Greeley Water Restrictions 2026
Weld County · Colorado
Published:
Restrictions Active - Mandatory Year-Round - Greeley Water Board
3
Days/Week
Before 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
Warning first; $100+ escalating per violation
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 |
|---|---|
| All addresses (schedule set each April by Greeley Water and Sewer Board) | 3 days/week (typical) |
| Water Budget customers | Any day after April 15 |
Allowed Watering Hours
Greeley operates a year-round mandatory water-use ordinance independent of statewide drought declarations. The Greeley Water and Sewer Board sets the specific watering schedule each spring at its April Board meeting based on snowpack, weather forecasts, water rights, and storage. Standard rules: no watering 10am–6pm, no winter watering Nov 1 – Apr 14 without a variance, and Water Budget customers may water any day after April 15. Trees may be watered October–March (winter watering for trees only).
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any time, any day.
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
Warning first; $100+ escalating per violation
Greeley issues a warning for the first offence and escalates to fines of $100 or more for repeat violations. The city actively enforces the no-10am–6pm rule and runoff prohibitions.
Citations begin Year-round🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Colorado HB 21-1229 prohibits HOAs from requiring water-intensive landscaping, mandating cool-season turf, or penalizing homeowners for xeriscaping or drought-tolerant landscaping. Document the local stage if your HOA challenges a brown lawn.
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 Greeley Water and Sewer Department'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
Greeley operates a year-round mandatory water use ordinance independent of drought declarations. The Greeley Water and Sewer Board determines specific watering restrictions each spring at the April Board meeting based on snowpack, long-term weather projections, water rights, and water storage.
Standard rules: no watering 10am–6pm, no winter watering November 1 through April 14 without a variance, water budget customers may water any day after April 15. New seed/sod requires a lawn variance permit. Trees may be watered October–March (winter watering for trees only).
Greeley draws from Cache la Poudre and Big Thompson river systems and operates independently from Denver Water and Northern Water districts. Colorado HB 21-1229 prohibits HOA fines for dormant or drought-tolerant lawns.
Monitor greeleyco.gov for the 2026 board decision and current schedule.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Greeley area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Greeley Water Restrictions
10 tips tailored for Greeley homeowners during Mandatory Year-Round - Greeley Water Board restrictions.
Voluntary Drought Watch in Greeley: target 2–3 days/week and avoid 10am–6pm watering, voluntary effort now reduces the risk of mandatory Stage 1.
Set mower height to 3–3.5 inches, taller cool-season grass develops deeper roots and tolerates drought far better than short-cut turf.
Use cycle-and-soak (e.g. 5 min run, 30 min rest, repeat) on Colorado clay soils to prevent runoff to gutters and driveways.
Overseed thin areas with a drought-tolerant fescue blend in early fall, cuts long-term water demand by 30–40% versus pure Kentucky Bluegrass.
Apply 2–3 inches of wood chip mulch around trees and shrubs, reduces soil temperature and retains moisture in Colorado's arid climate.
Skip summer fertilising, nitrogen forces growth that demands more water during peak heat.
Audit your sprinkler system for overspray onto sidewalks and driveways; broken or misaligned heads are the single biggest cause of water waste.
Convert ornamental turf to xeriscape using Blue Grama, Buffalo Grass, or native Colorado plants, eligible for utility rebates in many districts.
Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is unrestricted at all stages, prioritise mature trees and high-value shrubs over turf.
Monitor greeleyco.gov weekly. If snowpack and streamflow do not improve, Stage 1 mandatory restrictions (with assigned days and fines) become likely.
Greeley Water Restriction FAQs
What days can I water my lawn in Greeley?
What hours can I run my sprinklers in Greeley?
What are the fines for water violations in Greeley?
Can I install new sod or seed in Greeley during restrictions?
When will water restrictions end in Greeley?
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