Cedar Park TX Water Restrictions 2026

Current water restrictions in Cedar Park, Texas

Cedar Park is under Stage 3 mandatory water restrictions, limiting outdoor irrigation to 2 assigned days per week with no watering permitted on Mondays or Fridays. The City of Cedar Park declared these restrictions in response to ongoing drought stress across the greater Central Texas region, where water supplies have come under significant pressure from prolonged heat and reduced rainfall. Stage 3 is a serious restriction level — the second most severe in Cedar Park's drought contingency plan — and compliance is mandatory, not voluntary.

The restrictions were implemented by the City of Cedar Park under its Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan, which grants the city authority to escalate through restriction stages based on system-wide demand, supply conditions, and coordination with wholesale water providers. Cedar Park's water supply is closely tied to regional conditions in the Highland Lakes system and the Colorado River, both of which have experienced sustained stress. These restrictions remain in effect until conditions improve — there is no fixed end date.

Texas is dealing with widespread drought pressure statewide. San Antonio entered Stage 3 restrictions in June 2024 — the first time in SAWS's 30-year history — as the Edwards Aquifer dropped to critically low levels. Pflugerville is also at Stage 3 Emergency, and Austin maintains Conservation Stage restrictions year-round. Cedar Park's Stage 3 status places it among the stricter tier of Central Texas municipalities right now.

Practically speaking: yes, a Cedar Park resident can water their garden on a Wednesday morning — provided Wednesday is one of their two assigned watering days and they finish before 10:00 a.m. Watering on a Monday or Friday, regardless of the time, is not allowed under Stage 3. Running sprinklers on a non-assigned day, or between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., is a violation subject to enforcement action.

Your assigned watering schedule

Rule	Details
Days per week	2
Day assignment	Assigned days; no Monday or Friday watering
Allowed hours	Before 10:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m.
Hand watering	Exempt with shut-off nozzle required
Drip irrigation	Exempt from day/time restrictions
New sod/seed	Usually 30-day establishment window — register with City of Cedar Park

Under Stage 3, Cedar Park assigns watering days based on the last digit of your street address. Properties with odd-numbered addresses typically water on different days than even-numbered addresses. The goal is to distribute demand across the distribution system and avoid simultaneous peak loads that strain Cedar Park's treatment and pumping infrastructure. If you are unsure of your assigned days, contact the City of Cedar Park Utilities Department directly through cedarparktexas.gov or check your most recent utility bill, which often includes restriction-stage information.

Commercial properties and multi-family residential complexes in Cedar Park follow the same address-based day assignment structure. Large commercial irrigation systems — common in the retail corridors along US-183 and Whitestone Boulevard — are subject to the same before-10 a.m./after-7 p.m. time window as residential properties. Homeowners associations managing common-area irrigation systems must also comply; irrigating shared green spaces on non-assigned days is a violation attributable to the account holder.

Cedar Park's hot, dry summers place significant stress on established trees. Live oaks (Quercus fusiformis), Texas red oaks (Quercus buckleyi), and cedar elms (Ulmus crassifolia) — all common throughout Cedar Park's neighborhoods and parks — benefit from slow, deep watering at the drip line during allowed windows. Drip irrigation at the root zone is fully exempt from day and time restrictions, making it the most efficient way to maintain these trees through Stage 3 without risking a violation.

Fines and penalties

Offense	Penalty
First violation	Written warning
Second violation	Monetary fine
Subsequent violations	Escalating fines; potential water service flow restriction

Cedar Park's enforcement approach starts with education rather than immediate financial penalties. A first-time violation results in a written warning — inspectors or utility staff document the infraction and notify the account holder. Repeat violations escalate to monetary fines, and Cedar Park's drought contingency plan allows for the installation of flow restrictors on accounts with persistent non-compliance, which physically limits the volume of water available to the property. Enforcement is carried out by City of Cedar Park Utilities staff and code compliance officers who conduct patrols in residential and commercial areas, particularly during peak morning irrigation hours. Cedar Park's advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system also enables utility staff to flag accounts showing consumption patterns inconsistent with Stage 3 compliance — unusually high usage on restricted days can prompt a follow-up inspection.

Residents who believe they received a violation notice in error can request an administrative review through the Cedar Park Utilities Department. Documented exemptions — such as registered new sod establishment or drip-only irrigation systems — can be submitted as part of the appeals process. Acting quickly matters: Cedar Park's city code typically requires appeals to be filed within a short window after the notice date.

