Portland Water Restrictions 2026
Multnomah County · Oregon
Published:
Restrictions Active - Summer Conservation Stage - Voluntary 20% Reduction Request
2
Days/Week
Before 9:00 AM
Allowed Hours
$250 per violation (at mandatory Stage 2)
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
Enter the last digit of your street address:
View full address schedule table
| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| No mandatory day schedule, voluntary odd/even guidance | Morning or evening outside 9 AM – 5 PM |
Allowed Watering Hours
No outdoor irrigation between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM from June 1 through September 30. PWB requests voluntary 20% reduction versus prior August baseline. Mandatory Stage 2 triggers if Bull Run storage drops below 60%.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any time outside 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM blackout.
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
$250 per violation (at mandatory Stage 2)
At Stage 1 Voluntary, no fines are assessed. If Bull Run storage drops below 60% and PWB declares Stage 2, citations of $250 per violation begin with progressive escalation for commercial and multi-family properties up to $1,000. PWB prefers education-first enforcement through field outreach by the Water Efficiency team.
Citations begin June 1, 2026 (annual seasonal)🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Oregon Revised Statute 94.783 prohibits HOAs from enforcing lawn appearance standards during a declared water shortage. ORS 94.5673 protects homeowners who install water-conserving landscaping. PWB's Stage 1 summer conservation season qualifies as the triggering condition for both protections.
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 Portland Water Bureau. 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
Portland's Bull Run Watershed (73,000 acres in the Mt. Hood National Forest) delivers unfiltered surface water to nearly 1 million people. Bull Run storage stood at 68% of capacity entering summer 2026, normal for April is 95%. The region received 5.1 inches below-average precipitation from November 2025 through March 2026, the third consecutive below-normal winter. PWB historically requests voluntary conservation June 1 through September 30 each year, but Stage 2 mandatory restrictions trigger automatically if storage drops below 60%.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Portland area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Portland Water Restrictions
11 tips tailored for Portland homeowners during Summer Conservation Stage - Voluntary 20% Reduction Request restrictions.
Portland's Kentucky Bluegrass and perennial ryegrass can survive summer dormancy by turning golden, water deeply every 10–14 days to keep crowns alive.
Mow to 3.5–4 inches in summer and leave clippings; the mulch layer cuts evaporation by 25% on Portland's summer-dry clay soils.
Use a smart controller with PNW ET preset, PWB rebates cover $75 on WaterSense-labeled Rachio or Hydrawise units.
Replace parkway strips with PNW-native landscaping: Oregon Stonecrop, Yarrow, Kinnikinnick, all qualify for the Friends of Trees planting program.
Drip-irrigate vegetable beds and fruit trees; Portland's clay soils benefit from slow subsurface irrigation.
Convert overhead spray to high-efficiency rotary nozzles; saves 30% on typical Portland front lawns.
Take advantage of the 8-month PNW wet season, deep-water trees and shrubs just before summer blackout to build soil-moisture reserves.
Fix leaks within 48 hours, even small leaks erode Portland's rainfall-replenished groundwater through the dry season.
Harvest rainwater in winter/spring for summer landscape use, Portland's 36"+ annual rainfall makes 500-gallon tanks refill 20+ times per year.
Skip irrigation cycles after any 0.25"+ rainfall event from June to September, Portland's cool summer nights retain moisture longer than desert climates.
Track monthly use at portland.gov 'My Bill', August is the high-demand month and PWB's voluntary 20% reduction target applies to that month specifically.
Portland Water Restriction FAQs
What days can I water my lawn in Portland?
What hours can I run my sprinklers in Portland?
What are the fines for water violations in Portland?
Can I install new sod or seed in Portland during restrictions?
When will water restrictions end in Portland?
Get alerts for Portland, Oregon
We will email you when Portland restrictions change – escalations, new stages, or lifted restrictions.
No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.
Other Oregon Cities with Water Restrictions
Community Reports & Questions
Share an update, ask a question, or report a change in your local restrictions.
No community reports yet
Be the first to share a local update, ask a question, or report a change in your area's restrictions.