Salt Lake City Water Restrictions 2026
Salt Lake County · Utah
Published:
Restrictions Active - Stage 2 Drought Advisory
2
Days/Week
Before 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
No mandatory fines yet
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
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| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Odd | Monday & Thursday |
| Even | Tuesday & Friday |
Allowed Watering Hours
No outdoor watering between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Voluntary conservation, the Mayor is requesting a 30-gallon-per-household-per-day reduction.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any day before 10:00 AM or after 6:00 PM.
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
No mandatory fines yet
Salt Lake City has not yet implemented mandatory fines under Stage 2. Voluntary compliance is strongly encouraged. Escalation to Stage 3 would bring enforceable penalties.
Citations begin March 19, 2026🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Utah law (SB 152, 2022) prohibits HOAs from penalizing homeowners for replacing turf with water-wise landscaping.
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 Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities'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
Salt Lake City issued a Stage 2 Drought Advisory on March 19, 2026, as 98% of Utah remains in drought and the 2025–2026 snowpack hit record lows across the Wasatch Range. The city’s primary water sources, Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, Parleys, and City Creek, are all fed by mountain snowmelt that is tracking at historic lows. The Great Salt Lake continues to shrink, exposing toxic lakebed dust and underscoring the urgency of reducing water consumption region-wide. SLC offers free sprinkler evaluations from May through August to help residents maximize efficiency.
March 19, 2026 declaration: Mayor Erin Mendenhall called for a reduction of 10 million gallons per day under Stage 2. Stage 2 is currently voluntary for residents, City facilities are required to stay within irrigation budgets, but residential fines have not been implemented. Escalation to Stage 3 would bring mandatory enforcement and fines. Utah's snowpack peaked on March 9 at 8.4 inches, about half of normal and the lowest ever recorded. Salt Lake City recommends waiting until May to start sprinkler systems.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Salt Lake City area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Salt Lake City Water Restrictions
8 tips tailored for Salt Lake City homeowners during Stage 2 Drought Advisory restrictions.
Sign up for SLC’s free sprinkler evaluation (May–August) to identify leaks and overspray before peak watering season.
Raise your mower blade to 3–3.5 inches; taller Kentucky Bluegrass develops deeper roots and tolerates drought stress better.
Water between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM when evaporation is lowest in Utah’s arid climate.
Convert parking strips to water-wise landscaping using the Localscapes approach promoted by Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District.
Apply a slow-release potassium fertilizer in early fall to strengthen roots without stimulating water-hungry top growth.
Use a cycle-and-soak method: run each irrigation zone for 5 minutes, wait 30 minutes, then repeat to prevent runoff on Utah’s clay soils.
Aerate your lawn in early fall to break up compacted clay soil and improve water infiltration on your limited watering days.
Add 2–3 inches of wood chip mulch around trees and shrubs to reduce soil temperature and retain moisture.
Salt Lake City Water Restriction FAQs
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