Reno NV Water Restrictions 2026

Current water restrictions in Reno, Nevada

Reno is currently under a Seasonal Watering Schedule enforced by the Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA), limiting outdoor irrigation to three assigned days per week during the spring schedule, with year-round seasonal adjustments in place.

TMWA manages water service for the greater Reno-Sparks metro area and operates the seasonal watering schedule as a permanent mandatory program — not a drought emergency declaration, but a standing conservation structure tied to the natural limits of the Truckee River system. The schedule shifts through spring, summer, fall, and winter phases, with the three-day-per-week spring limit applying from roughly April through early June before the summer schedule takes effect.

Nevada operates under some of the most aggressive statewide water conservation mandates in the country, driven primarily by Colorado River allocations and the Southern Nevada Water Authority's programs. While Reno draws from the Truckee River rather than the Colorado River, the state's broader conservation culture — and TMWA's basin-level obligations — shapes Reno's mandatory seasonal scheduling framework.

Practically speaking: if your address is assigned Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday as your three watering days, you cannot run your sprinkler system on a Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. — that violates both the day assignment and the allowed hours window. Watering must occur before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on your designated days only. A resident who wants to water their vegetable garden on a Wednesday morning needs to confirm Wednesday is one of their three assigned days, and must finish before 10 a.m. or wait until after 7 p.m. that same evening.

TMWA's schedule applies to all residential and commercial properties served by the authority. Violations begin with a written warning, but repeat offenses escalate to fines.

Watering schedule and allowed days

TMWA assigns watering days based on your service address. Residential customers can look up their specific three assigned days using the watering schedule tool at tmwa.com. Assignments are typically grouped by address number and street, ensuring that not all customers in a neighborhood run irrigation on the same day — which reduces peak demand pressure on the Truckee River intake and the Chalk Bluff Water Treatment Plant simultaneously.

Multi-family properties and commercial accounts are subject to the same seasonal schedule but may have individualized watering plans coordinated directly through TMWA's commercial customer service team. Large commercial landscapers and HOA-managed common areas are expected to program irrigation controllers to match the assigned days and the before-10 a.m./after-7 p.m. window. TMWA does conduct landscape audits for commercial accounts on request.

The midday restriction — no watering between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. — exists because high-temperature, high-wind afternoon hours in Reno's high desert climate produce significant evaporative loss before water reaches plant roots. Trees with established root systems benefit most from deep, early-morning irrigation. Reno's urban canopy includes Northern catalpa, Austrian pine, and Fremont cottonwood along river corridors and older residential streets — all of which handle the Truckee Meadows' alkaline soils better than many ornamental species and should be prioritized for deep watering on assigned days rather than shallow daily cycles.

What happens if you violate restrictions in Reno?

TMWA enforces the seasonal watering schedule through a combination of customer complaint reports and field inspections by conservation staff. The authority's service territory covers Reno, Sparks, and surrounding Washoe County areas, and field staff respond to complaints submitted through the TMWA website or by contacting customer service. Response times for complaint-based investigations typically run within a few business days during peak season. TMWA has also invested in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) across its service area, meaning smart meters can flag usage patterns — such as consumption during restricted midday hours — without requiring a neighbor complaint.

Customers who receive a warning or fine can contact TMWA's customer service department to discuss the notice. First-time violations generally result in a warning letter with a correction window. If a property owner believes the violation was issued in error — for example, a malfunctioning irrigation controller that ran outside assigned hours — TMWA does have a review process. Providing documentation such as a service record from a licensed irrigation contractor can support an appeal.

Other outdoor water rules

Beyond lawn irrigation, TMWA's conservation rules cover several other outdoor water uses common in the Reno climate. Given the city's elevation (roughly 4,500 feet), low humidity, and intense summer sun, evaporative losses from uncovered pools and decorative water features are a notable concern.

• Car washing: Washing vehicles at home is permitted, but a shut-off nozzle on the hose is required. Commercial car washes that recycle water are encouraged as a lower-waste alternative.
• Swimming pools and spas: New pool filling requires advance notice to TMWA. Pool covers are strongly recommended to reduce evaporation — uncovered pools in Reno's dry, windy climate can lose several inches of water per week in summer.
• Decorative fountains: Ornamental fountains on residential or commercial properties must recirculate water. Single-pass fountains that discharge to a drain are prohibited.
• Pressure washing: Permitted for property maintenance, but must use a shut-off nozzle or pressure washer equipment that minimizes continuous flow waste.
• Runoff: Irrigation that produces runoff onto sidewalks, streets, or gutters is prohibited regardless of what day or hour it occurs. This is among the most commonly cited violations in Reno's older residential areas where spray heads are misaligned toward hardscape.
• Construction water: Dust suppression and construction site water use require coordination with TMWA for large projects. Contractors must use reclaimed water where available.