Other outdoor water rules

Stage 3 in Cedar Park extends restrictions well beyond lawn irrigation. The following activities are regulated or prohibited:

• Vehicle washing: Washing cars, trucks, and recreational vehicles at home is restricted. Using a commercial car wash that recirculates water is permitted and encouraged.
• Pool filling: Filling or refilling swimming pools is restricted under Stage 3. Topping off to replace normal evaporation may be allowed with limits — confirm with Cedar Park Utilities. Given Central Texas summer temperatures, pool evaporation loss is a significant household water use.
• Pressure washing: Non-essential pressure washing of driveways, sidewalks, patios, and exterior walls is prohibited. Pressure washing for health or safety purposes (mold remediation, food service compliance) may be permitted with city approval.
• Decorative fountains: Ornamental water features and fountains that do not recirculate water must be shut off under Stage 3.
• Construction water: Water used for dust control, concrete curing, and similar construction activities is subject to Stage 3 restrictions. Contractors operating in Cedar Park should confirm compliance requirements with City of Cedar Park Utilities before beginning work.
• Restaurants: Cedar Park restaurants are prohibited from serving water to customers unless the customer specifically requests it — a common Stage 3 provision in Texas municipalities.

Cedar Park's water supply and source

Cedar Park's water supply comes primarily from Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan, the two largest reservoirs in the Highland Lakes chain on the Colorado River in Central Texas. These surface water supplies are managed and delivered through the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), which holds water rights and operates the Highland Lakes system. Cedar Park purchases treated water wholesale from the City of Round Rock and also holds direct contracts with LCRA, making Cedar Park's supply directly dependent on Highland Lakes storage levels.

Lake Travis, located approximately 15 miles southwest of Cedar Park along the Williamson/Travis County line, is the primary storage reservoir for the region. During drought years, Lake Travis levels drop significantly — in severe drought periods the lake has fallen more than 50 feet below conservation pool elevation, exposing boat ramps and marina infrastructure. Lake Buchanan, located upstream near Burnet County, serves as the upper storage basin in the system.

Cedar Park's treated water is delivered through the regional infrastructure maintained in coordination with Williamson County. The city's own distribution system spans Cedar Park's fast-growing service area, which has expanded significantly along the US-183A corridor and around the Brushy Creek watershed. Groundwater from the Edwards-Trinity Aquifer system also contributes to regional supply in some Williamson County contexts, though Cedar Park itself relies primarily on LCRA surface water allocations.

LCRA issues drought restriction triggers called Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) interruptions, which restrict the amount of water LCRA can deliver to municipal customers. When LCRA curtails deliveries to cities like Cedar Park, the downstream effect is a direct reduction in available supply — a key driver of why Cedar Park escalates its own internal restriction stages. Residents can monitor Highland Lakes storage levels in real time on the LCRA website, where combined storage percentage for the system is updated regularly.

HOA rules during water restrictions

Texas homeowners are protected from HOA enforcement actions related to drought-driven lawn browning under Texas Property Code § 202.007. This statute prohibits a property owners' association from fining, penalizing, or threatening enforcement against a homeowner for allowing their lawn or landscaping to die, go dormant, or become brown during a period of drought — specifically when the homeowner is complying with a government-imposed water restriction like Cedar Park's Stage 3 mandatory schedule. The protection applies as long as the homeowner is watering within the permitted days and times and the lawn condition results from the restriction, not from total neglect of a non-restricted element.

Cedar Park homeowners whose HOA issues a violation notice for a brown lawn during Stage 3 should respond in writing immediately and reference the statute directly. Document your watering schedule, keep any smart irrigation controller logs, and retain a copy of Cedar Park's current Stage 3 restriction order from cedarparktexas.gov.

The following is a template response letter you can adapt:

"Dear [HOA Name] Board of Directors: I am writing in response to the violation notice dated [date] regarding lawn appearance at [address]. Under Texas Property Code § 202.007, a property owners' association may not fine or threaten enforcement against a resident for drought-related lawn dormancy when the resident is in compliance with a municipal water restriction. The City of Cedar Park is currently under Stage 3 mandatory water restrictions. I am complying fully with the Stage 3 schedule and watering only on my assigned days within permitted hours. Accordingly, I respectfully request that this violation notice be withdrawn. Please confirm receipt of this letter and your response within 10 business days."

Lawn survival guide for Cedar Park

Cedar Park sits in the warm-season grass belt of Central Texas, where the dominant lawn types are Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, and St. Augustinegrass. Managing these grasses through Stage 3 requires understanding how each responds to reduced irrigation.

Grass Type	Drought Tolerance	Stage 3 Survival Outlook	Priority Action
Bermudagrass	High	Survives well; goes dormant, recovers fast	Allow dormancy; deep water on assigned days
Zoysiagrass	Moderate–High	Good; slower recovery than Bermuda	Deep, infrequent watering; avoid scalping
St. Augustinegrass	Moderate	Most vulnerable; wilts and thins quickly	Prioritize available water; raise mower height
Buffalograss	Very High	Excellent; native to Texas plains	Minimal supplemental water needed

Central Texas summers routinely push past 100°F, and Cedar Park's clay-loam soils can crack and repel water when completely dry. Apply the full allowed irrigation volume on your two assigned days rather than splitting shallow waterings — deep watering encourages root systems to reach further into the soil profile, building drought resilience. Raise mower height to at least 3.5 inches for St. Augustinegrass and 2 to 2.5 inches for Bermudagrass; taller blades shade the soil, reduce surface evaporation, and lower stress on drought-weakened turf. Leave clippings on the lawn to return moisture and organic matter.

