Lawn by Season
Stage 4 Drought - SSLGC Most Severe

Cibolo Water Restrictions 2026

Guadalupe County · Texas

Published:

Restrictions Active - Stage 4 Drought - SSLGC Most Severe

0.5

Days/Week

6:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Allowed Hours

$500 first violation; $2,000 + service disconnect possible

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 LocationWatering Day
Cibolo A/B group bi-weekly rotationOnce every 14 days, check cibolotx.gov for your group
Want an email when Cibolo's rules change?
Reset Your Sprinkler Timer
  1. Press and hold the left arrow button for 2 seconds to enter programming mode
  2. Set current day and time first
  3. Set start time to your allowed hour (e.g. 8:00 PM)
  4. Set run time per zone (15–25 minutes for most lawns)
  5. Set watering days to your assigned day ONLY - deselect all others

Allowed Watering Hours

6:00 AM – 10:00 AM8:00 PM – 10:00 PM

SSLGC Stage 4 (most restrictive in Texas): outdoor irrigation is limited to ONCE every 14 days. SSLGC uses an A/B group bi-weekly rotation, check your city's website for your assigned group and day. Watering is permitted only 6:00–10:00 AM and 8:00–10:00 PM on your assigned day. Commercial car washes must use water-recycle systems. No new landscape installations. Pool refilling is prohibited without variance. Drip irrigation: assigned day only. Hand watering with a shut-off hose is still permitted any day.

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

$500 first violation; $2,000 + service disconnect possible

SSLGC Stage 4 enforcement: $500 first-violation fine; $2,000 plus possible service disconnect for repeat offences. Patrols active throughout Schertz, Cibolo, and Universal City service areas.

Citations begin Stage 4 active 2026

🏠 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 current restriction order from City of Cibolo. 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

Cibolo is a fast-growing Guadalupe County city sharing the Schertz Seguin Local Government Corporation (SSLGC) water supply. SSLGC has declared Stage 4, the most severe contingency stage, affecting Cibolo, Schertz, and Universal City. Cibolo grew over 60% in the past decade, putting outdoor water demand at unprecedented levels just as the aquifer entered prolonged stress.

Stage 4 critical rules (mirror Schertz)

  • Outdoor irrigation: ONCE every 14 days
  • Hours: 6–10 AM or 8–10 PM only
  • Commercial car wash recycling required
  • No new sod or lawn installations
  • Pool refills require variance
  • Drip irrigation: assigned day only
  • Hand watering with shut-off hose: any day

Cibolo is on the I-35 corridor between San Antonio and Austin, putting it at the epicenter of Texas's fastest-growing water-stressed region. Texas Property Code § 202.007 protects HOA brown-lawn fines.

Monitor cibolotx.gov/water for stage updates.

Rainfall Deficit: Edwards Aquifer J-17 index well at 625.9 ft (640 ft = Stage 3 exit; 630 ft = Stage 4 trigger). Hill Country in worst sustained drought since the 1950s drought of record.

This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Cibolo area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.

How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Cibolo Water Restrictions

10 tips tailored for Cibolo homeowners during Stage 4 Drought - SSLGC Most Severe restrictions.

Cibolo 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 cibolotx.gov/water for your city's current stage. Stage 5 (44% pumping cut) becomes possible if J-17 drops below 625 ft.

Cibolo Water Restriction FAQs

What days can I water my lawn in Cibolo?
Your watering day in Cibolo depends on your property location. Cibolo A/B group bi-weekly rotation can water on Once every 14 days, check cibolotx.gov for your group. You are limited to 0.5 days per week during the current Stage 4 Drought - SSLGC Most Severe restrictions.
What hours can I run my sprinklers in Cibolo?
Under the current restrictions, sprinkler irrigation in Cibolo is only allowed during the following hours: 6:00 AM – 10:00 AM, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM. SSLGC Stage 4 (most restrictive in Texas): outdoor irrigation is limited to ONCE every 14 days. SSLGC uses an A/B group bi-weekly rotation, check your city's website for your assigned group and day. Watering is permitted only 6:00–10:00 AM and 8:00–10:00 PM on your assigned day. Commercial car washes must use water-recycle systems. No new landscape installations. Pool refilling is prohibited without variance. Drip irrigation: assigned day only. Hand watering with a shut-off hose is still permitted any day. Watering outside these hours, even on your scheduled day, is a violation and may result in a citation.
What are the fines for water violations in Cibolo?
SSLGC Stage 4 enforcement: $500 first-violation fine; $2,000 plus possible service disconnect for repeat offences. Patrols active throughout Schertz, Cibolo, and Universal City service areas. The City of Cibolo (SSLGC service) and local Guadalupe County enforcement officers conduct patrols and respond to complaints. Keep your irrigation timer set to your assigned day and hours to avoid citations.
Can I install new sod or seed in Cibolo during restrictions?
All new sod and lawn installations are prohibited during SSLGC Stage 4. Variance may be available for newly built homes, contact your city before scheduling installation.
When will water restrictions end in Cibolo?
The current Stage 4 Drought - SSLGC Most Severe restrictions in Cibolo are effective from Stage 4 active 2026 Until Edwards Aquifer J-17 + Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer return to normal. However, the restrictions may be extended if drought conditions persist or eased if significant rainfall improves water supply levels. Monitor the City of Cibolo (SSLGC service) website for updates.

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