Water source and infrastructure

Reno's drinking water comes primarily from the Truckee River, which originates at Lake Tahoe and flows northeast through the Truckee Meadows before continuing into the Nevada desert toward Pyramid Lake — a terminal lake with significant tribal water rights held by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. The Truckee River is one of the most legally contested river systems in the American West, with water rights allocations governed by the Truckee River Operating Agreement (TROA), a multi-party agreement involving the states of Nevada and California, the federal government, local water authorities, and tribal representatives.

TMWA operates the Chalk Bluff Water Treatment Plant on the north bank of the Truckee River in Reno, which is the primary surface water treatment facility serving the metro area. The authority also manages groundwater wells drawing from the Truckee Meadows groundwater basin, which serves as supplemental supply during periods of low river flow or high demand. Total annual demand in the Truckee Meadows service area runs in the range of 60,000 to 70,000 acre-feet, depending on seasonal conditions.

Upstream storage is critical to Reno's supply reliability. Lake Tahoe itself acts as a massive natural reservoir, and Boca Reservoir, Stampede Reservoir, and Prosser Creek Reservoir — all located in the Sierra Nevada on Truckee River tributaries — provide additional regulated storage managed under TROA. These reservoirs receive the majority of their inflow from Sierra Nevada snowmelt, making annual mountain snowpack one of the key variables TMWA monitors when setting seasonal conservation schedules. Dry years with low Sierra snowpack directly tighten Truckee River flows by late summer, which is why TMWA's restrictions intensify across the seasonal schedule rather than relaxing.

TMWA also maintains a small reclaimed water system in parts of its service area, delivering treated wastewater effluent for irrigation of parks, golf courses, and select commercial landscapes — reducing dependence on potable Truckee River water for non-drinking uses.

Brown lawn protections in Nevada

Nevada homeowners are protected from HOA fines for reduced lawn appearance during mandatory water restrictions under NRS § 116.31075. This statute prohibits a homeowners association from imposing fines or taking enforcement action against a unit owner who allows landscaping to go dormant or brown during a period when a governmental entity has declared or imposed mandatory water restrictions. Because TMWA's seasonal watering schedule is a mandatory program, Reno homeowners who comply with the three-day-per-week spring schedule — and whose lawns turn brown as a result — cannot be penalized by their HOA for that condition.

The protection applies specifically when you are complying with the restriction, not simply ignoring your irrigation. Documenting your compliance — saving your TMWA watering day assignment, keeping irrigation logs, or noting controller settings — provides evidence if an HOA attempts to enforce anyway. Replacing turf with xeriscape or rock landscaping may also be protected from HOA prohibition under related Nevada statutes encouraging water-efficient landscaping.

If your HOA sends a violation notice for a brown or dormant lawn while TMWA's mandatory seasonal schedule is in effect, use the following template:

"This notice is to inform you that the lawn condition cited in your violation letter dated [DATE] is a direct result of compliance with the mandatory Seasonal Watering Schedule administered by the Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA). Under Nevada Revised Statute § 116.31075, a homeowners association may not impose a fine or penalty on a unit owner for allowing landscaping to become dormant during a period of mandatory water restrictions imposed by a governmental entity. TMWA's current three-day-per-week mandatory schedule constitutes such a restriction. Please rescind this violation notice. I am happy to provide documentation of my assigned watering days upon request."

Lawn care during restrictions

Reno's climate is high desert — hot, dry summers with intense UV radiation, cold winters, and alkaline soils. The grasses that survive here are limited compared to coastal or humid climates.

At Reno's elevation and latitude, summer soil temperatures can spike dramatically between watering days. Raising your mower height to 3 to 3.5 inches for Bermudagrass or Tall Fescue shades the root zone, slows moisture loss from the soil surface, and reduces the stress that causes browning between watering days. Deep, infrequent watering on your three assigned days — soaking 6 to 8 inches deep — trains roots to grow downward rather than staying shallow and vulnerable to surface drying. Calibrate your irrigation system to apply approximately one inch of water per session on hot summer weeks.

