Orlando Water Restrictions 2026
Orange County · Florida
Published: Updated:
Restrictions Active - SJRWMD Phase III Extreme Water Shortage - Effective May 13, 2026
1
Day/Week
Before 8:00 a.m.
Allowed Hours
Warning first offence; $250+ for repeat violations under City of Orlando code enforcement
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
Enter the last digit of your street address:
View full address schedule table
| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Odd addresses | Wednesday |
| Even addresses | Thursday |
Allowed Watering Hours
St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) Phase III Extreme Water Shortage in effect since May 13, 2026 - the most severe stage under district rule 40C-21.251 F.A.C. Landscape irrigation is limited to 1 day per week based on address parity, never between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on any day. Maximum three-quarters of an inch per zone, maximum 1 hour per zone. Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) serves city residents; Orange County Utilities serves unincorporated areas. Both follow the SJRWMD Phase III schedule. Important distinction: the Walt Disney World area (Central Florida Tourism Oversight District / CFTOD) is technically SFWMD, not SJRWMD - different rules apply on Disney property.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is permitted any day, any time, for trees, shrubs, vegetable gardens, and flower beds. Micro-irrigation and drip systems are exempt from the day-of-week schedule..
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
Warning first offence; $250+ for repeat violations under City of Orlando code enforcement
First offences typically receive a written warning under City of Orlando code enforcement. Repeat off-schedule watering escalates to fines of $250 or more per violation. SJRWMD compliance officers also patrol and respond to citizen complaints. OUC and Orange County Utilities both follow the SJRWMD Phase III schedule.
Citations begin May 13, 2026 (escalated from Modified Phase II effective March 3, 2026)🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Florida Statute 720.3075 explicitly prohibits HOAs from enforcing rules that require a homeowner to violate water management district restrictions. A brown or dormant lawn caused by following SJRWMD Phase III is legally protected from HOA fines.
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 Orlando Utilities Commission. 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
Orlando (Orange County seat, population ~317,000 in city limits, ~1.4M Orange County total) is the largest city entirely within SJRWMD. On May 13, 2026, SJRWMD escalated to Phase III Extreme Water Shortage, the most severe stage under district rule 40C-21.251 F.A.C. This replaced the Modified Phase II that had been in effect since March 3, 2026.
The escalation was approved by the SJRWMD Governing Board on Tuesday May 12 at district headquarters in Palatka, citing groundwater levels below the 10th percentile in Duval and St. Johns counties (per Clay Coarsey, SJRWMD Director of Water Supply Planning), reduced St. Johns River flows, and below-average rainfall across the 18-county service area covering ~4.73 million residents.
Phase III rules: 1 day per week irrigation (odd Wednesday, even Thursday), never between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on any day, 3/4 inch per zone, 1 hour per zone max. Commercial, industrial, and institutional users must suspend certain non-essential uses. Aesthetic water use is prohibited. Pressure washing for general cleaning is restricted to surface-prep for paint or essential safety/sanitation only. Golf course fairway irrigation is limited to 1 day per week.
Key distinction for Orlando-area residents: the Walt Disney World area / Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) is technically in the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), NOT SJRWMD. Disney property follows SFWMD rules (separate framework). Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, ICON Park, and downtown Orlando are all SJRWMD and follow the Phase III rules described here.
Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) serves Orlando city residents. Orange County Utilities serves unincorporated areas. Outside Orange County: Tampa and Sarasota (SWFWMD) have separate Phase III since April 3; Jacksonville (also SJRWMD) is on the same Phase III as Orlando.
Florida Statute 720.3075 protects Orlando homeowners from HOA fines for brown lawns under SJRWMD restrictions.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Orlando area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Orlando Water Restrictions
11 tips tailored for Orlando homeowners during SJRWMD Phase III Extreme Water Shortage - Effective May 13, 2026 restrictions.
Phase III limits irrigation to 1 day per week: odd Wednesday, even Thursday. Never irrigate 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Maximum 3/4 inch per zone, 1 hour per zone on the assigned day. Set your controller within that envelope.
St. Augustine grass (dominant Orlando lawn) needs deep weekly irrigation under Phase III. Run zones to deliver the full 3/4 inch in one session.
Bahia is more drought-tolerant; consider partial conversion. Bahia uses 40 per cent less water than St. Augustine.
Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is permitted any day, any time. Prioritise mature live oaks and food crops.
Walt Disney World is SFWMD (separate district), not SJRWMD. If you work at Disney, those rules apply at the workplace; your home in Orlando follows SJRWMD Phase III.
Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, ICON Park, and downtown Orlando are SJRWMD and follow the Phase III rules on this page.
Install a rain barrel: captured rainwater is unrestricted at every SJRWMD phase.
Pressure washing for general cleaning is restricted under Phase III. Surface-prep for paint and essential safety / sanitation work is allowed.
Florida Statute 720.3075 protects you from HOA fines for brown lawns. Document the May 13, 2026 SJRWMD declaration.
Monitor sjrwmd.com/wateringrestrictions weekly. Phase IV (under 40C-21.251 F.A.C.) is the next escalation if conditions worsen.
Orlando Water Restriction FAQs
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