Boise Water Restrictions 2026
Ada County · Idaho
Published:
Restrictions Active - Stage 2 Summer Conservation - Boise River Flow Trigger Active
2
Days/Week
Before 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
$100 first · $250 second · $500+ repeat
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
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| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Odd | Monday |
| Even | Tuesday |
Allowed Watering Hours
No outdoor irrigation between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM from June 1 through September 30. Stage 2 limits irrigation to 2 days/week (baseline is 3). No irrigation Wednesday through Sunday under Stage 2 for residential customers.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any day with a shut-off nozzle.
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
$100 first · $250 second · $500+ repeat
Boise Public Works Water Conservation team issues warnings on first detection, then $100, $250, and $500 for subsequent violations within 12 months. Commercial and HOA properties face up to $1,000. Boise's AMI smart-meter system automatically flags off-schedule consumption.
Citations begin April 2026 · annual seasonal June 1 – September 30🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Idaho Code §55-2104 prohibits HOAs from enforcing lawn appearance standards that would require homeowners to violate municipal water restrictions. Boise's Stage 2 declaration qualifies as the triggering condition.
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 Boise Public Works + Suez Water Idaho'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
Boise's drinking water comes from the Boise River (via Lucky Peak Lake upstream) and Snake River Basin groundwater. Snake River flows at Milner Dam stood 31% below the 10-year April average as of early 2026. Boise River flows dropped below 1,200 cfs (the Stage 2 trigger is 1,500 cfs), forcing early activation of Stage 2 conservation in April rather than June. Boise added 18,000 new water customers since 2020 but imported water allocation has not expanded proportionally.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Boise area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Boise Water Restrictions
11 tips tailored for Boise homeowners during Stage 2 Summer Conservation - Boise River Flow Trigger Active restrictions.
Kentucky Bluegrass dominates Boise lawns and can survive Stage 2 on 2 days/week, water deeply (1 inch) each scheduled cycle.
Mow to 3.5 inches in summer and leave clippings, the mulch layer cuts evaporation by 25%.
Use a smart controller with Idaho ET preset; Boise rebates cover $100 on WaterSense-labeled Rachio or Hydrawise units.
Replace parkway strips with Idaho natives: Blue Flax, Penstemon, Yarrow, all work on the Stage 2 schedule indefinitely.
Convert overhead spray heads to high-efficiency rotary nozzles, saves 30% on typical Boise front lawns.
Harvest rainwater, Idaho allows unlimited residential rooftop harvesting; 500-gallon tanks refill 8–10 times/year on Boise's 12" annual rainfall.
Drip-irrigate vegetable beds and fruit trees, exempt from the Stage 2 day-of-week schedule.
Fix leaks within 48 hours, Boise's summer evaporation in the 95–105°F range wastes 300+ gallons per night from a stuck valve.
Group plants by hydrozone, turf on one valve, trees on another, shrubs on a third, simplifies Stage 2 compliance.
Skip scheduled cycles after any 0.25"+ rainfall event from June to September.
Track use at cityofboise.org 'My Account', Stage 2 targets 20% reduction versus prior August baseline.
Boise Water Restriction FAQs
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