Florida Water Restrictions 2026
Published: May 17, 2026 · Updated: May 21, 2026
Sources: SWFWMD Water Restrictions, SFWMD Water Conservation
SWFWMD escalated to Modified Phase III ‘Extreme’ Water Shortage on March 24, 2026 — the most severe level currently active in Florida. All properties in the SWFWMD service area (Tampa Bay, Sarasota, Polk, and surrounding counties) are now limited to 1 day per week with restricted hours: midnight–4:00 AM or 8:00 PM–midnight for properties under one acre (pick one window). Properties 1 acre or larger may water before 4 AM and after 8 PM. Three emergency orders accompanied the declaration: Tampa Bay Water authorized to lower the Tampa Bypass Canal, Peace River authority authorized for increased withdrawals, and Punta Gorda authorized for emergency Shell Creek withdrawals.
Florida is under two overlapping water-restriction regimes in 2026. The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) — which covers Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota, and the Gulf Coast — is in Modified Phase III Extreme Water Shortage, limiting lawn irrigation to one day per week through July 1, 2026. The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) — which covers Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Naples, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and the Everglades basin — is on its year-round 2-days-per-week schedule plus a 2026 drought advisory.
Effective April 17, 2026: SWFWMD eliminated first-offense warnings. Citations are now issued immediately with no prior warning for all SWFWMD district violations. Fines run up to $500 per offense; Pinellas County (St. Petersburg and Clearwater) fines start at $193 per citation and double with each additional violation.
HOA enforcement of deed restrictions requiring water use — including replacement of plant material to meet aesthetic standards and pressure washing — is suspended through July 1, 2026 per SWFWMD Water Shortage Order SWF 25-015. HOAs cannot require residents to violate water shortage restrictions during the active Phase III period. No HOA may enforce aesthetic standards that require increased water use during Phase III. Monitor watermatters.org/restrictions for updates.
St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) – which covers Northeast Florida (Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, Palm Coast, Ocala, and other Duval, Clay, Nassau, St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia, and Marion county communities) – is now under Modified Phase II Severe Water Shortage. SJRWMD Order 2026-006 was declared on March 2, 2026 and remains in active enforcement: 1 day per week (odd Saturday, even Sunday), no irrigation between 10 AM and 4 PM, max 3/4 inch per zone. The Floridan Aquifer is the regional source; declining spring flows at Silver Springs and other artesian formations triggered the declaration.
South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) – which covers Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and the southeast Florida coast – operates a permanent year-round mandatory framework under SFWMD Rule 40E-24, F.A.C. This is not a drought declaration: 2 days per week (odd Wednesday/Saturday, even Thursday/Sunday, common areas Tuesday/Friday), no irrigation 10 AM to 4 PM, every day of every year. The rule has been in force since the 1990s and reflects permanent regional water-supply constraints (Biscayne Aquifer salt-water-intrusion vulnerability, Lake Okeechobee management, sea-level rise). Most South Florida residents do not realise their 2-day-per-week schedule is the structural baseline rather than a seasonal drought response.
City coverage on this site: 44 Florida cities across the district groups – 19 SWFWMD cities (Tampa Bay, Polk, Citrus, DeSoto, and Gulf Coast), 8 SJRWMD Phase II cities (Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, St. Augustine, Palm Coast, Daytona Beach, Ocala, Fernandina Beach, Orange Park), 14 SFWMD cities (10 new year-round-rule cities in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, plus 4 existing Lee and Collier county cities), and 3 north and central cities under voluntary or year-round-only conservation (Tallahassee, Gainesville, Orlando). Jump to your city below for local watering days, hours, and fines.
How Florida Manages Drought
Florida's water management is distributed across five regional districts. The two that matter for most homeowners are SWFWMD (Tampa Bay region and Gulf Coast from Tarpon Springs south to Venice) and SFWMD (from Orlando south to the Keys). Each district sets its own watering schedule, enforcement policies, and fines.
SWFWMD Phase III is the district's most severe designation — active April 3 through July 1, 2026. Under Phase III, even-numbered addresses water on one day based on the last digit; odd-numbered follow a different day. Pinellas County uses a simplified odd/even Saturday/Sunday split because of its dense population.
SFWMD is NOT in Phase III. SFWMD cities follow year-round rules (2 days per week, 8am–6pm blackout) plus a 2026 drought advisory. Cape Coral's NE well area is under a separate Modified Phase IV designation because private wells there have fallen below critical thresholds in the Mid-Hawthorn aquifer.
