Jacksonville FL Water Restrictions 2026

Current water restrictions in Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville is under Year-Round 2 Days/Week restrictions, limiting outdoor irrigation to two assigned days per week under a mandatory schedule administered by the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD).

These restrictions are not a temporary drought response — they are permanent, baseline rules that apply every day of every year under SJRWMD's year-round conservation ordinance. The district oversees water use across 18 counties in northeast and east-central Florida, and Jacksonville's schedule has been in force continuously as part of its standard regulatory framework. There is no expiration date, and no drought declaration is required to trigger or lift them.

The year-round schedule was established because the Floridan Aquifer System — Jacksonville's primary groundwater source — faces long-term withdrawal pressure from population growth across northeast Florida. SJRWMD data consistently shows that residential irrigation accounts for a significant share of total water withdrawals in Duval County, making outdoor watering limits a permanent management tool rather than an emergency measure.

Florida is currently experiencing elevated drought stress at the state level. Southwest Florida Water Management District declared a Modified Phase III severe water shortage for 11+ counties in the Tampa Bay region in April 2026, and South Florida Water Management District issued drought advisories for Collier and Lee counties. While Jacksonville falls under SJRWMD jurisdiction and is not subject to those southwest declarations, the statewide pattern underscores why SJRWMD enforces its year-round rules without exception.

Practically speaking, a Jacksonville resident with an even-numbered street address can run their irrigation system on Wednesday and Saturday — but only outside the 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. window. Watering that same garden at 9 a.m. on a Wednesday is fully legal. Running the sprinklers at noon on any day is a violation subject to a $100 first-offense fine.

Your assigned watering schedule

Rule	Details
Days per week	2
Day assignment	Even addresses: Wednesday & Saturday; Odd addresses: Thursday & Sunday
Allowed hours	Before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. only
Hand watering	Exempt — shut-off nozzle required on hose
Drip irrigation	Exempt from day/time restrictions
New sod or seed	30-day establishment watering window — register with SJRWMD before installing

Address assignment in Jacksonville is based on the last digit of the property's street address number. If your home is at 4820 San Jose Boulevard, that final digit (zero) is even, so your irrigation days are Wednesday and Saturday. If you live at 3711 Hendricks Avenue, the odd final digit means Thursday and Sunday. When a street address ends in zero, SJRWMD treats it as even. Post office boxes and unit numbers do not determine the schedule — only the physical street address counts.

Multi-family properties and commercial accounts follow the same even/odd address rule based on the primary street number of the building or complex. A large apartment community on an even-numbered address irrigates Wednesday and Saturday — there is no commercial exemption to the day assignment, though the district may work with large landscape contractors on compliance plans for phased irrigation of extensive properties. Golf courses and agricultural operations operate under separate SJRWMD consumptive use permits and have different scheduling conditions.

When prioritizing your two allowed days, Jacksonville landscapes benefit from directing water first toward deep-rooted trees that are both high-value and drought-sensitive during dry spells. Southern live oak (Quercus virginiana), bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), and sabal palm — Florida's state tree — are all common in Jacksonville yards and respond poorly to prolonged dry stress. Newly planted specimens of any of these species may qualify for SJRWMD's establishment exemption, which allows daily watering for up to 30 days immediately after planting.

Fines and penalties

Offense	Penalty
First offense	$100
Second offense	$250 or more
Commercial / repeat escalation	Civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation under Florida Statutes § 373.609 for egregious or willful noncompliance

Enforcement in Jacksonville operates through a combination of complaint-based reporting and field patrols. Residents can report violations directly to SJRWMD, and the district coordinates with the City of Jacksonville's code compliance staff for ground-level response. Irrigation controllers running on prohibited days or during the restricted midday window are the most commonly cited violations. SJRWMD does not currently deploy smart meter technology that automatically flags irrigation events, so most enforcement begins with a neighbor complaint or a compliance officer observing runoff or active sprinkler heads during prohibited hours.

If you receive a notice of violation, SJRWMD does provide an opportunity to contest the citation. You can request an informal conference with district staff or, for higher-penalty cases, a formal administrative hearing under Florida's Administrative Procedure Act. Response times on reported complaints typically run several business days for an initial investigation, though active runoff situations in high-density neighborhoods may draw faster attention. Correcting a timer setting and documenting it before the hearing date often supports a reduced penalty on a first offense.

Other outdoor water rules

Irrigation scheduling is the core restriction, but Jacksonville property owners face several additional outdoor water rules worth knowing before a weekend yard project.