Cedar Park's soils — particularly the Heiden and Houston Black clay series common throughout Williamson County — expand and contract dramatically with moisture change. This means runoff is a real risk if you water too fast on parched, compacted ground. Use cycle-and-soak programming on your irrigation controller: run each zone for shorter intervals, allow water to absorb, then repeat within the allowed time window before 10 a.m. This approach maximizes infiltration and keeps water on your property rather than running into the storm drain — which also keeps you on the right side of Cedar Park's waste-of-water provisions.

Frequently asked questions

What days can I water at my Cedar Park home right now?

Under Stage 3, Cedar Park residents are limited to 2 assigned days per week. Watering is not permitted on Mondays or Fridays for any residential or commercial property. Your specific assigned days are based on your street address — odd-numbered addresses and even-numbered addresses are typically assigned different day combinations from the remaining weekdays (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday). Check cedarparktexas.gov or your utility bill for your exact assignment.

What time can I run my sprinklers in Cedar Park?

Irrigation is only allowed before 10:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. on your assigned watering days. Running sprinklers between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. — even on an assigned day — is a Stage 3 violation. The time restriction is designed to reduce evaporative loss during peak heat hours, which in Cedar Park's summer climate can exceed 50% of applied water for overhead spray systems.

Can I wash my car at home in Cedar Park right now?

Home vehicle washing is restricted under Cedar Park Stage 3. The restriction applies to washing with a hose at your residence. Using a commercial car wash that recycles and recirculates water is permitted and is the recommended alternative during Stage 3.

Does the City of Cedar Park use smart meters to catch violations?

Yes. Cedar Park has deployed an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system that reads meters continuously and transmits usage data to the utility. This allows the Utilities Department to identify accounts showing elevated water use on days when they should not be irrigating, or at times outside the allowed window. AMI data can be used to flag accounts for follow-up inspection, which means violations don't require a neighbor complaint or a patrol officer to witness the infraction directly.

Does Cedar Park offer rebates for replacing grass with drought-tolerant landscaping?

Cedar Park participates in conservation incentive programs, and rebates for turf conversion and water-efficient irrigation equipment have been available through the city and through the LCRA WaterSmart program. Specific rebate amounts and eligible products change periodically — visit cedarparktexas.gov or the LCRA WaterSmart portal to confirm what is currently funded. Drip irrigation retrofits and smart irrigation controllers are commonly rebated items in Central Texas programs.

Is my drip irrigation system exempt from the Stage 3 schedule?

Yes. Drip irrigation and soaker hoses are exempt from the day and time restrictions under Cedar Park's Stage 3 rules. You can run a drip system any day of the week, at any hour. This exemption exists because drip systems apply water directly to the root zone with minimal evaporative loss, making them far more efficient than overhead spray. This is the most practical option for Cedar Park homeowners who want to keep vegetable gardens, trees, and foundation plantings alive through the summer without risking a violation.

Can my HOA fine me for having a brown lawn during Stage 3?

No. Texas Property Code § 202.007 prohibits HOAs from fining or penalizing Cedar Park homeowners for lawn browning or dormancy that results from compliance with Stage 3 water restrictions. If your HOA sends a violation notice, respond in writing, reference § 202.007, and document that you are watering only on your assigned days and within permitted hours. Keep your irrigation controller logs and any city communications as supporting evidence.

What happens if I just planted new sod — do I have to let it die?

No. Cedar Park's drought contingency plan includes a new-sod establishment exemption that typically allows daily watering for up to 30 days after installation. You must register the new sod with the City of Cedar Park before or immediately after installation to qualify. Without registration, you are subject to Stage 3 limits like every other property, and watering new sod on non-assigned days would be treated as a violation. Contact Cedar Park Utilities through cedarparktexas.gov to initiate the registration process before the sod goes in the ground.

What time can I water in Cedar Park?

Watering is allowed Before 10am or after 7pm. Watering outside these hours is a violation even on your assigned day.

What are the fines for watering violations in Cedar Park?

First offense: Warning first. Repeat violations: Fines. Contact City of Cedar Park for the full enforcement schedule.

When will water restrictions end in Cedar Park?

Current Stage 3 restrictions are in effect through Until conditions improve. Monitor https://www.cedarparktexas.gov for the latest status.

Can I hand water during Cedar Park 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 Cedar Park.

How do I report a water waste violation in Cedar Park?

Contact City of Cedar Park or visit https://www.cedarparktexas.gov. Most utilities accept online reports and respond within 48 hours.