How Phase III and Year-Round Rules Apply to Your Address
SWFWMD Phase III (active through July 1, 2026): Lawn irrigation is limited to one day per week. For most counties, the day is based on the last digit of your street address (0 or 1 = Monday; 2 or 3 = Tuesday; 4 or 5 = Wednesday; 6 or 7 = Thursday; 8 or 9 = Friday). Pinellas County uses odd/even instead (even = Saturday; odd = Sunday). Properties under 1 acre may use only ONE of the two watering windows per scheduled day.
SWFWMD allowed hours: 12:01 AM – 4:00 AM and 8:00 PM – 11:59 PM on your assigned day. Hand watering is allowed any day before 8:00 AM or after 6:00 PM. Drip irrigation is allowed any day.
SFWMD year-round rules (not in Phase III): 2 days per week, no watering between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM any day. Odd addresses water Wednesday and Saturday; even Thursday and Sunday. Same hand-watering and drip exceptions apply.
New lawn installations are prohibited under SWFWMD Phase III unless a variance is obtained. Under SFWMD year-round rules, new plantings receive a 90-day establishment watering variance.
Regional Breakdown
SWFWMD — Tampa Bay, Gulf Coast
Modified Phase III active April 3 – July 1, 2026. One day per week by address digit (Pinellas: Sat even / Sun odd). No warnings after April 17 — citations issued immediately.
SJRWMD — Northeast Florida (Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Palm Coast, Daytona, Ocala, Fernandina Beach, Orange Park)
Modified Phase II Severe Water Shortage declared March 2, 2026 (SJRWMD Order 2026-006). One day per week (odd Saturday, even Sunday), no irrigation between 10 AM and 4 PM, max 3/4 inch per zone. Floridan Aquifer source. Order 2026-006 explicitly suspends HOA enforcement of deed restrictions that would force violation.
SFWMD — Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Naples, Fort Myers
Year-round 2-days-per-week rules plus 2026 drought advisory. Cape Coral NE well area under Modified Phase IV — most severe designation.
NWFWMD — Florida Panhandle (Tallahassee)
Tallahassee and Leon County are in the Northwest Florida Water Management District. NWFWMD issued a voluntary Water Shortage Warning (Order 26-001) on February 11, 2026 across all 16 Panhandle counties. No mandatory schedule or fines; voluntary conservation only. Distinct from SRWMD, which covers the Suwannee River basin of North-Central Florida.
Florida Lawn Grass and the 2026 Drought
St. Augustine dominates most of Florida but is the most water-hungry of the state's common grasses. Under Phase III one-day-per-week rules, St. Augustine will brown noticeably — this is survival dormancy, not death. Water the maximum allowed 0.75 inch on your assigned day; skip if you received 0.5+ inches of rain in the prior 48 hours.
Bermuda and Zoysia both tolerate drought significantly better than St. Augustine. Bermuda goes golden-brown under severe drought and recovers fast once rain returns; Zoysia may thin but generally survives 4–6 weeks without irrigation. Centipede is the most drought-tolerant of the Southern grasses and needs less water than St. Augustine even under Phase III rules.
Bahia grass is the most drought-adapted warm-season grass in Florida and is explicitly recommended for drought-prone lots. Bahia can survive 8+ weeks without irrigation and recovers quickly.
Drought-Survival Watering by Grass Type
| Grass | Survival Watering | Mowing Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Augustine | 0.5–0.75 in weekly (1 day) | 3.5–4 inches | Most water-hungry; will brown under Phase III |
| Bermuda | 0.5 in every 10–14 days | 2.5–3 inches | Drought-tolerant; allow full dormancy |
| Zoysia | 0.5 in every 10–14 days | 2.5–3 inches | Handles 4–6 weeks without water |
| Centipede | 0.5 in every 10–14 days | 2–3 inches | Do NOT fertilize during drought |
| Bahia | Rainfall only (8+ weeks dry OK) | 3–4 inches | Most drought-tolerant FL grass |
HOA Protection During Drought
HOAs in Florida cannot fine residents for brown or dormant lawns during active SWFWMD restrictions (Florida Statute 720.3075). This is a state-level protection that overrides any HOA covenant requiring green lawns during drought emergencies.
New for 2026: Through July 1, 2026, HOA enforcement of deed restrictions requiring water use — including replacement of plant material to meet aesthetic standards and pressure washing — is suspended per SWFWMD Water Shortage Order. HOAs cannot require residents to take actions that would violate water shortage restrictions during the active Phase III period.
If your HOA attempts to fine you for following water restrictions, reference both FL Statute 720.3075 and the SWFWMD Water Shortage Order. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) handles HOA complaints.
