Englewood Water Restrictions 2026
Arapahoe County · Colorado
Published:
Restrictions Active - Voluntary 3-Day Watering Recommendation
3
Days/Week
Before 10:00 a.m.
Allowed Hours
No mandatory fines under voluntary guidance
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
This city assigns watering days by property location, not by address digit. Find your assigned days in the table below.
Watering schedule by property location
| Property Location | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Voluntary, all addresses | Max 3 days per week recommended |
| Year-round ordinance | No sprinklers 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
Allowed Watering Hours
Englewood operates an independent municipal water system and is not part of Denver Water. The city has issued a voluntary 3-day-per-week watering recommendation for the 2026 season, with the year-round 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. sprinkler blackout still in force. Englewood Utilities will reassess and may move to mandatory restrictions if regional drought conditions worsen.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any time outside 10am–6pm with a shut-off nozzle.
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
No mandatory fines under voluntary guidance
Englewood is currently under voluntary recommendations. The year-round 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. sprinkler ordinance is enforceable independently of any drought stage. If mandatory Stage 1 is declared, the city's standard ordinance fine schedule will apply.
Citations begin April 15, 2026🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Colorado law (HB 21-1229) prohibits HOAs from requiring cool-season turf or penalizing homeowners for drought-tolerant landscaping. HOAs cannot override Englewood's voluntary or mandatory water guidance.
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 Englewood Utilities'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
Englewood operates one of the few fully independent municipal water systems in the Denver metro area, drawing from McLellan Reservoir and South Platte River rights. Because Englewood manages its own supply separately from Denver Water, it has issued voluntary, not mandatory, guidance for 2026: a recommended 3 days per week schedule with the year-round 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. blackout still in place. The city is monitoring McLellan Reservoir and may escalate to mandatory restrictions if conditions deteriorate further through the summer.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Englewood area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Englewood Water Restrictions
7 tips tailored for Englewood homeowners during Voluntary 3-Day Watering Recommendation restrictions.
Englewood's voluntary 3-day schedule is a recommendation, but follow it now to avoid a future mandatory escalation.
Year-round 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. sprinkler ban remains enforceable regardless of drought stage.
Englewood is independent of Denver Water, your neighbors in Cherry Hills Village or Sheridan may be under different rules.
Kentucky Bluegrass and Tall Fescue dominate Englewood lawns, both tolerate dormancy and recover when temperatures cool.
Cycle-and-soak on Englewood's clay-heavy soils: 10 min on, 30 min off, 10 min on to prevent runoff.
Englewood Utilities offers free water audits, call 303-762-2300 to schedule before peak summer.
Check englewoodco.gov in late May for any escalation announcement, McLellan Reservoir levels are the trigger.
Englewood Water Restriction FAQs
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What are the fines for water violations in Englewood?
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When will water restrictions end in Englewood?
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