Kerrville Water Restrictions 2026
Kerr County · Texas
Published:
Restrictions Active - Stage 3 Drought - Upper Guadalupe Basin
1
Day/Week
Midnight – 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
$50 first violation; $500 escalating
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
Kerrville Stage 3 mandatory rules: outdoor irrigation is limited to 1 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 midnight–10:00 AM or 8:00 PM–midnight on your assigned day. No weekend sprinkler irrigation. Washing impervious surfaces (driveways, sidewalks) is prohibited. No charity car washes, commercial only. Pool refilling requires a variance. Drip irrigation and soaker hoses are assigned-day only.
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
$50 first violation; $500 escalating
Kerrville issues a $50 first-violation fine; repeat offences escalate to $500 per violation. The city responds to complaints submitted via 3-1-1 and conducts active patrols on assigned watering days.
Citations begin Stage 3 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 City of Kerrville 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
Kerrville sits on the Upper Guadalupe River basin and is served by the City of Kerrville Public Works Department. Kerrville's water comes from the Guadalupe River and a network of wells under the Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA) compact. The Hill Country region is in extended drought, the worst since the 1950s drought of record.
Stage 3 mandatory rules
- Outdoor watering: 1 day per week (assigned by address)
- Hours: midnight–10 AM or 8 PM–midnight only
- No washing impervious surfaces (driveways, sidewalks)
- No charity car washes (commercial only)
- Pool refilling requires variance
- Drip irrigation/soaker hoses: assigned day only
Kerrville is the largest city in Kerr County and a popular Hill Country tourism/retirement destination. Texas Property Code § 202.007 prohibits HOA fines for drought-compliant brown lawns.
Monitor kerrvilletx.gov/449/Public-Works for current stage.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Kerrville area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Kerrville Water Restrictions
10 tips tailored for Kerrville homeowners during Stage 3 Drought - Upper Guadalupe Basin restrictions.
Kerrville 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 kerrvilletx.gov/449/Public-Works for your city's current stage. Stage 5 (44% pumping cut) becomes possible if J-17 drops below 625 ft.
Kerrville Water Restriction FAQs
What days can I water my lawn in Kerrville?
What hours can I run my sprinklers in Kerrville?
What are the fines for water violations in Kerrville?
Can I install new sod or seed in Kerrville during restrictions?
When will water restrictions end in Kerrville?
Get alerts for Kerrville, Texas
We will email you when Kerrville restrictions change – escalations, new stages, or lifted restrictions.
No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.
Other Texas 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.