Florida Cities — Local Water Restriction Guides
SWFWMD — Southwest Florida
Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage — 1 day per week through July 1, 2026.
SJRWMD Phase III Extreme Water Shortage – Northeast + East-Central Florida (effective May 13, 2026)
St. Johns River Water Management District escalated to Phase III Extreme on May 13, 2026 - the most severe stage under rule 40C-21.251 F.A.C. Covers 18 counties and ~4.73M residents (23% of FL population). Schedule: 1 day per week (odd addresses Wednesday, even addresses Thursday), no watering 8 AM to 6 PM any day, max 3/4 inch per zone, 1 hour per zone. Aesthetic water use prohibited; pressure washing restricted. Floridan Aquifer is the regional supply.
SFWMD Year-Round Mandatory Restrictions – Southeast Florida
Permanent year-round restrictions under SFWMD Rule 40E-24, F.A.C. – 2 days per week irrigation (odd Wednesday/Saturday, even Thursday/Sunday, common areas Tuesday/Friday), no watering 10 AM to 4 PM. Always in force, regardless of drought conditions. In effect since the 1990s.
SFWMD Lee and Collier Counties – Year-round + 2026 Modified Phase I Warning
Same SFWMD year-round 2-days-per-week framework, with an additional January 2026 Modified Phase I Water Shortage Warning specifically for Lee and Collier counties. Cape Coral NE well area is under separate Modified Phase IV.
NWFWMD - Florida Panhandle (voluntary Water Shortage Warning)
Tallahassee and Leon County are in the Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD), headquartered in Havana, FL. NWFWMD issued a voluntary Water Shortage Warning (Order 26-001) on February 11, 2026 across all 16 Panhandle counties. This is an advisory: no mandatory day-of-week schedule, no hour blackout, and no fines. City of Tallahassee Utilities continues voluntary conservation. NWFWMD is a separate district from SRWMD, which covers the Suwannee River basin of North-Central Florida. Gainesville's west-Alachua SRWMD portion is noted in the SJRWMD group above.
SFWMD Monroe County – Florida Keys (FKAA year-round conservation)
The Florida Keys are served by the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA), a regional utility distinct from mainland Florida providers. About 90% of Keys drinking water is piped roughly 130 miles from the Biscayne Aquifer in southern Miami-Dade, with reverse-osmosis backup plants at Stock Island and Marathon. SFWMD issued a water shortage warning for Monroe County on February 5, 2026 and rescinded it on March 30, 2026 after March rains recharged the aquifer. FKAA maintains year-round conservation guidance.
Key Contacts & Resources
- → SWFWMD Water Restrictions (swfwmd.state.fl.us)
- → SFWMD Water Conservation (sfwmd.gov)
- → FL DBPR HOA complaints
- → Drought reporting and exemption requests — call your local utility directly
Frequently Asked Questions
When did SWFWMD stop issuing warnings for first-offense water violations?
April 17, 2026. Before that date, SWFWMD enforcement officers typically issued a written warning for first violations. Effective April 17, 2026, warnings are eliminated — first offenses receive citations immediately with fines up to $500 (up to $772 in Pinellas County after the doubling escalation).
Can my HOA fine me for a brown lawn in Florida during Phase III?
No. Florida Statute 720.3075 specifically protects homeowners from HOA fines for brown or dormant lawns during active state or district water restrictions. Additionally, through July 1, 2026, HOA enforcement of deed restrictions requiring water use (replacement of plant material, pressure washing) is suspended per SWFWMD Water Shortage Order. Your HOA cannot require you to violate Phase III rules.
What day can I water under SWFWMD Phase III?
One day per week based on your address digit. Addresses ending in 0 or 1: Monday. 2 or 3: Tuesday. 4 or 5: Wednesday. 6 or 7: Thursday. 8 or 9: Friday. Pinellas County (St. Petersburg, Clearwater) uses odd/even instead — even addresses water Saturday, odd Sunday. Properties under 1 acre use only ONE of the two allowed windows (12:01–4 AM OR 8–11:59 PM) per scheduled day.
Does Phase III apply to drip irrigation and hand watering?
No — drip irrigation and hand watering are exempt from the one-day-per-week schedule. Hand watering is allowed any day before 8 AM or after 6 PM. Drip irrigation is allowed any day, any time. Use these for trees, shrubs, and newly planted landscaping.
How long will SWFWMD Phase III last?
Through July 1, 2026 as currently ordered. SWFWMD may extend Phase III if drought conditions persist past that date. The district reviews reservoir levels, aquifer recharge, and rainfall patterns monthly. Check swfwmd.state.fl.us for current status.