Hillsborough County residents who receive water bills from Hillsborough County Water Resource Services, and residents of unincorporated Hillsborough County who pay their water bills to the City of Tampa.
Note: The use of reclaimed wastewater is not restricted; however its use must not be wasteful and unnecessary.
Lawn Watering Schedule
Watering of established lawns is allowed one day per week. Follow the chart below.
All irrigation must be accomplished before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Any one zone of a property may only be watered once during the allowed day, not both in the morning and again in the evening.
Addresses ending in 0 or 1
Monday
Addresses ending in 2 or 3
Tuesday
Addresses ending in 4 or 5
Wednesday
Addresses ending in 6 or 7
Thursday
Addresses ending in 8 or 9, locations with no address (common areas, entry areas), and locations with mixed addresses (office complexes, shopping centers)
Friday
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Landscape (non-lawn) Watering Schedule
Limited Days:
Watering of landscapes using an in-ground irrigation system (rotor and spray sprinkler heads) is limited to the same once-per-week schedule as lawn watering.
Hand watering and microirrigation of plants (other than lawns) can be done on any day, but only before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
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.
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Establishment Irrigation for New or Replacement Lawns and Landscaping
New Turfgrass:
A 30-day establishment period is allowed for new and replacement turf (sod, plugs, seed, etc.).
On days 1–15, the new or replacement turf may be watered any day of the week.
On days 16–30, the turf may only be watered approximately every other day. Even-numbered addresses may only water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Odd-numbered addresses may only water on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
All watering must be accomplished before 8 a.m., or after 6 p.m.
New Plants and Landscaping:
New plants (other than lawns) have a 60-day establishment period:
On days 1–30, new plants may be watered any day of the week.
During days 31–60, new plants may be watered approximately every other day. Even-numbered addresses may water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Odd-numbered addresses may water on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
All watering must be accomplished before 8 a.m., or after 6 p.m.
Sprinkler System Or Hand Water?:
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.
Only those zones containing 50% new plant material may be watered, not the entire yard.
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Fountains
Fountains, waterfalls and other outdoor artistic water features are limited to operating four 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.
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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.
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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.
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Chemical Treatments
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). However, the watering must take place during the hours listed below.
By homeowners: 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.
Allowed hours:
All watering must take place before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
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Additional Information
Cleaning and Maintaining Irrigation Systems
Irrigation systems may be operated during restricted days and/or times for cleaning and maintenance. Irrigation systems may be operated for such purposes no more than once per week, and testing the system cannot exceed a total of 10 minutes for the entire system. An attendant must be on site and visible throughout 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.
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