Venice Water Restrictions 2026
Sarasota County · Florida
Published:
Restrictions Active - Modified Phase III: Extreme Water Shortage
1
Day/Week
12:01 AM – 4:00 AM
Allowed Hours
$500
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
Enter the last digit of your street address:
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| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| 0 or 1 | Monday |
| 2 or 3 | Tuesday |
| 4 or 5 | Wednesday |
| 6 or 7 | Thursday |
| 8 or 9 | Friday |
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
$500
No warnings, citations issued immediately starting April 17, 2026. Up to $500 per violation.
Citations begin April 3, 2026🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
HOAs in Sarasota County cannot fine residents for brown lawns during active SWFWMD restrictions (FL Statute 720.3075).
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
Venice shares Sarasota County’s water supply infrastructure, and the city’s coastal location makes saltwater intrusion an acute concern as aquifer levels drop. The Myakka River, a key regional water source, is at record-low flows for April. Many Venice neighborhoods feature mature landscaping with high irrigation demand, making compliance especially important. Sarasota County’s water enforcement team has increased patrols in the Venice area.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Venice area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Venice Water Restrictions
11 tips tailored for Venice homeowners during Modified Phase III: Extreme Water Shortage restrictions.
Venice’s sandy coastal soil benefits greatly from a 2–3 inch mulch layer to prevent rapid moisture loss.
Salt-tolerant grasses like Seashore Paspalum may be worth considering for Venice properties near the coast where saltwater intrusion affects well water quality.
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.
Venice Water Restriction FAQs
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