Aransas Pass Water Restrictions 2026
San Patricio (primary) + Aransas + Nueces · Texas
Published: Updated:
Restrictions Active - Stage 3 Mandatory + Local Disaster Declaration (April 22, 2026)
0
Days/Week
Handheld hose / drip / soaker: before 10:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m.
Allowed Hours
Up to $2,000 per occurrence (second and subsequent violations)
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
This city assigns watering days by property location, not by address digit. Find your assigned days in the table below.
Watering schedule by property location
| Property Location | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| All addresses | No automatic lawn irrigation. Handheld hose with shut-off nozzle only. |
Allowed Watering Hours
Aransas Pass is served by Corpus Christi Water wholesale (via San Patricio Municipal Water District) and follows Stage 3 mandatory restrictions: all lawn irrigation is banned. Handheld hose with shut-off nozzle, drip irrigation, and soaker hoses remain permitted for trees, shrubs, gardens, and food crops before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Mayor Jason Knight signed a 7-day emergency disaster declaration on April 22, 2026 (since extended) citing severe drought, declining reservoir levels, and projected supply shortfalls. The declaration unlocks state emergency funding and bypasses procurement rules for securing a new water source.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Handheld hose with shut-off nozzle permitted before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. for trees, shrubs, gardens, and food crops. Lawn turf is not exempt..
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
Up to $2,000 per occurrence (second and subsequent violations)
First violations receive a warning. Second and subsequent violations carry fines up to $2,000 per occurrence under the Corpus Christi Water Drought Contingency & Conservation Plan, applicable to all wholesale-customer cities.
Citations begin April 22, 2026 (city disaster declaration); Stage 3 since December 2024🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Texas Property Code §202.007 prohibits HOAs from requiring residents to maintain green lawns in violation of active city water restrictions. HOAs cannot fine residents for brown or dormant lawns during Stage 3 or under the April 22 disaster 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 Aransas Pass Water Department'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
Aransas Pass (population ~8,500) is a Corpus Christi Water wholesale customer via the San Patricio Municipal Water District. The city straddles three counties (San Patricio, Aransas, and Nueces) and serves as the gateway to Mustang Island and Padre Island National Seashore. Stage 3 mandatory restrictions have been in effect since December 2024.
On April 22, 2026, Mayor Jason Knight signed a 7-day emergency disaster declaration in response to the regional water crisis. The declaration (since extended) cites severe drought, declining Lake Corpus Christi + Choke Canyon reservoir levels, and projections that available supply may not meet demand later this year. The order unlocks state emergency funding and bypasses normal procurement rules so the city can secure a new water source. Ingleside (population ~10,500) issued a parallel declaration the same day; together the two San Patricio cities cover roughly 19,000 residents.
Combined Lake Corpus Christi + Choke Canyon storage stood at roughly 7.8 per cent on May 11, 2026. The 2001 TCEQ Agreed Order triggers Stage 3 automatically when combined storage falls below 30 per cent. A Level 1 Water Emergency could be declared as early as September 2026 if significant rainfall does not arrive, which would cap residential customers at 5,250 gallons per month system-wide.
Aransas Pass has a tourism-dependent economy (vacation rentals, fishing charters, sport fishing) plus ConocoPhillips facilities and commercial fishing operations. The April 22 declaration is intended to protect tourism-season supply if Level 1 is declared during peak summer travel.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Aransas Pass area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Aransas Pass Water Restrictions
9 tips tailored for Aransas Pass homeowners during Stage 3 Mandatory + Local Disaster Declaration (April 22, 2026) restrictions.
Stage 3 bans all lawn irrigation in Aransas Pass. St. Augustine and Bermuda both survive 4-6 weeks dormant; allow browning rather than stress-watering.
Handheld hose with shut-off nozzle is permitted before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. for trees, shrubs, gardens, and food crops. Prioritise mature trees over ornamental beds.
Coastal salt-tolerant natives (Gulf muhly, beach sunflower, lantana, palmetto) handle Stage 3 better than introduced ornamentals.
Install a rain barrel: captured rainwater is unrestricted at every stage and is the most reliable source under Stage 3.
Sandy coastal soils drain fast: when watering trees, water deeply and mulch with 2-3 inches of wood chip.
Vacation rental owners: track the proposed 5,250 gallon Level 1 cap is per household, not per stay. High turnover guests can push usage above the cap quickly during peak season.
Skip fertiliser and aeration through summer. Both accelerate lawn decline under Stage 3 conditions.
Convert ornamental turf to gravel paths, decomposed granite, or salt-tolerant Gulf Coast natives.
Monitor aptx.gov and stage3.cctexas.com weekly. The Aransas Pass disaster declaration extends until further notice and may escalate if Level 1 is triggered system-wide.
Aransas Pass Water Restriction FAQs
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