Important Telephone Numbers:

• (813) 275-7094 to hear a recorded message about restrictions
• (813) 272-6680 to call Customer Service
• (813) 224-8993 to report suspected violations

These restrictions do not apply to residents living in the following cities:

• Tampa
• Plant City
• Temple Terrace

If you live in these cities, click on your municipality to view your restrictions.

Unincorporated Hillsborough County
Irrigation of Established Lawns and Landscaping:

The Southwest Florida Water Management District has declared our region to be in a severe water shortage. The following rules are in effect until June 30, 2008. For additional information about the SWFWMD declaration, visit their website at www.swfwmd.st.fl.us

Irrigation of established lawns and landscaping in unincorporated Hillsborough County is allowed one day a week. Follow the watering schedule outlined in the chart below.

These restrictions apply to all water sources including private wells, surface water and utility-provided water. They do not apply to reclaimed water, although these customers are encouraged to use only what they need. Residents who receive their water from the City of Tampa but who live in unincorporated Hillsborough County should follow the county's restrictions.

All irrigation must be accomplished prior to 8:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. Any one zone of a property may only be watered once during the allowable day, NOT both in the morning and again in the evening. The permitted days for watering are as follows:

Irrigation of New Lawns and Landscaping In Unincorporated Hillsborough County outside Tampa City Limits:

Irrigation of new lawns and landscaping is restricted as follows. During the initial thirty (30) days, new lawns and landscaping may be watered any day, but not between the hours of 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Following the initial 30-day period, irrigation of new lawns and landscaping may occur on alternating days for an additional thirty (30) days, with even-numbered addresses on even-numbered dates, and odd-numbered addresses on odd-numbered dates. Following this period all lawns and landscaping are considered established, and must follow the restrictions outlined above.

New plant material must cover at least 50% of an irrigation zone in order to water with an in-ground sprinkler system during the initial establishment period. If not, the new plant material must be hand watered following the same time of day and day of week restrictions for new plant establishment. (Example: If you purchased one flat of grass plugs to place throughout your front yard to fill in bare spots, this would not cover 50% of an irrigation zone. Hand watering would be required.)

Also, only those zones containing 50% new plant material may be watered, not the entire yard. (Example: If you had your entire front yard re-sodded, but not your backyard, only those zones covering the front yard could be run during the establishment period. The back yard zones would have to remain on the regular watering schedule. Most irrigation timers have an A & B program. Program A can be set for the regular watering. Program B can be programmed for multiple days to only water those zones containing the new plant material during the establishment period.

Low Volume Irrigation:

Low volume irrigation is defined as a maximum of 30 gallons per hour, per emitter. Low volume irrigation is not approved for lawns or turfgrass. Low volume irrigation of plant materials other than lawns and grass is not restricted as to days or hours, however must not be wasteful and unnecessary.

Hand Watering:

Hand watering of plant material other than lawns and grass is not subject to day and time of day restrictions. However, such use may not be wasteful and unnecessary. Hand watering of lawns and grass may only occur during the designated day and time for irrigation of established lawns and landscaping at that address. A hose-end sprinkler placed in the yard is not considered hand watering and is subject to the same restrictions as an in-ground sprinkler system.

Reclaimed Wastewater:

The use of reclaimed wastewater is not restricted, however its use must not be wasteful and unnecessary.

Irrigation System Maintenance:

Irrigation systems may be operated during restricted hours for cleaning and maintenance purposes, but limited to ten (10) minutes per zone per week. An attendant must remain visibly on site during the entire cleaning and maintenance operation.

Automatic Rain Sensing Shut-off Device:

All landscape irrigation systems must be equipped with a rain sensor device or switch that will override the irrigation cycle of the sprinkler system when adequate rainfall has occurred. This requirement applies to both new and older irrigation systems.

Chemical Treatment:

If chemicals such as pesticide, fertilizer, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides are applied to your lawn or landscape plants by a hired professional, they can be watered in according to manufacturer's instructions within 24 to 48 hours of application. Applying water following a chemical treatment by a hired professional is allowable on your non-designated watering day provided a dated chemical advisory marker showing the date of chemical application is visible in the yard (usually by the mailbox). Also, restricted hours must still be followed (before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.)

If you wish to apply a chemical treatment to your lawn or landscape plants yourself, the application of water must be done on your designated watering day and time for your address.

Car Washing:

Washing of cars, trucks and other mobile equipment is allowed once a week. At a residential property, vehicle washing may occur on Tuesday or Saturday at addresses ending in even numbers, and Wednesday or Sunday at addresses ending in odd numbers. Low-volume methods must be used, such as fitting your hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle.

Fund-raising car washes held on behalf of non-profit organizations are allowed, as long as water is used efficiently. Hoses must be fitted with an automatic shut-off nozzle at all times.

Pressure Washing:

Pressure washing of buildings or other structures in preparation for painting or other maintenance is allowed. Also allowed is the annual pressure washing of buildings, structures, driveways, sidewalks and other impervious surfaces as part of a planned maintenance program to either maintain a warranty or to prevent a “slip and fall” hazard. Washing or cleaning streets in preparation for a parade or other public event is allowed.

Other than these instances, washing or other water-based cleaning of streets and other impervious surfaces is allowed only to meet federal, state or local health and safety standards, such as required dust control.

Decorative Fountains:

Fountains, waterfalls and other outdoor artistic water features are limited to operating eight hours a day, and the operating hours shall be posted. If the water feature also provides a necessary water quality benefit, such as aerating a stormwater pond, it may be operated any hours as necessary.

Recreation Use:

Pools should be maintained in a way that minimizes the need for make-up water. This includes promptly repairing leaks, optimum scheduling of backwash filtration, and using shade or covers to reduce evaporation.

Residential and other non-commercial uses of water for recreational purposes should be reduced as much as possible. For example, a sprinkler or sprinkler-like device may be used only at the times normally allowed for lawn watering, and discharge only as much water as is horticulturally necessary for the lawn. A wading pool, “Slip ‘N Slide” or other child-oriented recreational device shall run off or be emptied onto a lawn or landscape that requires irrigation.

Effective June 1, 2002:

Low-volume irrigation is required at retail plant sales locations when the ground surface underneath the plants is non-permeable (paved, concrete, etc.).

Fines and Penalties:

Violating these restrictions could result in a fine of $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second and so on, leading up to $500 for the 5th and succeeding violations. Non-payment will result in a summons to appear before a code enforcement special magistrate, who could impose a fine of as much as $1,000 a day until the original penalty is paid. In extreme cases, the magistrate could choose to levy a one-time fine of $15,000. Those who still don't pay could have a lien attached to their property.