Hollywood FL Water Restrictions 2026

Current water restrictions in Hollywood, Florida

Hollywood operates under the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) year-round mandatory schedule: 2 days per week by address parity, with watering allowed only between 12 a.m.–10 a.m. or 4 p.m.–11:59 p.m. The schedule is permanent across SFWMD's service area regardless of drought conditions.

Hollywood sits in southeastern Broward County between Fort Lauderdale to the north and Miami to the south, with population around 155,000. The city's 7-mile Atlantic shoreline includes Hollywood Beach and the Broadwalk — a 2.5-mile pedestrian promenade lined with restaurants, hotels, and shops that draws millions of tourists annually. That tourism economy drives seasonal water demand spikes, particularly during winter snowbird months and spring break, when occupied hotel rooms and active beachfront commercial properties push commercial water consumption well above year-round baseline.

The City of Hollywood operates its own water utility, drawing from the Biscayne Aquifer through municipal wells in northwest Hollywood and adjacent areas. The city's water system is among the oldest in Broward County, with significant portions of distribution mains dating to the mid-20th century. Hollywood is in the middle of a multi-year water-infrastructure replacement program — replacing aging cast-iron and galvanized mains with modern ductile-iron and PVC pipe, upgrading pump stations, and adding system redundancy. The program is designed to reduce water loss from leaks, improve fire-flow capacity, and protect water quality for the long term.

The other water-management challenge is saltwater intrusion. Hollywood sits along the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic, with the Biscayne Aquifer's freshwater–saltwater boundary moving inland over decades. Sea-level rise accelerates the trend. The city's wellfields are sited inland from the saltwater interface and are monitored continuously; well operations are adjusted as the interface shifts.

Watering schedule and allowed hours

Hand watering with a hose fitted with a shut-off nozzle is permitted any day, outside the daytime blackout. Drip and microirrigation for non-turf plantings are exempt from the day-of-week limit.

• Hotels and Broadwalk commercial properties: commercial schedule, also 2 days per week with the same allowed hours.
• Apartment and condo buildings: commercial 2-day schedule.
• New sod and seed: 30-day establishment variance available through Hollywood Utilities.

Fines and penalties

Hollywood enforces the SFWMD schedule through Code Compliance and Hollywood Utilities:

• First violation: a written warning.
• Second and subsequent violations: civil fines per city code.
• Persistent violators: escalating fines.

To report a violation, call Hollywood Utilities at 954-967-4230 or use the city's online reporting form.

Other outdoor water rules

• Watering during measurable rain: prohibited. Rain sensors required on automatic systems under Florida Statute § 373.62.
• Excessive runoff: water sheeting onto streets, sidewalks, or storm drains is a violation regardless of day or hour.
• Pressure washing: permitted only for paint, sealant, repair, or required for health and safety.
• Vehicle washing: permitted with a hand-held hose with shut-off nozzle.

Where Hollywood's water comes from — and the aging infrastructure

Hollywood draws drinking water from the Biscayne Aquifer through municipal wells located west of the urban core. The Biscayne Aquifer is the same shallow, highly productive limestone system that supplies most of South Florida — porous enough to yield large volumes from each well, but vulnerable to saltwater intrusion and surface contamination because of its shallowness.

The city's water-treatment plant on Park Road is one of the principal Broward County treatment facilities. From there, treated water flows through the city's distribution network to homes, businesses, and commercial customers.

The infrastructure replacement program is a notable feature of Hollywood's 2020s water story. Many of the city's distribution mains were laid in the 1950s and 1960s during initial post-WWII suburbanization. Cast-iron and galvanized pipe of that era is now near or past its design life, with measurable water loss to leaks and occasional main breaks. The replacement program — funded through a combination of utility revenues, state revolving fund loans, and federal grants — replaces aging mains with modern materials that should last 75 to 100 years.

The program's benefits go beyond water loss. Reducing leaks reduces the volume of treated drinking water that's pumped, paid for by ratepayers, and lost before it reaches customers. In a region under permanent year-round water restrictions, reducing system loss is the cheapest "new" water available. The replacement program is also building system redundancy that protects against hurricane-driven outages — a meaningful concern for a coastal city in hurricane country.

