit your sprinkler system for overspray onto sidewalks and driveways – Denver Water issues citations for visible waste.
Aerate your lawn in early fall to break up compacted clay soil and improve water infiltration on your limited watering days.
Add 2–3 inches of wood chip mulch around trees and shrubs to reduce soil temperature and retain moisture in Colorado’s arid climate.
Aurora Water Restriction FAQs
What days can I water my lawn in Aurora?
What hours can I run my sprinklers in Aurora?
What are the fines for water violations in Aurora?
Can I install new sod or seed in Aurora during restrictions?
When will water restrictions end in Aurora?
Get alerts for Aurora, Colorado
We will email you when Aurora restrictions change – escalations, new stages, or lifted restrictions.
No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.
Other Colorado Cities with Water Restrictions
Community Reports & Questions
Share an update, ask a question, or report a change in your local restrictions.
No community reports yet
Be the first to share a local update, ask a question, or report a change in your area's restrictions.