Lawn by Season
Voluntary Conservation - Statewide Drought

Holladay Water Restrictions 2026

Salt Lake County · Utah

Published:

Voluntary Conservation - Statewide Drought

No assigned schedule

Voluntary conservation

No mandatory hour restrictions; the City recommends watering between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. to limit evaporation

Allowed Hours

No fines

Voluntary, no penalties

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
All addressesNo mandatory schedule; voluntary 2-day-per-week recommendation under Utah statewide drought and SLC Stage 2 spillover
Want an email when Holladay'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

No mandatory hour restrictions; the City recommends watering between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. to limit evaporation

Holladay does not run a city-operated water utility and has not issued mandatory hour restrictions. Conservation messaging is voluntary and is coordinated through whichever supplier serves your address: Holliday Water Company, Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, or Mount Olympus Improvement District. Because the service area is genuinely fragmented street by street in this eastern Salt Lake County suburb, two neighbors on the same block can receive different bills, different rate tiers, and different conservation notices. Check your most recent water bill to confirm which utility you pay before calling about a restriction question.

Still Allowed

💧 Hand Watering

Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is permitted any day under voluntary conservation.

🌿 Drip Irrigation

Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.

Fines & Enforcement

No fines under voluntary conservation

Holladay City has not adopted a water-waste ordinance with civil penalties; enforcement of any future mandatory stage would fall to the utility that serves the address (Holliday Water Company, SLC Public Utilities, or Mount Olympus Improvement District), each of which has its own rate schedule and surcharge structure.

🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions

Under the Utah Community Association Act (Utah Code Title 57, Chapter 8a), an HOA in Holladay may not prohibit a homeowner from installing water-efficient or drought-tolerant landscaping, and may not penalize a homeowner for drought-stressed turf during a declared state or local drought. HOAs may still set reasonable design standards. Holladay's large-lot character means many properties sit inside HOAs with detailed landscape covenants, so confirm in writing before tearing out turf.

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 Multi-utility service area: Holliday Water Company. 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

Governor Spencer Cox announced in late April 2026 that 100 percent of Utah is now in drought, with statewide snowpack at roughly 60 percent of normal and a peak that arrived three weeks early on March 9. The Governor's executive order mandates a 10 percent water-use reduction at state facilities and signals that an emergency drought declaration is imminent. The Utah Division of Water Resources has labeled the 2025-2026 winter one of the worst on record for Wasatch Front water supply.

That statewide picture lands directly on top of Salt Lake City's own Stage 2 Drought Response, which Mayor Erin Mendenhall declared on March 19, 2026, the first Stage 2 advisory since October 2022. Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities is targeting a 10 million-gallon-per-day reduction across its retail and wholesale service area. The reduction is mandatory for city facilities but voluntary for residential and commercial customers, and SLC DPU's wholesale role means its conservation messaging reaches portions of Holladay served through that connection.

Holladay's specific situation is unusual: it is an affluent eastern Salt Lake County suburb of roughly 32,000 residents, but it does not operate its own municipal water utility. Instead, water service is split among Holliday Water Company (a private mutual based at 1887 East 4500 South), Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities (serving portions of Holladay directly and others wholesale), and Mount Olympus Improvement District (handling water-related infrastructure and sewer in much of the city). Which utility bills a given parcel depends on the street address and the historic boundary lines drawn long before Holladay incorporated in 1999. Large lots, half-acre and acre parcels are common east of Highland Drive, drive significantly higher outdoor watering demand than the SLC County average.

The Wasatch Front broadly is entering summer 2026 with reservoirs that look healthy on paper but with stream-flow forecasts running 50-60 percent of normal across the canyons that feed the Salt Lake County system. Because Holladay sits at the base of Mount Olympus and the Cottonwood drainages, it benefits from canyon water that is now in clear short supply for the season ahead.

Rainfall Deficit: Wasatch Front snowpack peaked at roughly 60 percent of normal on March 9, 2026, about three weeks earlier than the typical April 1 peak; stream-flow forecasts for the Cottonwood drainages serving Holladay are running 50-60 percent of normal.

This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Holladay area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are below seasonal targets, prompting regional voluntary conservation guidance.

How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Holladay Water Restrictions

11 tips tailored for Holladay homeowners during Voluntary Conservation - Statewide Drought restrictions.

Check your water bill first: Holliday Water Company, Salt Lake City Public Utilities, or Mount Olympus Improvement District - conservation rebates and rate tiers differ by provider even on the same Holladay block.

Cool-season Kentucky bluegrass dominates Holladay lawns; raise your mower to 3.5-4 inches to shade roots through the dry Wasatch Front summer.

Take advantage of the half-acre and larger lots common east of Highland Drive by converting park-strip and side-yard turf to Localscapes-style waterwise zones; the Utah Division of Water Resources offers per-square-foot rebates.

Install a smart controller; Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District and Utah Water Savers offer rebates that Holladay residents on most local utilities qualify for.

Skip the spring fertilizer push in 2026; feeding turf at 60 percent snowpack forces growth the soil cannot support.

Cycle and soak: split each watering into two or three short bursts 30 minutes apart so the heavier soils common in Holladay's east-bench neighborhoods can absorb without runoff.

Audit your sprinklers in May before the heat sets in; misaligned heads on long Holladay driveways and circular drives are a top source of wasted water.

