Spokane Water Restrictions 2026 – Lawn Watering Days, Hours & Fines
Spokane County · Washington
Washington declared a statewide drought emergency on April 8, 2026, the fourth consecutive year all or part of the state has been under a drought declaration. The Washington State Department of Ecology, under Director Casey Sixkiller, found every watershed in the state below the 75% legal drought threshold. The City of Spokane sits in the Spokane River watershed in Eastern Washington, an area particularly affected by below-normal precipitation and the cumulative impact of recent droughts. Spokane’s local Drought Response Ordinance, described below, runs every summer and is triggered by Spokane River flow rather than by the statewide declaration.
4
Days/Week (L1)
Before 10 a.m. / After 6 p.m.
Allowed Hours
$0
Honor System 2026
Washington declared a statewide drought emergency on April 8, 2026— and in Spokane, water restrictions are already built into law. The city’s Drought Response Measures Ordinance, passed in 2022 and active every year from June 1 through October 1, has two levels of restriction.
Level 1 kicks in automatically every summer. Level 2 activates when the Spokane River drops below 1,000 cubic feet per second — a threshold now widely expected to be triggered earlier than usual in 2026 given the worst spring snowpack since at least 1987.
Here is everything Spokane residents need to know about their watering schedule, assigned days, banned hours, and what the Level 2 trigger means for lawns.
Spokane’s Two-Tier Ordinance Explained
Spokane City Council passed the Drought Response Measures Ordinance in 2022. It applies to all Spokane water customers — residential, commercial, and multi-family — every year from June 1 to October 1.
LEVEL 1 (automatic, every summer Jun 1 – Oct 1):
- No outdoor watering 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Maximum 4 days per week
- Suggested odd/even schedule:
- Odd addresses (ends in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9): Tue / Thu / Sat
- Even addresses (ends in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8): Wed / Fri / Sun
Note: the 4-day limit is mandatory; the specific day schedule is a suggestion. Homeowners may choose any 4 days that fit their schedule.
LEVEL 2 (declared drought — when Spokane River falls below 1,000 CFS at USGS Lower Crossing):
- No outdoor watering 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Maximum 2 days per week
- Maximum 2 hours total per watering day
- No water used to clean hardscapes: sidewalks, driveways, decks, or patios
- Exemptions: trees, newly planted landscapes, vegetable gardens, wildfire risk mitigation
When Will Level 2 Be Triggered in 2026?
The Spokane River trigger is data-driven. You can track it in real time on the USGS National Water Dashboard (waterdata.usgs.gov).
In 2023, the river fell below 1,000 CFS on July 24, triggering Level 2 for the first time the ordinance was ever activated. In 2026, with statewide snowpack at 52% of normal and the state drought declared April 8, water managers expect an earlier trigger — possibly early-to-mid July rather than late July.
The formal Level 2 declaration requires either the Mayor or a majority of City Council to issue a drought emergency. Monitor spokanecity.org/publicworks/water for official status.
What this means practically: plan your lawn care under Level 1 rules now (4 days/week), and prepare to shift to Level 2 rules (2 days/week) by mid-July if the river flows confirm the forecast.
Your Watering Schedule by Address
LEVEL 1 SCHEDULE (Jun 1 – until Level 2 declared)
Watering window: before 10 a.m. OR after 6 p.m.
Max 4 days per week
ODD addresses (1, 3, 5, 7, 9)
Suggested: Tue / Thu / Sat + one additional day of your choice (avoid Sunday for water system balance)
EVEN addresses (0, 2, 4, 6, 8)
Suggested: Wed / Fri / Sun + one additional day of your choice
IMPORTANT: The city’s suggestion is not legally binding on which specific days you water. Only the 4-day-per-week limit and the 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. blackout are mandatory.
LEVEL 2 SCHEDULE (after Spokane River drought emergency declared)
- Max 2 days per week (Spokane suggests using 2 of the 3 odd/even days)
- Max 2 hours total per watering day
- Same blackout: no watering 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Hardscape washing banned (driveways, sidewalks, decks, patios)
EXEMPTIONS (both Level 1 and Level 2)
- Trees— allowed any day/time (deep root care)
- Newly planted landscapes— daily for 30 days
- Vegetable gardens— allowed any day/time
- Wildfire risk mitigation— allowed any day
Fines and Enforcement
Spokane’s ordinance currently does not carry financial penalties. The City Council explicitly built in a grace period of at least two summers for education before any enforcement consequences. As of 2026, violations are handled as an honor system — no fines for Level 1 or Level 2 violations.
This is notably different from Florida and Colorado restrictions, which carry active citation programs.
However, the absence of fines does not mean the restrictions are optional. The ordinance is law, and the city has stated enforcement mechanisms could be added as the program matures.
Spokane also prohibits HOAs from fining residents for brown lawns during declared drought restrictions under Washington state law (RCW 64.38.027).
Spokane’s Grass Type & Drought Reality
Spokane’s dominant lawn grass is Kentucky Bluegrass, which naturally goes dormant brown in summer when temperatures exceed 85°F consistently. With Spokane averaging 26 days above 90°F in a typical summer, brown KBG lawns are normal — not dead.
Survival watering for KBG:½ inch per 14 days during dormancy keeps crowns alive. Given Level 2 limits of 2 days/week at 2 hours each, most homeowners can achieve this survival amount easily.
What Spokane homeowners are increasingly planting:
- Tall Fescue: better drought tolerance than KBG, deeper roots, stays greener longer.
- Drought-tolerant grass mixes:Buffalo grass, Blue Grama — promoted by Spokane’s SpokaneScape lawn replacement rebate program.
- Xeriscape: Spokane offers design resources and rebates for native and drought-tolerant plantings through Water Wise Spokane (waterwise@spokanecity.org).
Survive the 2026 Drought in Spokane
Practical numbers for Spokane’s Level 2 scenario.
Water amount needed to survive: ½ inch per 14 days. On a 2 days/week Level 2 schedule, apply ¼ inch each allowed day = survival achieved.
How to measure:Place a tuna can on the lawn. Stop the sprinkler when it contains ¼ inch. For a typical oscillating sprinkler, this takes roughly 10–12 minutes.
Mow at 4 inches.Taller than usual for Spokane lawns — but essential. Tall grass shades the soil, reducing evaporation by 30–40% between watering days.
Do NOT fertilize dormant grass. Do NOT aerate. Do NOT dethatch. Wait until fall when restrictions lift and the lawn has been actively green for 3 weeks.
Free sprinkler system check-up: Spokane Water Wise offers free inspections at 509-625-7800.