Orem Water Restrictions 2026
Utah County · Utah
Published:
Restrictions Active - Year-Round Ordinance + 2026 Drought Advisory
2
Days/Week
Before 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
Warning first; escalating fines per Orem 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
Orem operates a year-round 2-day-per-week ordinance that mirrors neighboring Provo. Odd addresses water Monday and Thursday; even addresses water Tuesday and Friday. No watering between 10 AM and 6 PM any day. Drip irrigation, soaker hoses, and hand watering with a shut-off nozzle are permitted any time. Orem also participates in turf-trade rebate programs via Utah Water Savers ($1.25–$3 per sq ft).
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 first; escalating fines per Orem ordinance
First offence: written warning. Repeat offences escalate per the Orem city water-conservation ordinance. Enforcement intensifies during 2026 drought advisory.
Citations begin Year-round (advisory active 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 Orem City 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
Orem operates a year-round 2-day-per-week ordinance that mirrors neighboring Provo. With Utah's snowpack at record lows in 2025–2026 and Utah Lake dropping to critically low levels, Orem has emphasized drought advisory enforcement. Orem draws water from a mix of Provo River sources and mountain springs fed by Wasatch Range snowpack, both at historic lows.
Mandatory Year-Round rules (with 2026 advisory)
- 2 days/week schedule based on address (Odd Mon/Thu, Even Tue/Fri)
- No watering between 10am and 6pm any day
- Drip irrigation, soaker hoses, hand watering with shut-off nozzle: allowed any time
- Orem also participates in turf-trade rebate programs via Utah Water Savers
- Orem's Utah County clay soils benefit from cycle-and-soak: run each zone 5 minutes, wait 30 minutes, then repeat to prevent runoff
Orem is the 5th largest city in Utah (pop ~98K) and a Provo neighbor, water demand from rapid Utah County growth has pushed system limits. Utah Lake is at critically low levels, threatening downstream irrigation rights. Utah law SB 152 (2022) protects HOA brown-lawn fines for water-wise landscaping. Monitor orem.org for updates.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Orem area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Orem Water Restrictions
10 tips tailored for Orem homeowners during Year-Round Ordinance + 2026 Drought Advisory restrictions.
Orem 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 orem.org weekly. Stage updates are typically posted within 24 hours of utility-board decisions.
Orem Water Restriction FAQs
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