Cedar City Water Restrictions 2026
Iron County · Utah
Published:
Restrictions Active - Stage 2 - Central Iron Aquifer Stressed
2
Days/Week
Before 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
Warning + $50 first violation; $200+ escalating per Cedar City ordinance
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
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| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Odd addresses | Monday & Thursday |
| Even addresses | Tuesday & Friday |
Allowed Watering Hours
Cedar City Stage 2 mandatory: 2 days/week (odd Mon/Thu, even Tue/Fri), no watering 10 AM – 6 PM any day. Drip irrigation, soaker hoses, and hand watering with a shut-off nozzle are unrestricted. New sod and seed installations require variance. Cedar Valley aquifer has been declining 1–2 feet per year for decades due to irrigation overdraft, agricultural curtailment may extend to municipal customers if conditions worsen.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Hand watering with a shut-off hose is permitted any day, any time outside the 10 AM – 6 PM blackout window for landscape plants, trees, shrubs, and food crops..
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
Warning + $50 first violation; $200+ escalating per Cedar City ordinance
First-violation $50 fine plus written warning. Repeat offences escalate to $200+ per the Cedar City conservation ordinance.
Citations begin Spring 2026🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Utah law SB 152 (2022) prohibits HOAs from penalizing homeowners for replacing turf with water-wise landscaping (xeriscape, Localscapes-style designs, or drought-tolerant native plants). Document compliance with your city's drought ordinance if your HOA contests a dormant or converted lawn during the 2026 restriction period.
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 Cedar City Public Works. 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
Cedar City sits in the Cedar Valley basin of Iron County and is served jointly by Cedar City Public Works and the Central Iron County Water Conservancy District (CICWCD). Cedar City's water supply is entirely groundwater from the Cedar Valley aquifer, which has been declining by 1–2 feet per year for decades due to irrigation overdraft. Stage 2 mandatory restrictions reflect both the 2026 drought severity and chronic aquifer depletion.
Mandatory rules
- 2 days/week (Odd Mon/Thu, Even Tue/Fri)
- No watering 10am–6pm
- Drip irrigation, soaker hoses, hand watering: any time
- New sod/seed installations: variance required
- Cedar City participates in CICWCD aquifer management studies, agricultural curtailment may extend to municipal customers if conditions worsen
Cedar City is the home of Southern Utah University and a base for nearby tourism (Brian Head ski area, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Iron County events). Outdoor water demand from a high-altitude semi-arid climate (USDA Zone 6a, ~5,800 ft elevation) is significant in summer. Utah law SB 152 (2022) protects HOA brown-lawn fines for water-wise landscaping. Monitor cedarcity.org and cicwcd.com for updates.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Cedar City area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Cedar City Water Restrictions
10 tips tailored for Cedar City homeowners during Stage 2 - Central Iron Aquifer Stressed restrictions.
Cedar City is in Utah's high-desert/semi-arid climate, Kentucky Bluegrass and Tall Fescue dominate the Wasatch Front but both go semi-dormant in summer drought stress and recover with autumn moisture.
Cycle-and-soak (5 min run, 30 min rest, repeat) is essential on Salt Lake Valley and Cache Valley clay soils to prevent runoff during the brief allowed cycles. Cedar Valley sandier soils accept water faster.
Mow Kentucky Bluegrass and Tall Fescue at 90 mm (3.5 inches) or above through summer to shade soil and reduce evapotranspiration during peak heat with restricted watering.
Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is permitted at every stage, prioritise mature trees and high-value shrubs over turf.
Apply for Utah Water Savers turf-replacement rebates ($1.25–$3 per square foot depending on utility), Localscapes-style conversions cut long-term water demand by 40–60%.
Skip nitrogen fertiliser June–August, it forces growth the lawn cannot support during peak heat with restricted watering.
Outdoor irrigation accounts for 79% of all Utah water use, every minute of waste matters during a 2026 drought of this severity.
Drip irrigation, soaker hoses, and rain barrels are unrestricted at every Utah drought stage, use them for vegetable beds and ornamentals.
USU Extension (extension.usu.edu) publishes a Utah lawn-watering guide with calibration instructions specific to your county's soils and elevation.
Monitor cedarcity.org weekly. Stage updates are typically posted within 24 hours of utility-board decisions.
Cedar City Water Restriction FAQs
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