Breckenridge Water Restrictions 2026
Summit County · Colorado
Published:
Restrictions Active - Stage 2 Mandatory Water Restrictions
2
Days/Week
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. (overnight watering only)
Allowed Hours
1st offense warning; 2nd $250; 3rd $500; 4th and each additional $750
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
Enter the last digit of your street address:
View full address schedule table
| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Even-numbered addresses | Two assigned overnight days per week; confirm the current pairing at townofbreckenridge.com |
| Odd-numbered addresses | Two assigned overnight days per week; confirm the current pairing at townofbreckenridge.com |
Allowed Watering Hours
Stage 2 cuts outdoor watering from the three-day year-round baseline to two assigned days per week by address parity, with a roughly 30 percent reduction target for outdoor use. Watering is allowed only overnight, between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., to limit evaporation. Drip irrigation and hand watering with a can or shut-off nozzle remain allowed, and newly installed landscaping in its first two years is exempt. Confirm your exact assigned days on the Town of Breckenridge outdoor watering page.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Hand watering with a can or shut-off nozzle is exempt from the day schedule.
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
1st offense warning; 2nd $250; 3rd $500; 4th and each additional $750
Breckenridge issues a warning on a first violation, then escalating fines: $250 for a second offense, $500 for a third, and $750 for a fourth and each subsequent offense. The schedule applies to residential and commercial properties alike.
Citations begin May 1, 2026🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Colorado law (HB 21-1229) prevents HOAs from mandating cool-season turf or penalizing drought-tolerant landscaping. HOA common areas in Breckenridge follow the same Stage 2 two-day overnight schedule as homes.
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 Town of Breckenridge Public Works Department, Water Division'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
On April 29, 2026, the Breckenridge Town Council approved Stage 2 mandatory water restrictions, effective May 1, 2026, after Town Engineer Shannon Cahill declared a town-wide water shortage. The declaration followed an exceptionally weak winter: the Hoosier Pass SNOTEL site near Breckenridge measured only about 25 percent of normal snowpack on April 27, and Summit County sits in D4 exceptional drought, the most severe U.S. Drought Monitor category.
Breckenridge draws its water from the Blue River basin, with Goose Pasture Tarn serving as the town's primary storage reservoir and Sawmill Reservoir held in reserve. Because the Blue River is fed by high-altitude snowmelt, a low snow year directly limits how much water the town can store and treat through the summer.
Stage 2 reduces outdoor watering from the three-day year-round baseline to two assigned days per week, allowed only overnight, with a target of roughly 30 percent less outdoor use. The town paired the restriction with a public education campaign and outreach to local landscape companies before the May 1 start date.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Breckenridge area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Breckenridge Water Restrictions
9 tips tailored for Breckenridge homeowners during Stage 2 Mandatory Water Restrictions restrictions.
Stage 2 limits watering to two assigned overnight days per week; check the Town of Breckenridge outdoor watering page for your address parity before setting your controller.
Water only between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m.; at Breckenridge's 9,600-foot elevation, daytime sun and dry air waste a large share of any midday watering to evaporation.
Breckenridge lawns are cool-season Kentucky bluegrass and fescue; a two-day schedule will bring some browning, but these grasses go dormant safely and green up when moisture returns.
Drip irrigation and hand watering with a shut-off nozzle are exempt from the day schedule; shift flower baskets, pots, and shrub beds onto drip to protect them.
Newly installed landscaping in its first two years is exempt; if you have new sod, keep documentation handy in case enforcement asks.
Goose Pasture Tarn is the town's main storage; conserving on your lawn helps stretch that reservoir through the late-summer demand peak.
Use cycle-and-soak watering on Breckenridge's fast-draining mountain soils so water infiltrates instead of running down sloped lots.
Mow high and leave clippings; taller cool-season grass shades its own roots and holds soil moisture through the short mountain growing season.
Monitor townofbreckenridge.com and the High Country Conservation Center for the current stage and any change to the assigned-day schedule.
Breckenridge Water Restriction FAQs
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When did Breckenridge's Stage 2 restrictions take effect?
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Are there any exemptions from the Stage 2 schedule?
Where does Breckenridge get its water?
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