Santa Fe Water Restrictions 2026
Santa Fe County · New Mexico
Published:
Restrictions Active - Permanent Stage 1 - Rio Grande Flow Trigger Active
2
Days/Week
Before 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
$100 first · $250 second · $1,000+ repeat
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
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| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Odd | Monday & Thursday |
| Even | Tuesday & Friday |
Allowed Watering Hours
No outdoor irrigation between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM year-round. No irrigation on Wednesday, Saturday, or Sunday. Maximum 1 inch of total water per week including rainfall.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any day with a shut-off nozzle; drip exempt year-round.
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
$100 first · $250 second · $1,000+ repeat
Santa Fe Water Division issues tiered fines: $100 first offense, $250 second, $500 third, $1,000+ for repeat violations. Commercial properties face up to $2,500. Santa Fe's Water Conservation Officers patrol neighborhoods and respond to complaints via the online Water Waste form.
Citations begin 2002 (permanent ordinance)🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
New Mexico Statute §47-16-19 prohibits HOAs from banning xeriscape or penalizing homeowners for drought-compliant brown lawns. Santa Fe's permanent Stage 1 ordinance qualifies as the triggering declaration.
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 City of Santa Fe Water Division'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
Santa Fe's water supply combines Rio Grande surface diversions (via the San Juan-Chama project), Santa Fe River flows, and local wells. Rio Grande flows dropped below 200 cfs in early 2026, threatening the Stage 2 trigger of 150 cfs that would cut summer supply even further. Santa Fe has the lowest per-capita water use of any large southwestern city (65 gallons/day) through decades of conservation programs, but the system remains at capacity for current demand.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Santa Fe area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Santa Fe Water Restrictions
11 tips tailored for Santa Fe homeowners during Permanent Stage 1 - Rio Grande Flow Trigger Active restrictions.
Santa Fe's 65 gallons/person/day use rate is among the lowest in the US, replicate it at home with xeriscape and high-efficiency fixtures.
Buffalo Grass and Blue Grama are the only practical turf options for Santa Fe, both survive the 1 inch/week cap.
Replace front-yard turf under the Santa Fe Xeriscape Rebate ($2/sq ft up to $3,000 per household), high-elevation natives like Penstemon and Apache Plume thrive.
Apply 3 inches of decomposed granite over ornamental beds, rock mulch outperforms wood in Santa Fe's 7,200-ft elevation and low humidity.
Install subsurface drip on all shrubs and trees, topical drip cracks within 2 seasons at Santa Fe elevation/UV.
Harvest rainwater, New Mexico allows residential rain barrels and passive earthworks without a permit.
Use a smart controller with NM ET preset; Santa Fe rebates cover $75 on WaterSense-labeled units.
Fix leaks within 24 hours, evaporation at 7,200 ft is intense despite cooler nighttime temperatures.
Mow any remaining Buffalo Grass high (3"+) and water only when the top inch of soil is fully dry.
Monsoon July–September: after any 0.5"+ rainfall, skip the next scheduled irrigation cycle.
Track use at santafenm.gov 'My Account', Stage 1 targets 65 gal/person/day total household consumption.
Santa Fe Water Restriction FAQs
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