Boerne Water Restrictions 2026
Kendall County · Texas
Published:
Restrictions Active - Stage 4 Drought - Edwards Aquifer Critical
1
Day/Week
7:00 PM – 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
Warning + corrective notice; $500+ municipal court citation
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
Enter the last digit of your street address:
View full address schedule table
| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| 0 or 1 | Monday |
| 2 or 3 | Tuesday |
| 4 or 5 | Wednesday |
| 6 or 7 | Thursday |
| 8 or 9 | Friday |
Allowed Watering Hours
Boerne Stage 4 (stricter than SAWS): outdoor irrigation is limited to ONE assigned day per week based on the last digit of your address (0–1 Mon, 2–3 Tue, 4–5 Wed, 6–7 Thu, 8–9 Fri). Watering is permitted only between 7:00 PM and 10:00 AM (15-hour overnight window). No weekend irrigation with sprinkler systems. Drip irrigation and soaker hoses follow the same assigned day and overnight hours. Hand-held hoses with a shut-off nozzle are permitted any day, any time. Vegetable garden drip irrigation is allowed only on Mon/Wed/Fri. Pool refilling is restricted to once-monthly variance. New lawn installations are prohibited until the drought lifts.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Hand watering with a shut-off hose is permitted any day, any time.
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
Warning + corrective notice; $500+ municipal court citation
First offence: written warning and corrective-action notice from City of Boerne Utilities. Repeat offences carry $500 or higher municipal-court citations. Boerne actively patrols Stage 4 enforcement zones.
Citations begin Stage 4 active 2026 (Stage 3 continuous since June 2024)🏠 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. Document the city's drought ordinance if your HOA challenges a brown lawn.
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 Boerne Utilities'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
Boerne is in Kendall County and draws water from the Edwards Aquifer via the City of Boerne Utilities. The Edwards Aquifer J-17 index well is at 625.9 feet, well below the 640-foot threshold required to exit Stage 3 drought, and approaching Stage 4 (630 ft trigger).
Boerne's local rules are stricter than San Antonio's SAWS
- Outdoor irrigation: 1 day per week (your assigned day based on address last digit)
- Hours: 7 PM to 10 AM ONLY (15-hour overnight window)
- Drip irrigation/soaker hoses: assigned day only, same overnight hours
- Hand-held hose with shut-off nozzle: any day, any time
- Vegetable garden drip: Mon/Wed/Fri only
- Pool refilling restricted to once-monthly variance
- No new lawn installations until drought lifts
Boerne's growth has tripled in 20 years and outdoor water demand is the #1 stress on the aquifer-dependent supply. Texas Property Code § 202.007 prohibits HOAs from fining homeowners for brown lawns when complying with drought restrictions.
Monitor ci.boerne.tx.us/utilities for current stage and updates. Monitor edwardsaquifer.org for J-17 well levels (key trigger).
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Boerne area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Boerne Water Restrictions
10 tips tailored for Boerne homeowners during Stage 4 Drought - Edwards Aquifer Critical restrictions.
Boerne is on a strict aquifer-driven schedule, programme your controller to your assigned day immediately and pad the start time so the cycle ends within the allowed window.
Bermuda and Buffalo Grass tolerate 4–6 weeks of summer dormancy on Hill Country soils, let the lawn brown rather than stress-watering on off days.
Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is unrestricted at every aquifer stage, prioritise mature trees and high-value shrubs over turf.
Cycle-and-soak (e.g. 5 min run, 30 min rest, repeat) is required on Hill Country thin-soil-over-limestone sites to prevent runoff during the brief watering windows.
Drip irrigation and soaker hoses for vegetable beds are typically allowed on assigned days only, read your local stage rules carefully (Hill Country drip rules are stricter than SAWS).
Mow Bermuda at 2–3 inches and St. Augustine at 3.5–4 inches through summer to shade the soil and reduce evapotranspiration.
Texas law (since 2009) requires rain/freeze sensors on all new automatic irrigation systems, verify yours functions to avoid wasted cycles.
Skip nitrogen fertiliser June–September, nitrogen forces growth the lawn cannot support during peak heat with restricted watering.
Convert ornamental turf to native Hill Country plants: Cedar Sage, Texas Sage, Mountain Laurel, and Lantana, water utilities offer rebates.
Monitor edwardsaquifer.org for J-17 well levels and ci.boerne.tx.us/utilities for your city's current stage. Stage 5 (44% pumping cut) becomes possible if J-17 drops below 625 ft.
Boerne Water Restriction FAQs
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