Gainesville FL Water Restrictions 2026
Alachua County · Florida
1
Day/Week
Before 10 a.m. / After 4 p.m.
Allowed Hours
¾ in/zone
Per Watering Day
Gainesville residents face a unique situation in 2026: the city straddles two water management districts. Parts of Alachua County — including some Gainesville addresses — fall under the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD), which declared Phase II restrictions on March 17, 2026. Other Gainesville addresses fall under the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), which has its own Phase II declaration active.
Both districts restrict landscape irrigation to one day per week. The key difference is which district governs your address — and the specific watering day assigned to you.
Current Status
Both SRWMD and SJRWMD are at Phase II Water Shortage as of April 9, 2026, with restrictions effective from March 17, 2026. The two districts split Alachua County, so two adjacent Gainesville homes can sometimes operate under different schedules. The University of Florida campus — one of the largest institutional water users in North Florida — is also subject to Phase II and has reduced campus irrigation accordingly. North Florida streamflow and aquifer levels are depleted across both district boundaries, and restrictions apply to private well owners in addition to public water customers.
Watering Schedule by Address & District
Identify your district first by visiting floridadep.gov/water-management-districts. Then use the table below for your assigned day.
| Address & District | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| EVEN addresses (SJRWMD) | Thursday |
| ODD addresses (SJRWMD) | Wednesday |
| EVEN addresses (SRWMD) | Saturday |
| ODD addresses (SRWMD) | Wednesday |
On your assigned day, irrigation is limited to ¾ inch of water per zone, with a maximum of 1 hour per zone. With a standard sprinkler head, ¾ inch typically takes 20–30 minutes per zone — comfortably inside the 1-hour cap. Use the tuna can test to measure delivery accurately the first time you set up your schedule.
What’s Restricted Beyond Lawn Watering
Both SRWMD and SJRWMD Phase II rules restrict more than just sprinkler schedules. Pressure washing for general cleaning of driveways, sidewalks, decks, and exterior walls is banned (pressure washing for surface preparation prior to painting is exempt). Vehicle washing at home is restricted — commercial car washes that recycle water are unrestricted. Filling ornamental pools or fountains is banned unless they recirculate water. Hand watering with a hose and shut-off nozzle remains permitted any day, any time, and drip irrigation is also unrestricted as long as it stays under the ¾-inch-per-zone cap. Newly installed sod or seed gets a 30-day grace period of unrestricted watering followed by 60 days at 3 days per week.
Fines and Enforcement
Phase II violations are enforceable by City of Gainesville code enforcement, Alachua County code enforcement, and the relevant water management district compliance officers. First offense in Alachua County is typically a written warning. Repeat violations carry escalating fines from $50 to $500. Both SRWMD and SJRWMD post public compliance officers and respond actively to citizen complaints — sprinkler systems running outside permitted hours are an easy visual catch.
HOA Protection in Gainesville
Florida Statute 720.3075explicitly prohibits HOAs from enforcing rules that require a homeowner to violate water management district restrictions. Under SRWMD or SJRWMD Phase II, an HOA cannot fine you for a brown or dormant lawn caused by following the 1-day-per-week schedule. Florida’s HOA protection is among the strongest in the United States — it applies during every active WMD restriction period, in every Florida county. Keep a copy of the Phase II declaration to share with your HOA board if a violation notice arrives.
Lawn Survival Guide for Gainesville
Gainesville lawns are typically St. Augustine, Bahia, or Bermuda. Practical numbers for surviving Phase II:
St. Augustine(most common): water early morning on your assigned day, ¾ inch per zone. Let blades dry completely before nightfall to prevent brown patch fungus in Gainesville’s humid climate.
Bahia (rural Alachua County): most water-efficient option. Handles 1 day/week without significant stress. Goes semi-dormant in severe drought but rarely dies.
Bermuda(sunny yards): extremely drought-tolerant. Even ½ inch on your one allowed day will sustain crown survival.
Mow at 4 inches— taller grass shades the soil, reduces evaporation, and helps lawns survive between watering days.
Hand water daily if needed to spot-treat the most stressed areas. A hose with a shut-off nozzle is permitted any day, any time.
Do NOT fertilize stressed lawns, aerate, or dethatch during Phase II.
Will Restrictions Get Worse?
Phase III is the next level for both SRWMD and SJRWMD. Phase III would add a strict nighttime-only watering window similar to SWFWMD’s current rules in Tampa and Sarasota. Both districts have indicated they will monitor streamflows, springs discharge, and aquifer levels through the spring and decide on escalation if conditions worsen. The good news for Gainesville: the North Florida wet season typically begins in late May or June — weeks earlier than the South Florida wet season — which would naturally bring relief if rainfall returns to normal. Monitor mysuwanneeriver.com (SRWMD) and sjrwmd.com (SJRWMD) for updates.