HOA rules during water restrictions

Florida Statute § 720.3075 protects homeowners from HOA enforcement actions for compliance with declared water-conservation measures, including the SFWMD year-round schedule. The statute applies in Hollywood's many condominium associations and master-planned communities.

Sample HOA response:

"Dear [HOA Board], the City of Hollywood operates under the South Florida Water Management District year-round schedule limiting outdoor irrigation to 2 days per week. My lawn reflects compliance with that schedule. Under Florida Statute § 720.3075, the Association may not enforce a covenant inconsistent with the District's water-conservation measures. Please withdraw the violation. Sincerely, [Your name]"

Lawn care for coastal Hollywood

Hollywood lies in USDA Hardiness Zone 10b. Common turf options for coastal yards:

St. Augustine 'Floratam' is the standard choice for Hollywood — salt-tolerant, heat-tolerant, and handles the shallow sandy soils typical of coastal Broward.

Mow on the high end. St. Augustine retains moisture better at 3.5–4 inches.

Skip summer fertilizer. Broward County urban-fertilizer ordinances restrict nitrogen during the rainy season — both for water-supply reasons and to protect coastal water quality.

Mulch beds heavily. Pine straw and bark mulch reduce evaporation in sandy soils.

Frequently asked questions

What days can I water in Hollywood?

Two days per week, by address. Odd addresses water Wednesday and Saturday. Even addresses water Thursday and Sunday. Watering allowed only 12 a.m.–10 a.m. or 4 p.m.–11:59 p.m.

How is the Hollywood water-infrastructure replacement going?

The multi-year replacement program is ongoing, with crews working through priority neighborhoods identified by leak history and main age. Residents in active replacement zones may experience temporary service interruptions for cutovers; the city provides advance notice. Long-term benefits include reduced leaks, improved fire-flow capacity, and added storm resilience.

Why does Hollywood Beach not seem to have water restrictions when I'm on vacation?

Vacation rentals, hotels, and Broadwalk commercial properties are all subject to the SFWMD schedule. Tourists may not see day-to-day enforcement during a short stay, but properties are bound by the rules and citations are issued. Property managers are responsible for compliance.

Is the Biscayne Aquifer becoming saltier?

The freshwater–saltwater interface in the Biscayne Aquifer has moved inland over decades, accelerated by sea-level rise. Hollywood's wellfields are sited inland from the interface and are monitored continuously; the city adjusts pumping and well locations as the interface shifts. Drinking water meets all standards.

Can the city declare additional restrictions?

Yes. SFWMD can issue Water Shortage Warnings or Orders that layer on top of the year-round schedule. Such declarations have come and gone in past years; as of 2026, no additional declaration is in place for Broward.

Is reclaimed water exempt?

No. SFWMD restrictions apply to all water sources used for landscape irrigation, including reclaimed water.

How long will the year-round schedule last?

It is permanent. The schedule is the baseline rule for SFWMD's service area and is not lifted in wet years.

What time can I water in Hollywood?

Watering is allowed 12am-10am or 4pm-11:59pm. Watering outside these hours is a violation even on your assigned day.

What are the fines for watering violations in Hollywood?

First offense: Warning first offense. Repeat violations: Fines per city code. Contact SFWMD / City of Hollywood Utilities for the full enforcement schedule.

When will water restrictions end in Hollywood?

Current Year-Round Mandatory — SFWMD 2 Days/Week restrictions are in effect through Year-round (permanent SFWMD schedule). Monitor https://www.sfwmd.gov/community-residents/landscape-irrigation for the latest status.

Can I hand water during Hollywood 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 SFWMD / City of Hollywood Utilities.

How do I report a water waste violation in Hollywood?

Contact SFWMD / City of Hollywood Utilities at 954-967-4230 or visit https://www.sfwmd.gov/community-residents/landscape-irrigation. Most utilities accept online reports and respond within 48 hours.