Glendale AZ Water Restrictions 2026

Current water restrictions in Glendale, Arizona

Glendale is operating under Stage 2 Drought Response as a member of the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA), the consortium of ten Phoenix-area cities that coordinate drought policy for the metro region. Stage 2 was driven by two converging pressures: Salt River Project (SRP) combined storage at 52 percent of capacity and the Colorado River Tier 2 Shortage, which cuts Arizona's Central Arizona Project (CAP) allocation by 21 percent in 2026.

The practical effect is a two-day-per-week mandatory schedule for residential outdoor irrigation, with a midday blackout from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Glendale residents have been on this schedule since the AMWUA-coordinated Stage 2 declaration earlier in 2026, and the city has been actively enforcing through Code Compliance and the Water Services department.

Glendale's population — approximately 250,000 residents — and its concentration of high-water commercial uses make it one of the higher-volume water-stress cities in the West Valley. The city is home to State Farm Stadium (Arizona Cardinals), Desert Diamond Arena (formerly Gila River Arena, home of the Arizona Coyotes through 2024), and the Westgate Entertainment District, all of which have substantial irrigated landscaping subject to the Stage 2 commercial schedule.

Layered on top of the schedule, Glendale has one of the more aggressive financial incentive programs in the metro to permanently reduce outdoor water demand. As of January 1, 2026, the city's xeriscape rebate offers $1.50 per square foot (up to a $2,000 cap) for full conversion of living turf to desert landscaping, plus a separate $0.25 per square foot rebate (up to $250) specifically for artificial turf. Glendale is one of the few Arizona cities that recognizes artificial turf as a distinct rebate category — a quietly meaningful policy choice.

Watering schedule and allowed days

Glendale residential properties water two days per week by the last digit of the street address.

Hand watering with a hose fitted with a shut-off nozzle is permitted on any day, but still subject to the 10 a.m.–6 p.m. midday blackout. Drip irrigation for trees and non-turf plantings is exempt from the day-of-week schedule but should still be programmed to run outside the daytime peak.

• New landscape installation: a 30-day variance for sod and seed establishment is available through Glendale Water Services.
• Reclaimed water customers: commercial properties using reclaimed water for landscape irrigation operate on the commercial schedule, which is more flexible during off-peak hours.
• Athletic fields, golf courses, and sports venues: separate variance pathways apply. State Farm Stadium and the Westgate complex operate on commercial schedules with reduced runtimes.

What happens if you violate restrictions in Glendale?

Glendale enforces Stage 2 violations through Water Services and Code Compliance with a progressive penalty structure:

• First violation: a written warning. The notice records the date, time, and observed violation and is logged against the customer account.
• Second violation: $150 civil penalty.
• Third violation: $300 civil penalty.
• Repeat violators: escalating fines up to $1,000 per offense plus potential service-restriction action under the city's drought ordinance.

Commercial properties — large irrigated frontages along Glendale Avenue, the Westgate district, and stadium grounds — face separate commercial penalty schedules with higher dollar values, reflecting both the volume of water consumed and the visibility of compliance failures on signature properties.

To report a violation, call Glendale Water Services at 623-930-3160 or use the city's online complaint portal. Reports can be anonymous.

Other outdoor water rules

Stage 2 carries a number of additional prohibitions and conservation measures:

• Watering during measurable rain: prohibited. Functioning rain sensors are required on all automatic irrigation systems under Arizona Revised Statutes.
• Excessive runoff: water sheeting onto sidewalks, streets, or storm drains is a violation regardless of day or hour. Adjust spray heads, replace broken nozzles, and shorten runtimes to eliminate runoff.
• Vehicle washing at home: permitted with a hand-held hose with shut-off nozzle, on any day, outside the 10 a.m.–6 p.m. window. Driveway hosing is prohibited.
• Pool filling: top-offs to replace evaporation are permitted; new pool fills require coordination with Water Services and may not be scheduled during the daytime blackout.
• Pressure washing: permitted only for surface preparation prior to paint, sealant, or repair, or where required for health and safety. Cosmetic pressure washing of homes and driveways is restricted.
• Decorative fountains: must recirculate water; non-recirculating fountains must be drained and shut off.

The Westgate Entertainment District and stadium areas are visible test cases for compliance — large irrigated medians, common-area landscaping, and event-related water uses all attract scrutiny when the metro is under Stage 2.

Water source and infrastructure

Glendale draws from a three-source water portfolio typical of east-side metro Phoenix cities:

• Salt River Project (SRP) surface water — runoff captured and stored in the Salt and Verde river reservoirs, including Roosevelt, Apache, Canyon, Saguaro, Bartlett, and Horseshoe lakes. SRP combined storage at 52 percent of capacity is the primary trigger for Stage 2.
• Colorado River water via the CAP canal — delivered through the Central Arizona Project across the desert from Lake Havasu. Tier 2 Shortage cut Arizona's 2026 CAP allocation by 21 percent.
• Groundwater wells in the Phoenix Active Management Area (AMA) — a regulated aquifer system under the 1980 Arizona Groundwater Management Act, with strict pumping limits to protect long-term sustainability.

Glendale has invested significantly in reclaimed water infrastructure. Treated effluent from the city's wastewater plants is distributed to parks, school grounds, golf courses, and major commercial common areas through a dedicated reclaimed-water system, taking pressure off the potable supply. Stadium and entertainment-district landscape irrigation is largely on reclaimed water.

