Windsor Water Restrictions 2026
Weld / Larimer County · Colorado
Published:
Drought Watch - Voluntary Conservation
No assigned schedule
Voluntary conservation
Before 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
No fines
Voluntary, no penalties
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 (voluntary) | 3 days/week recommended |
Allowed Watering Hours
Voluntary Drought Watch: 3 days/week recommended, no watering 10am–6pm. No assigned days. Northern Water's reduced 2026 quota allocation is the upstream driver, mandatory escalation would follow Northern Water's allocation cuts.
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
No fines, voluntary stage
No mandatory enforcement during the Drought Watch voluntary stage. Stage 1 mandatory escalation would introduce fines of $100+ per violation.
🏠 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 Town of Windsor Water / NWCWD'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
Windsor is served jointly by the Town of Windsor Water Department and North Weld County Water District (NWCWD), drawing from Northern Water's Colorado-Big Thompson Project and Cache la Poudre system. As of May 2026, Windsor is on Drought Watch with voluntary 3-days-per-week conservation requested, no 10am–6pm watering.
Northern Water has reduced its 2026 quota allocation due to historically low snowpack, which affects Windsor's supply. Mandatory restrictions would follow Northern Water's allocation cuts.
Windsor sits between Fort Collins and Greeley and is one of Colorado's fastest-growing communities, outdoor water demand has tripled in the past decade. Colorado HB 21-1229 protects homeowners from HOA fines for dormant or drought-tolerant lawns.
Monitor windsorgov.com and nwcwd.org for updates.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Windsor area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are below seasonal targets, prompting regional voluntary conservation guidance.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Windsor Water Restrictions
10 tips tailored for Windsor homeowners during Drought Watch - Voluntary Conservation restrictions.
Voluntary Drought Watch in Windsor: 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 windsorgov.com weekly. If snowpack and streamflow do not improve, Stage 1 mandatory restrictions (with assigned days and fines) become likely.
Windsor Water Restriction FAQs
What days can I water my lawn in Windsor?
What hours can I run my sprinklers in Windsor?
What are the fines for water violations in Windsor?
Can I install new sod or seed in Windsor during restrictions?
When will water restrictions end in Windsor?
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