Mulch tree wells with 3-4 inches of bark; established Wasatch Front shade trees outrank turf in any drought triage.

Catch shower warm-up water in a 5-gallon bucket for tree wells and container plantings, a habit that genuinely scales on larger Holladay lots.

Check water-restrictions guidance from your specific provider before installing new sod; Holliday Water Company in particular has signaled tighter tier pricing through 2035.

Report visible leaks at city facilities, parks, or right-of-way to Holladay City at 801-272-9450 even though the city does not run the water utility; they coordinate with the responsible provider.

Holladay Water Restriction FAQs

What days can I water my lawn in Holladay?
Under Voluntary Conservation - Statewide Drought, Holladay does not have an assigned-day schedule. You may water any day of the week, though the utility encourages voluntary reduction to reduce outdoor use during drought conditions.
What hours can I run my sprinklers in Holladay?
Under voluntary conservation, Holladay has no mandatory hour restrictions. The utility recommends watering in the early morning or evening to reduce evaporation, but no citations apply under voluntary conservation.
What are the fines for water violations in Holladay?
Holladay City has not adopted a water-waste ordinance with civil penalties; enforcement of any future mandatory stage would fall to the utility that serves the address (Holliday Water Company, SLC Public Utilities, or Mount Olympus Improvement District), each of which has its own rate schedule and surcharge structure. The Multi-utility service area: Holliday Water Company (private mutual, primary provider in central Holladay), Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities (portions), and Mount Olympus Improvement District (sewer and some water-related infrastructure); which utility bills your address depends on the specific street and sub-neighborhood and local Salt Lake 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 Holladay during restrictions?
No mandatory new-lawn permit under voluntary conservation; Holladay residents installing new sod or seed in 2026 are strongly encouraged to delay establishment until fall or to choose water-wise alternatives such as buffalograss, tall fescue blends, or Localscapes-style designs promoted by the Utah Division of Water Resources.
When will water restrictions end in Holladay?
The current Voluntary Conservation - Statewide Drought conservation guidance in Holladay is effective from Late April 2026 (Governor Cox statewide drought announcement) Until Utah Division of Water Resources indicates recovery. However, the guidance may be extended if drought conditions persist or eased if significant rainfall improves water supply levels. Monitor the Multi-utility service area: Holliday Water Company (private mutual, primary provider in central Holladay), Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities (portions), and Mount Olympus Improvement District (sewer and some water-related infrastructure); which utility bills your address depends on the specific street and sub-neighborhood website for updates.
How do I find out which water utility actually serves my Holladay address?
Pull your most recent water bill: the provider name and account number are at the top. Holladay is served by at least three providers depending on street and sub-neighborhood: Holliday Water Company (private mutual, 801-277-2893, based at 1887 East 4500 South), Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities (801-483-6900), and Mount Olympus Improvement District (801-262-2904) for water-related infrastructure and sewer in much of the city. If you have never seen a bill (for example, you just moved in), call Holladay City Hall at 801-272-9450.
Are Holladay's water restrictions mandatory or voluntary in 2026?
Voluntary. Holladay City has not adopted a mandatory restriction ordinance and does not operate its own water utility. The statewide context is severe: Governor Cox declared 100 percent of Utah in drought in late April 2026 and ordered a 10 percent reduction at state facilities, and Salt Lake City entered Stage 2 Drought Response on March 19, 2026 with a 10 MGD reduction target, but Stage 2 is voluntary for residential customers. Holladay residents are asked to follow the Utah Division of Water Resources weekly watering guide and to water no more than two days per week in May given current snowpack.
Why does conservation matter more in Holladay than in some neighboring cities?
Holladay is an affluent eastern Salt Lake County suburb of roughly 32,000 residents with notably large residential lots: half-acre and acre parcels are common east of Highland Drive and along the foothills below Mount Olympus. Large lots drive disproportionately high outdoor watering demand, which is exactly the demand the statewide voluntary call is asking residents to scale back. A 10 percent reduction on a one-acre Holladay parcel saves materially more water than the same 10 percent on a quarter-acre lot elsewhere in the valley.
What is the statewide drought picture I keep hearing about?
In late April 2026 Governor Spencer Cox confirmed that 100 percent of Utah is in drought, statewide snowpack peaked at roughly 60 percent of normal on March 9 (about three weeks earlier than the typical April 1 peak), and the Governor's executive order requires a 10 percent water-use reduction at state facilities. The Utah Division of Water Resources has labeled the 2025-2026 winter one of the worst on record for Wasatch Front water supply.
What does the Wasatch Front snowpack situation mean for my lawn this summer?
Holladay sits at the base of Mount Olympus and the Cottonwood drainages, so it benefits from canyon water that is now in clear short supply for the 2026 irrigation season. Practical implications: do not push spring fertilizer at 60 percent snowpack, raise mowing height to 3.5-4 inches, cycle-and-soak rather than single long runs because the heavier east-bench soils run off easily, and prioritize established shade trees over turf if you have to triage.

Get alerts for Holladay, Utah

We will email you when Holladay restrictions change – escalations, new stages, or lifted restrictions.

No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.

Share with your neighbors in Holladay
Sharing: “Holladay, UT water restrictions: voluntary conservation under Voluntary Conserva...”

Other Utah 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.

Add Your Comment

0/1000

Comments are reviewed before publishing. Your email is not collected.

Get alerted when restrictions change

Free email alerts for your city – know before you water.

No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.