The city's position in the West Valley means it has slightly less direct SRP service area dependence than east-side cities like Tempe and Mesa, but more CAP exposure than the eastern cities. When Tier 2 hits, Glendale feels it more directly than the SRP-heavy east-side cities; when SRP storage drops, Glendale shares the same exposure as everyone in the metro.

Brown lawn protections in Arizona

Arizona has two strong statutory protections for homeowners during a declared shortage and for those choosing desert-adapted landscaping.

Arizona Revised Statutes § 33-1902 — the drought-shortage protection statute — prohibits HOAs from enforcing covenants requiring landscape irrigation inconsistent with municipal or state water-conservation orders during a declared shortage. Stage 2 is exactly such a declared shortage. An HOA cannot legally cite a Glendale homeowner for a brown lawn while Stage 2 is in effect.

ARS § 33-1817 — the xeriscape and desert-landscaping rights statute — protects homeowner rights to install desert-adapted plants and gravel landscapes. HOAs may regulate aesthetic standards but cannot prohibit xeriscape outright.

Sample response to an HOA violation notice for a brown lawn or new desert landscape:

"Dear [HOA Architectural Review Committee], the City of Glendale and AMWUA have declared Stage 2 Drought Response, limiting outdoor irrigation to two days per week. My lawn condition or landscape choice reflects compliance with that declaration and exercise of my rights under ARS § 33-1902 and § 33-1817. Please withdraw the violation. Sincerely, [Your name]"

The Arizona Department of Real Estate handles HOA-dispute complaints. Document everything and keep correspondence in writing.

Lawn care during restrictions

Glendale lies in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b, in the low Sonoran desert. The dominant residential turf species are warm-season grasses adapted to extreme summer heat:

Mow Bermuda short, but not too short. Healthy Bermuda should be mowed to 1 to 1.5 inches; lower than that stresses the crown.

Skip summer fertilizer. Fertilizer drives growth that the limited irrigation cannot support.

Use the rebate. Glendale's $1.50/sqft xeriscape rebate is genuinely meaningful — for a 1,300 sqft front yard conversion, that is the maximum $2,000 rebate. The artificial-turf rebate is smaller ($0.25/sqft, up to $250) but is one of the few in the metro.

Mulch beds heavily. Two to three inches of decomposed granite or organic mulch dramatically reduces evaporation in shrub beds and around trees.

Brown is not dead. Bermudagrass is designed for dormancy under stress. A Glendale Bermuda lawn that browns through August will green back up after the first significant monsoon storm in September.

Common questions about Glendale water restrictions

Can I get both the xeriscape rebate AND the artificial turf rebate?

No. Glendale's rebate programs are separate and you must choose one per property, per project. The xeriscape rebate pays significantly more — $1.50 per square foot versus $0.25 for artificial turf — and applies to conversion to live desert plantings. Artificial turf is the cheaper option upfront but pays back less in rebate. For most homeowners, the xeriscape rebate is the better economic choice.

What days can I water my lawn in Glendale?

Two days per week, by address. Odd addresses water Tuesday and Saturday. Even addresses water Wednesday and Sunday. No watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on any day.

What are the fines in Glendale?

First violation: written warning. Second: $150. Third: $300. Repeat violations: up to $1,000 per offense. Commercial properties face separate, higher penalty schedules.

Is the Westgate district subject to the same restrictions as my house?

Yes. Commercial properties at Westgate, including stadium and arena landscape irrigation, follow the commercial Stage 2 schedule, which is also two days per week with a daytime blackout. Reclaimed water serves much of the entertainment district and stadium grounds, but reclaimed-water use is still scheduled.

Why is Stage 2 in effect when last winter brought decent snowpack?

SRP combined reservoir storage is at 52 percent — well below the threshold to lift Stage 2 (60 percent or higher). A single good winter is not enough to refill multi-year storage drawn down by extended drought. Lake Mead also remains in Tier 2 Shortage, cutting CAP allocations by 21 percent. Both conditions must improve before Stage 2 lifts.

I have a smart controller. Does that exempt me from the schedule?

No. Smart controllers must be programmed to comply with the two-day schedule and the daytime blackout. Glendale recommends smart controllers for water-bill savings, but they do not exempt the homeowner from Stage 2 rules.

How long will Stage 2 last?

Until SRP combined storage exceeds 60 percent of capacity and Lake Mead rises out of Tier 2 Shortage. Both depend on multiple wet winters, not one. A reasonable expectation is that Stage 2 remains in effect through 2026 and likely into 2027.

What time can I water in Glendale?

Watering is allowed Not 10am-6pm (no midday sprinklers). Watering outside these hours is a violation even on your assigned day.

When will water restrictions end in Glendale?

Current Stage 2 Drought Response — SRP + Colorado River Tier 2 restrictions are in effect through Until SRP storage exceeds 60% and Lake Mead rises above Tier 2. Monitor https://www.glendaleaz.com/live/water for the latest status.

Can I hand water during Glendale water restrictions?

Yes. Hand watering with a hose fitted with a shut-off nozzle is generally allowed on any day during permitted hours. Drip irrigation and soaker hoses are also typically exempt from the day-of-week schedule. Confirm specifics with City of Glendale Water Services.

How do I report a water waste violation in Glendale?

Contact City of Glendale Water Services at 623-930-3160 or visit https://www.glendaleaz.com/live/water. Most utilities accept online reports and respond within 48 hours.