Belton Water Restrictions 2026
Bell County · Texas
Published:
Restrictions Active - Stage 1 Mandatory – BRA Drought Watch
2
Days/Week
Before 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
Civil penalties under City of Belton ordinance
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
Enter the last digit of your street address:
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| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Odd | Tuesday & Saturday |
| Even | Wednesday & Sunday |
Allowed Watering Hours
Belton Stage 1 mandatory rules limit outdoor irrigation to 2 days per week by address parity with no daytime watering between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Odd addresses water Tuesdays and Saturdays; even Wednesdays and Sundays. Drip irrigation and hand watering with a shut-off nozzle are permitted in the same windows. Properties on private wells are exempt from the Stage 1 schedule; only municipal water customers are covered.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any day with a hand-held hose fitted with a shut-off nozzle, before 10:00 AM or after 6:00 PM..
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
Civil penalties under City of Belton ordinance
City of Belton Public Works enforces under the Belton Drought Contingency Plan. Warnings on first observation, citations on subsequent violations. Reports via 254-933-5826.
Citations begin Late March 2026 (BRA declaration)🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Texas Property Code §202.007 prohibits HOAs from fining homeowners for brown or dormant lawns caused by complying with mandatory water restrictions. HOAs also cannot prohibit drought-tolerant xeriscaping.
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 Belton Public Works'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
Belton, the Bell County seat (founded 1850), population approximately 25,000, sits adjacent to its namesake reservoir, Lake Belton, the Brazos River Authority (BRA) impoundment on the Leon River that supplies drinking water to most of Bell County. The geographic proximity is historically significant: Belton was here before the dam was built (1954), and the city has a direct stake in reservoir health.
The BRA placed 9 of its 11 reservoirs under Stage 1 Drought Watch in late March 2026 due to below-average winter rainfall. Lake Belton is among the affected reservoirs, triggering Stage 1 outdoor watering rules across all Bell County municipal water systems. Belton is home to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB), the historic 1884 Bell County Courthouse, and the Bell County Expo Center; the Miller Springs Nature Center on the south shore of Lake Belton offers a visible vantage on reservoir levels. Stage 1 covers municipal water customers; Lake Belton recreational uses (boating, fishing, swimming) are not restricted by the Stage 1 watering schedule, though boat ramps may be affected by low water levels in extended drought.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Belton area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Belton Water Restrictions
10 tips tailored for Belton homeowners during Stage 1 Mandatory – BRA Drought Watch restrictions.
Lake Belton is right next to you, but the reservoir is the binding supply, proximity does not exempt residential lots.
Odd Tue/Sat, Even Wed/Sun, set automatic controllers to morning (before 10 AM) or evening (after 6 PM) windows.
Private well owners are exempt, only municipal customers follow Stage 1.
Bermuda dominates Belton lawns; mow at 1.5 to 2 inches and water deeply twice per week on assigned days.
Cycle-and-soak on Bell County clay-loam and caliche soils: 6 minutes on, 30 minutes off, 6 minutes on.
UMHB campus landscape follows the same Stage 1 plan; institutional facilities are not exempt.
Bell County Courthouse historic landscape follows Stage 1, county-maintained sites comply visibly.
Apply for a new-sod variance through City of Belton Public Works before installing.
Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is allowed any day in morning/evening windows, prioritise mature live oaks and pecans.
Monitor beltontexas.gov and brazos.org for Stage 2 escalation if Lake Belton drops further.
Belton Water Restriction FAQs
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When will water restrictions end in Belton?
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