Denver Water Restrictions 2026
Denver County · Colorado
Published: Updated:
Restrictions Active - Stage 1 Drought Response
2
Days/Week
6:00 PM – 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
$45–$76 seasonal surcharge + $250–$500 per off-schedule violation
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
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| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Even | Sunday & Thursday |
| 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
$45–$76 seasonal surcharge + $250–$500 per off-schedule violation
Stage 1 surcharges locked in for 2026 season. Non-conservers (fail to cut use 20%) pay ~$45 extra inside Denver, ~$52 in suburbs. Super-conservers pay just $7–$8 more. High users pay up to $76 extra ($1,126 seasonal bill in suburbs). Tier structure: $1.10/1,000 gal in Tier 1 (up to 15K gal/mo); $2.20/1,000 gal in Tier 2 above that. Off-schedule violations: warning → $250 → $500 per occurrence. Leaking irrigation systems must be repaired within 10 days (enforceable). Denver Water serves 1.5 million people across the City/County of Denver, Lakewood, Centennial, Littleton, Sheridan, and surrounding communities.
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.
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 Denver 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
Denver Water declared Stage 1 restrictions after the 2025–2026 winter delivered historically low snowpack, the South Platte Basin at 42% of normal and the Colorado River Basin at 55% of normal, both the worst on record. Denver Water’s overall reservoir storage stood at 80% of capacity as of March 23, below the seasonal average of 85%. Denver Water serves 1.5 million people and has asked all customers to reduce outdoor use by at least 20% through the restriction period.
Drought surcharge effective May 2026: Denver Water customers will see an additional $1.10 per 1,000 gallons added to water bills for outdoor usage during the drought period. This surcharge applies to all Denver Water service area customers including Lakewood, Littleton, Centennial, Wheat Ridge, Greenwood Village, Sheridan, Glendale, and Edgewater. Denver Water also recommends delaying sprinkler system startup until mid-to-late May 2026.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Denver area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Denver Water Restrictions
11 tips tailored for Denver homeowners during Stage 1 Drought Response restrictions.
Denver Water customers can request a free Slow the Flow sprinkler consultation to optimize their system for Stage 1 compliance.
Consider replacing high-water-use bluegrass in parking strips with Denver Water’s approved plant list for rebate-eligible xeriscape.
Overseed with a drought-tolerant fescue blend instead of Kentucky Bluegrass to cut water needs by 30–40%.
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.
Denver Water Restriction FAQs
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