• Reclaimed water irrigation: Properties in Jacksonville served by JEA's reclaimed water system are not exempt from SJRWMD's two-day schedule. Reclaimed water irrigation still follows the same even/odd day and time restrictions — a common misconception among homeowners who assume reclaimed means unrestricted.
• Car washing: Washing a vehicle with a hose requires a shut-off nozzle. Commercial car washes that recycle water are permitted without restriction. Home driveway car washing is allowed any day of the week as long as a shutoff nozzle is used, but directing runoff into storm drains is prohibited under Jacksonville's municipal stormwater ordinance.
• Pressure washing: Pressure washing of driveways, roofs, and exterior walls is allowed but may not involve excessive runoff into the street. Roof washing with chemical solutions is regulated under Duval County environmental rules to prevent phosphorus and nitrogen loading into the St. Johns River.
• Swimming pool filling: Initial pool filling is generally permitted under a temporary exemption — contact SJRWMD before filling a newly constructed pool. Topping off to compensate for evaporation does not require a permit, but filling an empty pool from a hose on a non-irrigation day may draw scrutiny during active enforcement periods.
• Decorative fountains: Recirculating fountains are exempt. Non-recirculating water features that discharge to the ground are subject to irrigation day restrictions.
• Construction site water use: Contractors operating in Duval County under SJRWMD consumptive use permits must comply with permit conditions separately; residential landscape establishment has its own 30-day watering exemption distinct from commercial construction water rules.

Jacksonville's water supply and source

Jacksonville draws its drinking water almost entirely from the Floridan Aquifer System, one of the most productive aquifer systems in the world, extending beneath much of Florida and parts of Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. Within Duval County, JEA — Jacksonville's municipal utility — operates a network of production wells that tap the Upper Floridan Aquifer at depths ranging from roughly 400 to over 1,000 feet below the surface.

JEA's primary water treatment infrastructure includes the Pottsburg Creek Water Treatment Plant and the Greenland Water Treatment Plant, which process groundwater before distribution across Jacksonville's service area. The utility maintains over a dozen active wellfields spread across Duval and adjacent counties, with some supply drawn from wellfields in Clay and St. Johns counties under interconnection agreements.

The St. Johns River is not currently a major municipal supply source for Jacksonville, though it borders the city and is the central ecological concern driving regional water policy. SJRWMD's minimum flow and level rules for the St. Johns River are designed to prevent aquifer withdrawals from reducing the river's base flow, which creates a direct regulatory link between your sprinkler schedule and the river's health. The lower St. Johns, which runs through downtown Jacksonville, has historically suffered from nutrient loading, and reduced freshwater withdrawals support water quality recovery efforts.

JEA has also invested in reclaimed water infrastructure to reduce potable water demand for irrigation. The reclaimed system distributes treated wastewater effluent to residential neighborhoods, golf courses, and commercial properties, reducing the draw on Floridan Aquifer wells. Even so, the aquifer remains under long-term pressure from a rapidly growing northeast Florida population, which is the primary reason SJRWMD maintains year-round irrigation restrictions rather than seasonal ones.

There are no surface reservoirs within Jacksonville proper that supply drinking water. The city's water security depends almost entirely on the long-term health and recharge rate of the Floridan Aquifer, making conservation rules a structural necessity rather than a seasonal response.

HOA rules during water restrictions

Florida law provides explicit protection for homeowners whose lawns brown out due to mandatory water restrictions. Florida Statutes § 720.3075 prohibits homeowners' associations from fining or penalizing a member for not watering their lawn or landscaping in a manner that violates a water use restriction or water shortage order issued by a water management district. If your HOA sends you a violation notice for a brown lawn during a period of mandatory restrictions, that notice is legally unenforceable under Florida law.

This protection applies to all HOAs governed under Chapter 720, which covers the vast majority of single-family residential communities in Duval County. Condominium associations fall under a parallel provision in Chapter 718. The protection is automatic — you do not need to file anything with SJRWMD to invoke it. However, you do need to be actually complying with the restriction schedule; the protection does not shield a homeowner who simply stopped watering by choice and is not under a water shortage order.

If your HOA issues a fine or violation notice for lawn appearance that directly results from following SJRWMD's mandatory two-day schedule, use the following as a starting point for your written response:

"Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 720.3075, I am writing to dispute this violation notice. My lawn's current condition is the direct result of compliance with the St. Johns River Water Management District's mandatory Year-Round 2 Days/Week irrigation schedule, which restricts outdoor watering to two assigned days per week. Florida law explicitly prohibits an HOA from fining a member for failing to water in a manner inconsistent with a mandatory water use restriction. I request that this notice be dismissed and that no fine be assessed."

Keep a copy of the SJRWMD restriction schedule — available at sjrwmd.com — with your response as documentation.

Lawn survival guide for Jacksonville

Grass Type	Drought Tolerance	Minimum Watering Need	Jacksonville Suitability
St. Augustine (Stenotaphrum secundatum)	Moderate	~0.75 in/week when active	Most common; requires consistent moisture
Bahia (Paspalum notatum)	High	~0.5 in/week; tolerates dormancy	Excellent under restrictions; low input
Bermuda (Cynodon dactylon)	High	~0.5–0.75 in/week when active	Good; goes dormant in dry periods
Zoysia (Zoysia spp.)	Moderate–High	~0.5 in/week	Good drought tolerance; slow recovery

Jacksonville's warm-humid climate — with an average annual rainfall of roughly 52 inches concentrated in a June-through-September rainy season — means that two-day irrigation schedules are often entirely sufficient for established lawns during summer. The real stress period is late winter through spring, when rainfall is lowest and temperatures climb before the rainy season begins. St. Augustine grass is the dominant turf in Duval County yards and is the most vulnerable during dry springs; if you see it wilting or showing a blue-gray tint before your allowed watering day, prioritize deep watering on your next scheduled day rather than shallow daily watering. Mowing St. Augustine at 3.5 to 4 inches keeps the canopy shading roots and reduces moisture loss significantly.

