SRWMD Phase II Water Shortage — Effective March 17, 2026

1 day per week · 15+ counties

North Florida Water Restrictions 2026 – Suwannee River District Phase II Rules

Source: Suwannee River Water Management District

Most attention on Florida water restrictions in 2026 has focused on the Tampa and Sarasota corridors under SWFWMD’s Phase III Extreme restrictions. But a second water management district has also imposed severe restrictions — one that covers Tallahassee, Gainesville, and 15 counties in North Florida.

The Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) voted to upgrade to Phase II drought restrictions effective March 17, 2026, restricting landscape irrigation to one day per weekacross its service area. North Florida residents on private wells are also subject to these restrictions — just like in Southwest Florida. Here is what it means for your lawn.

What Is the Suwannee River Water Management District?

Florida is divided into five Water Management Districts (WMDs), each managing water resources in its geographic area. The Suwannee River WMD covers a massive swath of North Florida, including:

Full counties: Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, Union.

Partial counties: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Jefferson, Levy, Putnam.

This means:

Tallahassee (Leon County): SRWMD
Gainesville: split between SRWMD and SJRWMD (St. Johns River WMD) depending on address
Lake City (Columbia County): fully SRWMD
Live Oak (Suwannee County): SRWMD

If you live in North Florida and are unsure which district you fall under, visit floridadep.gov/water-management-districts to confirm your district before applying restriction rules.

SRWMD Phase II Restrictions (March 17, 2026)

Phase II water shortage restrictions, effective March 17, 2026:

IRRIGATION LIMIT

Landscape irrigation restricted to 1 day per week.
No more than ¾ inch of water per irrigation zone.
No more than 1 hour per irrigation zone.

BANNED HOURS

No irrigation between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on any day.

WATERING DAYS (SRWMD baseline)

Even addresses (ends in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8): typically Saturday.
Odd addresses (ends in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9): typically Wednesday.
Confirm your specific assigned day at mysuwanneeriver.com because some local utilities adjust the SRWMD baseline schedule for their customers.

HOA PROTECTION

HOAs cannot require homeowners to increase water use to meet aesthetic standards during Phase II. Brown lawns caused by following restrictions are protected from HOA enforcement under Florida Statute 720.3075.

CLEANING RESTRICTIONS

Limits on using water for cleaning streets, driveways, sidewalks, decks, and other hardscapes. Pressure washing for general cleaning is generally restricted; pressure washing for surface preparation prior to painting is exempt.

PRIVATE WELLS

Restrictions apply even to property owners on private wells — not just public water customers. This is the same rule SWFWMD uses, and it surprises many North Florida well owners.

COMPARISON TO SWFWMD

SRWMD Phase II is approximately equivalent to SWFWMD Phase II “Severe”. The restrictions are significant but do not include the strict nighttime-only window that SWFWMD Phase III imposes on Tampa and Sarasota.

Grass Types and Drought in North Florida

North Florida’s dominant lawn grasses in 2026:

St. Augustine

Most common across Tallahassee, Gainesville, and coastal North Florida. Handles heat well but needs more water than Bermuda. Under 1-day-per-week Phase II restrictions, St. Augustine will show stress faster than Bermuda. Prioritize deep watering (¾ inch) on your allowed day. Survival watering minimum: ½–¾ inch per 7 days.

Bermuda Grass

Common in sunnier, drier areas across the SRWMD zone. Extremely drought-tolerant. Will go dormant brown under severe restrictions but crowns survive 2–3 months with minimal water.

Bahia Grass

Common in rural North Florida. Very drought-tolerant and the most water-efficient lawn option in the SRWMD zone. Handles 1-day-per-week restrictions well, goes dormant under heavy stress, but rarely dies.

Centipede Grass

Pale green and low-maintenance. Moderate drought tolerance. Performs better than St. Augustine under restrictions but is slow to recover from severe stress.

St. Augustine guide →Bermuda guide →

Cities in the SRWMD Zone

Survival Tips for North Florida Lawns

On your one allowed watering day:

Water before 10 a.m. for maximum absorption and to let blades dry before nightfall.
Apply ¾ inch to each zone using the tuna can test (20–30 minutes per zone with a standard sprinkler).
St. Augustine: water early morning, let blades dry completely before nightfall to prevent brown patch fungus in the humid North Florida climate.
Bermuda:water deeply — even ½ inch will sustain crown survival under 1-day-per-week restrictions.
Set mower to 4 inches.North Florida’s heat plus tall grass equals retained moisture between watering days.
Do not fertilizestressed lawns — nitrogen increases water demand the lawn cannot meet.
Hand watering is allowed daily with a shut-off nozzle. Use it to spot-treat the most stressed areas between your one allowed irrigation day.

Survival watering guide →Dead or dormant? →

FAQs — SRWMD Restrictions 2026

Does Phase II apply to my private well?

Yes. SRWMD Phase II restrictions apply to all property owners regardless of whether they use public water or a private well. This is the same rule as SWFWMD — private well users are not exempt from water management district restrictions in Florida.

How is SRWMD different from SWFWMD?

SWFWMD covers Tampa, Sarasota, and surrounding counties and is currently at the more severe Phase III (1 day per week, nighttime-only watering window). SRWMD covers North Florida including Tallahassee and Gainesville and is at Phase II (1 day per week, with a daytime ban from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. instead of nighttime-only). Both districts allow only 1 day per week, but SWFWMD has the stricter nighttime-only hours.

What exactly is ¾ inch and how long does that take?

Place a shallow can (a tuna can works perfectly) on your lawn during irrigation. Stop watering when the can contains ¾ inch of water. For a standard sprinkler head, this typically takes 20–30 minutes per zone. SRWMD also limits irrigation to 1 hour maximum per zone — which is more than enough to deliver ¾ inch.

My HOA is threatening to fine me for a brown lawn. Can they do that?

No. Florida Statute 720.3075 explicitly prohibits HOAs from enforcing rules that require a homeowner to violate water management district restrictions. Under SRWMD Phase II, an HOA cannot fine you for a brown or dormant lawn caused by following the 1-day-per-week schedule. Keep a copy of the SRWMD Phase II declaration as evidence to share with your HOA board if challenged.

Will SRWMD restrictions get worse in 2026?

Possibly. Phase III is the next level — which would add a strict nighttime-only watering window similar to SWFWMD. Monitor mysuwanneeriver.com for updates. The North Florida dry season runs through May; the wet season typically begins in June and would naturally bring relief if streamflows and aquifer levels recover.

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