Reno's alkaline, low-organic soils benefit from annual core aeration, typically in early fall after summer heat breaks, which improves water infiltration and reduces the runoff that TMWA specifically prohibits. If your lawn is struggling under the three-day-per-week schedule, consider that TMWA offers turf conversion rebates for replacing irrigated grass with approved xeriscape plants, decomposed granite, or drip-irrigated native plantings — a long-term solution that removes the pressure of seasonal watering schedules entirely. Drought-tolerant Nevada natives like rabbitbrush, desert peach, and Great Basin sage thrive in Reno conditions with minimal supplemental irrigation once established.

Common questions about Reno water restrictions

What are my specific watering days in Reno under TMWA's spring schedule?

Your three assigned watering days are based on your service address and are listed in TMWA's seasonal watering calendar at tmwa.com. Enter your address to retrieve your specific day assignment. The spring schedule (approximately April through early June) allows three days per week; the summer schedule that follows typically maintains or adjusts that frequency based on seasonal demand and Truckee River conditions.

What time can I water in Reno?

You may only irrigate before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on your assigned watering days. Running sprinklers between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. is a violation regardless of which day it falls on. The midday restriction reduces evaporative loss, which is significant in Reno's dry, often windy afternoons.

What happens if I water on a day that isn't one of my three assigned days?

A first-time violation results in a written warning from TMWA. A second violation triggers a monetary fine. Ongoing violations can lead to escalating fines and, in severe cases, the installation of a flow restrictor on your meter. The restriction is mandatory — it is not a voluntary guideline.

Does TMWA use smart meters to detect irrigation violations?

Yes. TMWA has deployed advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) across its Reno and Sparks service area. Smart meters transmit usage data in near real-time, allowing TMWA's conservation team to identify accounts with consumption patterns that correspond to prohibited midday irrigation or off-day watering — without requiring a neighbor complaint. Complaint-based reporting is also available through TMWA's website.

Does TMWA offer rebates for removing lawn and converting to xeriscape?

Yes. TMWA operates a Water Smart Landscapes rebate program that pays customers per square foot of irrigated turf converted to water-efficient, low-water landscaping. Qualifying replacements include drip-irrigated native plants, decomposed granite, and approved desert-adapted ground covers. Applicants must submit a before photo, a landscape plan, and a post-installation inspection. Rebate amounts and eligibility requirements are listed at tmwa.com under the conservation programs section.

Is drip irrigation exempt from the three-day-per-week schedule?

Yes. Drip irrigation systems are exempt from both the day-of-week restriction and the time-of-day restriction under TMWA's seasonal schedule. This makes drip systems particularly useful for vegetable gardens, flower beds, and newly planted xeriscape areas where daily or flexible watering is needed without violating the mandatory spray irrigation schedule.

Can I water new sod or seed more frequently than three days per week?

TMWA provides a 30-day establishment watering exception for newly installed sod or seeded lawn areas. You must register the new installation with TMWA before or immediately after installation to qualify. The temporary exception allows more frequent watering to help plants establish roots. After the 30-day window, the property returns to the standard seasonal schedule. Failing to register and watering beyond schedule during establishment can still result in a violation notice.

Is Reno's water supply affected by drought conditions in the rest of Nevada?

Reno draws from the Truckee River system — including Sierra Nevada reservoir storage at Boca, Stampede, and Prosser Creek reservoirs — rather than from the Colorado River that supplies Southern Nevada. This means Reno's supply is largely independent of Lake Mead conditions that drive Southern Nevada's crisis. However, below-average Sierra Nevada snowpack years do reduce Truckee River flows significantly by late summer, which tightens TMWA's ability to divert water to the Chalk Bluff treatment plant and can prompt more aggressive conservation messaging or schedule adjustments during drought years.

What days can I water my lawn in Reno?

Assigned 3 days/week (spring schedule) Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is typically allowed any day during permitted hours.

What are the fines for watering violations in Reno?

First offense: Warning first. Repeat violations: Fines. Contact Truckee Meadows Water Authority for the full enforcement schedule.

When will water restrictions end in Reno?

Current Seasonal Watering Schedule restrictions are in effect through Year-round (seasonal adjustments). Monitor https://www.tmwa.com for the latest status.

Can I hand water during Reno 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 Truckee Meadows Water Authority.