Seattle WA Water Restrictions 2026
King County· Washington
Voluntary
Days/Week
Before 9 a.m. / After 6 p.m.
Recommended Hours
None
Fines (2026)
Seattle Public Utilities planned for drought conditions early in winter 2026 and does NOT anticipate supply impacts for customers in 2026. Washington state declared a statewide drought emergency on April 8, 2026 — its fourth consecutive year, a record under the current drought framework — but that declaration does not trigger mandatory restrictions for SPU customers. SPU serves its customers from the Cedar and Tolt River watersheds, which have adequate storage and senior water rights. Voluntary conservation is encouraged to help the broader state.
Current Status
Seattle Public Utilities has not declared mandatory restrictions. The utility planned ahead for the 2026 drought by refilling its mountain reservoirs earlier than normal, and Chester Morse Lake (SPU’s primary storage) is currently 0.8 feet higher than the seasonal norm. Customers will not face mandatory watering schedules in 2026, though SPU requests voluntary reductions in outdoor use to help the broader state response. Monitor seattle.gov/utilities if summer turns unusually dry.
Why the 2026 Drought Matters for Seattle
Washington’s 2026 drought is a snow drought. The 2025–26 winter was the warmest December on record in Washington, causing precipitation to fall as rain rather than accumulate as mountain snowpack. Seattle’s watersheds in the protected Cedar and Tolt River basins have excellent natural storage and senior water rights, insulating SPU customers from the acute shortages facing eastern Washington and the Yakima Basin. The statewide emergency declaration primarily unlocks $3 million in response grants and expedites emergency water right permits for the hardest-hit areas — it does not trigger restrictions on SPU customers.
Voluntary Conservation Guidance
SPU requests all customers voluntarily reduce outdoor water use in 2026 to help the broader state. Seattle’s overcast climate means lawns need far less supplemental irrigation than Colorado or Florida, and 2026 is a good year to skip most summer watering entirely.
- SPU requests all customers voluntarily reduce outdoor water use in 2026.
- Water lawns before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m. to reduce evaporation when you do water.
- Seattle lawns are mostly cool-season grass — don’t turn on sprinklers before May when grass is actively growing.
- Seattle’s overcast climate means lawns need far less supplemental irrigation than Colorado or Florida — a good year to skip June watering.
- Seattle Public Utilities offers rebates for smart irrigation controllers — check seattle.gov/utilities for current programmes.
- Monitor seattle.gov/utilities for any change in status if summer turns dry.
HOA Protection in Seattle
Washington HOA law (RCW 64.38.027) prohibits HOAs from enforcing rules that would require homeowners to violate a state or local water restriction order. With Washington’s statewide drought emergency declared April 8, 2026, HOA fines for brown or drought-tolerant lawns are explicitly protected under state law. Keep a copy of the Department of Ecology’s statewide emergency declaration and any local utility guidance to present to your HOA board if needed.