Highlands Ranch CO Water Restrictions 2026
Published: Updated:
Douglas County· Colorado
Highlands Ranch Water declared a drought watch on March 1, 2026 — citing severe drought conditions, below-normal snowpack, and customer demand projected to be 22% above normal. Mandatory watering restrictions are now in effect, and rate increases are coming for customers who exceed their outdoor water budgets. Highlands Ranch is one of the largest unincorporated communities in Colorado, and its water utility (operated by the Centennial Water & Sanitation District) has more aggressive conservation rules than most Denver Water service areas. This page covers the assigned watering days, the outdoor water budget system, and what tiered rate increases mean for typical households.
Current Status
Highlands Ranch Water is now operating under a formal drought watch declared on March 1, 2026. The trigger was a combination of three factors: severe drought conditions across the South Platte Basin, snowpack at 42% of normal, and projected customer demand running 22% above normal for the season. Restrictions limit outdoor watering to two assigned days per week, with separate schedules for residential, multifamily, and non-residential customers. The utility specifically asked customers NOT to turn on outdoor sprinklers before April — running them too early both risks overnight freeze damage and immediately starts eating into the household’s outdoor water budget for the season.
Watering Schedule by Address
Highlands Ranch uses a four-group schedule based on address type and number. Find your group below and program your controller accordingly. The blackout window from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (May 1 – September 30) applies to every group.
| Group | Watering Days |
|---|---|
| EVEN-numbered residential addresses | Sunday & Thursday |
| ODD-numbered residential addresses | Wednesday & Saturday |
| Multifamily / apartment complexes | Monday & Friday |
| Non-residential / commercial | Tuesday & Sunday |
Highlands Ranch Water has explicitly asked customers to keep automatic sprinklers OFF until at least April. Lawns do not need supplemental irrigation in February or March in Colorado’s climate, and running sprinklers early both risks freeze damage to your system and immediately starts consuming your seasonal outdoor water budget. The utility allows up to 1,000 gallons per billing cycle for winter tree and shrub watering during extended dry periods.
What’s Restricted Beyond Lawn Watering
Beyond the assigned watering days, the most distinctive Highlands Ranch rule is the **outdoor water budget**. Each household is assigned a seasonal allocation based on lot size and historical use. Customers who stay within their budget pay the standard rate. Customers who exceed it pay significantly higher per-gallon rates under a tiered structure — the more you go over, the higher the rate. This is a financial deterrent rather than a flat fine, and it has been highly effective at reducing peak demand. Hand watering of trees and gardens with a can or hose is permitted any day, any time, but still counts toward your outdoor budget.
Fines and Enforcement
Highlands Ranch Water uses tiered pricing rather than flat fines. Customers who exceed their outdoor water budget pay significantly higher per-gallon rates under the tiered structure — a typical over-budget household can see bills increase by 50% or more during heavy use months. The system is more effective than flat fines because it scales with the amount of overuse and gives customers a clear financial incentive to stay within budget.
HOA Protection in Highlands Ranch
Colorado law (HB 21-1229) prohibits HOAs from requiring water-intensive landscaping, mandating cool-season turf, or penalizing homeowners for xeriscaping or drought-tolerant landscaping. The statute goes further than most US states by actively protecting homeowners who convert their lawns to drought-tolerant alternatives, even outside of declared drought periods. Combined with the City of Denver's public statement that brown lawns are expected during active restrictions, any HOA fine threatened against a brown lawn caused by following local restrictions is on weak legal ground. Keep a copy of your utility's restriction notice and the relevant city ordinance to share with your HOA board if a violation notice arrives.
Lawn Survival Guide for Highlands Ranch
Kentucky Bluegrass dominates Highlands Ranch lawns and goes dormant when summer temperatures stay above 85°F. Brown KBG on the assigned 2 days/week schedule is dormant, not dead — the crown survives underground and the lawn recovers when normal water returns. The two-day-per-week schedule is more than enough to deliver the survival watering KBG needs to keep crowns alive.
- Even addresses: Sun/Thu. Odd addresses: Wed/Sat. Multifamily: Mon/Fri. Non-residential: Tue/Sun.
- Do NOT turn on sprinklers before April — freeze risk and budget overage both apply.
- Cycle and soak: split each watering session into two short runs 1 hour apart to prevent runoff on Highlands Ranch’s clay soils.
- Mow at 3 to 3.5 inches and leave clippings on the lawn — taller grass and clipping mulch reduce evaporation.
- Track your outdoor budget on the Highlands Ranch Water customer portal — going over costs significantly more per gallon under tiered pricing.
Will Restrictions Get Worse?
Highlands Ranch’s drought watch is the first stage of a multi-tier response plan. If South Platte snowmelt and reservoir storage continue to underperform, the utility can move to a stage that further reduces watering days, ratchets the tiered rates higher, or imposes outright restrictions on car washing, pool filling, and hardscape rinsing. With South Platte Basin snowpack at 42% of normal — the worst on record — escalation is realistic for July or August. Customers who stay well within their budgets now build cushion for hotter months later.
FAQs — Highlands Ranch Water Restrictions 2026
What days can I water my Highlands Ranch lawn?
What is the outdoor water budget in Highlands Ranch?
Why does Highlands Ranch want me to keep sprinklers off until April?
Are tiered rates the same as fines?
Can my Highlands Ranch HOA fine me for a brown lawn?
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