Dallas TX Water Restrictions 2026

Current water restrictions in Dallas, Texas

Dallas is currently under Moderate Restrictions, limiting outdoor irrigation to 2 days per week on an assigned schedule enforced by Dallas Water Utilities. These measures are mandatory — not voluntary — meaning residents and businesses face real consequences for non-compliance.

Dallas Water Utilities declared the current conservation stage as part of its ongoing Drought Contingency Plan, which is triggered by declining water supply levels across the city's lake system. The Moderate Restrictions phase activates when reservoir storage or system demand crosses defined thresholds outlined in the plan. Dallas Water Utilities manages the program and handles all enforcement, compliance, and customer inquiries at 214-651-1441 or through dallascityhall.com/water.

Texas is experiencing a patchwork of drought conditions statewide. San Antonio entered Stage 3 restrictions in June 2024 — the first in SAWS's 30-year history — and the Edwards Aquifer remains critically low. Austin operates under year-round Conservation Stage measures. While Dallas draws from a different supply system than those cities, the broader regional pressure on Texas water supplies reinforces why Dallas Water Utilities is maintaining its current conservation posture.

Practically, what does this mean for you? If you live in Dallas and want to water your garden on a Wednesday morning, you can — but only if Wednesday falls on one of your two assigned watering days, and only before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Sprinkler systems running mid-day on an unassigned day are a violation. Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is generally exempt from the day restrictions, giving you more flexibility for container plants, vegetable gardens, and targeted spot watering.

Dallas's watering days and hours

Under Dallas Water Utilities' Drought Contingency Plan, watering days are assigned based on the last digit of your street address. Odd-numbered addresses are generally assigned different days than even-numbered addresses, spreading demand evenly across the week and reducing peak load on the distribution system. Residents should confirm their specific assigned days through Dallas Water Utilities directly, as assignments can shift when the city moves between drought stages.

Commercial properties, homeowners associations managing common areas, and multi-family complexes follow the same two-day-per-week framework, but large accounts with dedicated irrigation meters may have additional coordination requirements with Dallas Water Utilities. Property managers of apartment complexes and commercial sites are held to the same enforcement standards as single-family homeowners — the size of the property is not a shield from fines.

During the restricted watering window, certain trees common to the Dallas area deserve priority attention during your allotted days. Live oak (Quercus virginiana) and cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia) are native to North Texas and relatively drought-tolerant once established, but young specimens still need deep, infrequent watering at the drip line. Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), planted widely in Dallas landscapes near drainage areas, benefits from slow, deep irrigation at its root zone — using drip emitters during restrictions means you can water these trees any day without using up your assigned days.

Violation fines and enforcement

Dallas Water Utilities enforces restrictions through a combination of customer complaint reports, field inspector patrols, and — increasingly — data from the city's advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) network. Smart meters deployed across Dallas track consumption in hourly intervals, allowing Dallas Water Utilities analysts to flag accounts that show high usage patterns on non-assigned watering days or during the prohibited 10 a.m.–6 p.m. window. Complaint-based enforcement remains the primary trigger for most inspections; residents can report suspected violations directly through 214-651-1441 or the city's online service request portal.

If you receive a warning or fine you believe was issued in error, Dallas Water Utilities has an appeals process through its customer service division. Document your watering schedule and any malfunction records from your irrigation controller before contacting the utility. First-offense warnings are not permanent marks on your account, but a second confirmed violation at the same address within the same restriction season will result in a fine without additional warning.

Other outdoor water rules

Irrigation restrictions are the headline rule, but Dallas Water Utilities' Moderate Restrictions phase covers several other outdoor water uses. In the Texas summer heat, pool evaporation and vehicle washing are the next most common compliance questions.

