Clearwater Water Restrictions 2026
Pinellas County · Florida
Published:
Restrictions Active - Modified Phase III: Extreme Water Shortage
1
Day/Week
12:01 AM – 4:00 AM
Allowed Hours
$193 per citation, doubles with each subsequent violation
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
Enter the last digit of your street address:
View full address schedule table
| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Even | Saturday |
| Odd | Sunday |
Allowed Watering Hours
Properties under 1 acre may use only ONE of the two watering windows per scheduled day.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any day before 8:00 AM or after 6:00 PM.
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
$193 per citation, doubles with each subsequent violation
Pinellas County fines start at $193 per citation. The $193 fine doubles with each additional violation, a second violation = $386, a third = $772. No warnings issued after April 17, 2026, first offenses receive citations immediately, with no prior warning. HOA enforcement of deed restrictions requiring water use is suspended through July 1, 2026 per the SWFWMD order; HOAs cannot require residents to violate water shortage restrictions.
Citations begin April 3, 2026🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
HOAs in Pinellas County cannot fine residents for brown lawns during active SWFWMD restrictions (FL Statute 720.3075). Additionally, through July 1, 2026, HOA enforcement of deed restrictions requiring water use, including replacement of plant material and pressure washing, is suspended per the SWFWMD order.
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 SWFWMD'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
Clearwater shares Pinellas County’s water supply challenges, with the county’s limited freshwater resources strained by the prolonged spring drought. The city’s reclaimed water system has seen demand spike while supply has fallen due to reduced wastewater flows. SWFWMD’s Phase III restrictions are the strictest the district has imposed since 2012. Effective April 17, 2026, SWFWMD eliminated warnings, residents who violate the one-day-per-week schedule receive citations immediately with no prior warning.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Clearwater area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Clearwater Water Restrictions
11 tips tailored for Clearwater homeowners during Modified Phase III: Extreme Water Shortage restrictions.
If you use reclaimed water, your schedule follows the same even/odd restrictions – check your meter for your assigned day.
Clearwater residents can apply for the city’s toilet and irrigation rebate program to reduce indoor and outdoor water use.
Raise your mower blade to 3.5–4 inches; taller grass shades the soil and reduces evaporation by up to 25%.
Apply a thin layer (0.5 in) of compost or mulch around landscape beds to retain soil moisture.
Inspect sprinkler heads weekly and repair broken or misaligned nozzles immediately to avoid wasting your single watering day.
Water in the approved overnight window (12:01–4 AM) when evaporation is lowest and wind is calm.
Let your lawn go semi-dormant – St. Augustine and Bahia grasses can survive 4–6 weeks without irrigation and green up after rain.
Use a rain gauge to track natural rainfall; skip your scheduled watering day if you received 0.5 inches or more in the prior 48 hours.
Switch container plants and flower beds to drip irrigation, which is exempt from day-of-week limits under SWFWMD rules.
Avoid fertilizing during Phase III; nitrogen stimulates growth that demands more water the lawn cannot receive.
If you have a pool, use a cover to reduce evaporation – an uncovered pool can lose 1 inch of water per week in Florida’s heat.
Clearwater Water Restriction FAQs
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