Jacksonville's humidity creates a persistent fungal pressure problem that changes how you should use your two allowed watering days. Watering early morning — before 8 a.m. — allows turf to dry out during the day, reducing the risk of gray leaf spot and brown patch, both of which are chronic problems in Duval County lawns. Avoid watering in the early evening, even though it falls outside the restricted midday window; wet turf overnight in Jacksonville's warm conditions accelerates fungal development. Residents considering switching away from St. Augustine to reduce irrigation demands should look at Bahia, which handles both the two-day restriction and the occasional dry spring with minimal intervention.

Frequently asked questions

What days can I water if my Jacksonville address ends in an even number?

Even-numbered street addresses in Jacksonville are assigned Wednesday and Saturday as irrigation days. You may run sprinklers or irrigation systems on those days, but only before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. A home at 2240 Loretto Road, for example, can irrigate Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. or Saturday evening at 6 p.m., but not at noon on either day.

What happens if I get a watering violation notice in Jacksonville?

A first offense results in a $100 fine from SJRWMD or through coordinated enforcement with Jacksonville's code compliance office. A second violation escalates to $250 or more. You have the right to contest the notice — request an informal conference with SJRWMD staff in writing within the timeframe stated on your notice. Correcting the problem (for example, reprogramming an irrigation timer) and documenting it before a hearing often supports a reduced or dismissed penalty on a first offense.

Does my reclaimed water service from JEA exempt me from the two-day schedule?

No. Jacksonville properties connected to JEA's reclaimed water system must still follow SJRWMD's two-day, even/odd schedule and avoid watering between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Reclaimed water reduces demand on the Floridan Aquifer but is not exempt from irrigation scheduling rules. This is one of the most common compliance mistakes in reclaimed water neighborhoods in Duval County.

Can I water new sod or seed more than two days a week?

Yes, under SJRWMD's new landscape establishment exemption. Newly installed sod, seed, or plug plantings may be watered daily for up to 30 days immediately following installation. You must register the establishment period with SJRWMD before or shortly after installation — the exemption is not automatic simply because your sod is new. After 30 days, your property reverts to the standard two-day schedule. Keep documentation of your installation date in case of a compliance inquiry.

Does SJRWMD use smart meters or sensors to detect irrigation violations in Jacksonville?

SJRWMD does not currently use automated smart meter monitoring to flag residential irrigation violations in Jacksonville. JEA has been expanding its advanced metering infrastructure across Duval County, but real-time irrigation detection linked to enforcement is not part of the current residential compliance system. Most violations are triggered by neighbor complaints submitted to SJRWMD or observed by code enforcement officers during patrols. This means violations typically involve visible irrigation activity — sprinkler heads running in the street or obvious midday watering — rather than meter-flagged usage spikes.

What rebates or programs does SJRWMD offer Jacksonville homeowners to reduce irrigation?

SJRWMD administers the Water Conservation Incentive Program, which has historically offered rebates for Florida-Friendly landscaping conversions, rain sensors, and soil moisture sensors. Rain sensor requirements are mandatory on all new and replacement irrigation systems in Florida under state law — if your existing system lacks one, installation is required and rebates may offset the cost. Contact SJRWMD directly at sjrwmd.com for current program availability and funding status, as rebate programs are subject to annual appropriation and may vary by year.

Can my HOA force me to water more than the SJRWMD schedule allows?

No. An HOA cannot require you to water your lawn in a way that would violate SJRWMD's mandatory two-day schedule. Florida Statutes § 720.3075 prohibits HOAs from demanding irrigation practices that conflict with water management district restrictions. If your association's landscaping rules specify a watering frequency that would require you to exceed two days per week, those rules are unenforceable to the extent they conflict with SJRWMD's mandatory schedule.

Is hand watering with a hose restricted to two days per week in Jacksonville?

No. Hand watering using a hose with a functioning shut-off nozzle is exempt from the two-day schedule and may be done any day of the week at any time, including during the 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. midday window. The shut-off nozzle requirement is not optional — watering with an open-ended hose that runs freely is not covered by the exemption. Drip irrigation systems and soaker hoses are also exempt from day and time restrictions, making them a practical option for vegetable gardens and foundation plantings that need more frequent moisture than two days per week allows.

What time can I water in Jacksonville?

Watering is allowed Not 10am-4pm. Watering outside these hours is a violation even on your assigned day.

When will water restrictions end in Jacksonville?

Current Year-Round 2 Days/Week restrictions are in effect through Year-round. Monitor https://www.sjrwmd.com for the latest status.

How do I report a water waste violation in Jacksonville?

Contact SJRWMD or visit https://www.sjrwmd.com. Most utilities accept online reports and respond within 48 hours.