Coral Gables Water Restrictions 2026
Miami-Dade County · Florida
Published:
Restrictions Active - Year-Round Mandatory Schedule: SFWMD Rule 40E-24
2
Days/Week
Before 10:00 a.m.
Allowed Hours
Enforced by Coral Gables and Miami-Dade County code enforcement; confirm current penalties with the city
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
Enter the last digit of your street address:
View full address schedule table
| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Odd-numbered addresses | Wednesday & Saturday |
| Even-numbered addresses | Thursday & Sunday |
| Common areas and properties with mixed odd and even addresses | Tuesday & Friday |
Allowed Watering Hours
Coral Gables follows the South Florida Water Management District's permanent year-round landscape irrigation rule (Rule 40E-24, F.A.C.). Lawn watering is limited to two days per week by address, and irrigation is prohibited between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on any day to limit evaporation. This is a permanent rule, not a drought measure, and it remains in force regardless of rainfall.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is allowed any day; the 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. limit still applies to general irrigation.
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
Enforced by Coral Gables and Miami-Dade County code enforcement; confirm current penalties with the city
The year-round schedule is enforced through Coral Gables and Miami-Dade County code enforcement. Specific penalty amounts are set by city and county ordinance; contact the city at 305-446-6800 or Miami-Dade Water and Sewer at 305-665-7477 to confirm current fines.
Citations begin Permanent year-round rule (SFWMD Rule 40E-24, in effect since 2010)🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Florida law restricts HOAs from penalizing residents for complying with water restrictions or for installing Florida-Friendly landscaping. The SFWMD two-day schedule applies to HOA common areas, which water on the Tuesday and Friday common-area schedule.
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 current restriction order from City of Coral Gables. 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
Coral Gables sits in Miami-Dade County and receives its drinking water from the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department, which draws from the Biscayne Aquifer. Unlike cities whose watering rules rise and fall with drought declarations, Coral Gables follows a permanent year-round schedule set by the South Florida Water Management District.
That schedule, SFWMD Rule 40E-24, F.A.C., has been in effect across the District since 2010. It limits landscape irrigation to two days per week, assigned by whether an address is odd or even numbered, and prohibits watering between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on any day. Because it is a structural conservation rule rather than an emergency measure, it stays in force in wet years and dry years alike.
South Florida did see short-term dry-season stress in early 2026. The District issued a water shortage warning for Miami-Dade County on February 5, 2026, and rescinded it on March 30, 2026, after March storms recharged the Biscayne Aquifer. Throughout that period the permanent two-day Rule 40E-24 schedule remained the governing watering rule for Coral Gables, and it continues unchanged now that the warning has been lifted.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Coral Gables area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Coral Gables Water Restrictions
9 tips tailored for Coral Gables homeowners during Year-Round Mandatory Schedule: SFWMD Rule 40E-24 restrictions.
Coral Gables follows a permanent two-day watering schedule: odd addresses water Wednesday and Saturday, even addresses Thursday and Sunday, and common areas Tuesday and Friday.
Never irrigate between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.; that midday window is prohibited every day of the year under SFWMD Rule 40E-24.
Most Coral Gables lawns are St. Augustine grass; water deeply on your two days rather than lightly more often to encourage deep, drought-resistant roots.
The 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ban is a conservation rule and a smart-watering rule; midday irrigation in Miami-Dade loses a large share to evaporation anyway.
Switch flower beds and container plantings to drip irrigation, which is more flexible than spray zones under the two-day schedule.
Choose Florida-Friendly plants suited to the city's historic Mediterranean Revival landscapes; many need little irrigation once established.
Install a rain sensor, required on Florida irrigation systems, so your controller skips a scheduled cycle after heavy rain.
Check for leaks and broken spray heads each season; on a two-day schedule, a failed zone can leave turf stressed before the next allowed day.
See coralgables.com for the city's Sustainability water conservation resources, including efficiency rebates.
Coral Gables Water Restriction FAQs
What days can I water my lawn in Coral Gables?
What hours can I run my sprinklers in Coral Gables?
What are the fines for water violations in Coral Gables?
Can I install new sod or seed in Coral Gables during restrictions?
When will water restrictions end in Coral Gables?
Is Coral Gables under a drought emergency?
What days can I water my lawn in Coral Gables?
Who actually provides Coral Gables' water?
Did the 2026 water shortage warning change the Coral Gables schedule?
Can I hand water on a non-scheduled day?
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