• Swimming pools: Filling or refilling a pool is restricted — topping off to compensate for evaporation (a major issue in Dallas summers with heat indices above 105°F) is limited. New pool fills may require prior approval from Dallas Water Utilities.
• Car washing: Washing a vehicle at home is permitted only with a hand-held hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle. Running water continuously from a hose while washing is prohibited. Commercial car washes that recycle water are not subject to the same restrictions.
• Pressure washing: Using a pressure washer on driveways, sidewalks, or exterior walls solely for aesthetic cleaning is prohibited during Moderate Restrictions. Health- or safety-related washing may qualify for an exception.
• Fountains and decorative water features: Ornamental fountains not equipped with a recirculating pump must be shut off during Moderate Restrictions. Recirculating fountains may continue operating.
• Construction water: Water used for dust suppression at active construction sites must use the minimum effective amount. Contractors are held to the same restriction framework as residential customers.
• Restaurants: Serving water to customers only upon request is standard practice encouraged under Dallas conservation ordinances, though this is not a new mandate unique to the current restriction phase.

How Dallas gets its water

Dallas draws its water from a system of reservoirs operated and managed through the Dallas Water Utilities department, with supply sourced primarily from the East Texas reservoir system. The principal sources are Lake Ray Hubbard, Lake Tawakoni, Lake Fork, and Lake Ray Roberts — a portfolio of surface water that collectively provides the city with hundreds of billions of gallons of storage capacity.

Lake Tawakoni and Lake Fork, located east of Dallas in the Sabine River basin, are among the highest-yield sources in the system. Lake Fork in particular is one of the deepest reservoirs in Texas and delivers a significant share of Dallas's treated supply. Water from these lakes travels through intake structures and pipelines to the Eastside Water Treatment Plant and the Bachman Water Treatment Plant, both operated by Dallas Water Utilities, where it is treated to meet federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards before entering the distribution system.

Lake Ray Roberts, in the upper Trinity River watershed north of Dallas, feeds into the system via the Elm Fork of the Trinity River and serves the Elm Fork Water Treatment Plant in Denton County — another critical processing facility in the regional supply chain. The Trinity River itself has historically carried treated effluent and stormwater through Dallas, but it is not a primary raw water source.

Dallas also participates in regional water planning through the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD), which supplies treated water to several surrounding communities and has interconnects that can provide supplemental supply during high-demand periods. The city's long-term water planning is coordinated through the Texas Water Development Board's Regional Water Planning Group, which governs how new supply infrastructure is prioritized across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Because Dallas relies entirely on surface water reservoirs rather than aquifers, reservoir storage levels are the primary metric driving drought stage decisions. When storage in the combined lake system drops below threshold percentages, Dallas Water Utilities moves through its conservation stages automatically under the Drought Contingency Plan.

HOA and brown lawn protections

Texas homeowners are protected under Texas Property Code § 202.007, which prohibits homeowners associations from fining residents for failing to water or maintain a green lawn when a government entity has imposed mandatory water restrictions. If Dallas Water Utilities has declared a mandatory conservation stage — as is currently the case under Moderate Restrictions — your HOA cannot enforce any rule that requires you to keep your lawn green or penalize you for brown turf resulting from reduced irrigation.

The protection under § 202.007 is specific: it applies when the restriction is mandatory, not merely voluntary. The current Dallas restriction phase is mandatory, so you are fully covered. HOAs retain the right to enforce rules about dead vegetation removal, trash, and other aesthetic standards, but withered or brown turf directly attributable to water restriction compliance is explicitly shielded.

If your HOA has sent you a notice, threatened a fine, or placed a violation on your account related to lawn browning during the current Dallas Water Utilities Moderate Restrictions, use the following as a basis for your written response:

"Under Texas Property Code § 202.007, this HOA may not impose fines or take action against a property owner for failing to irrigate or maintain a green lawn when Dallas Water Utilities has issued mandatory water use restrictions. Dallas is currently under Moderate Restrictions as declared by Dallas Water Utilities. Any fine or violation notice related to lawn appearance during this mandatory restriction period is unenforceable under state law. Please remove this violation from my account and confirm in writing that no fine will be assessed."

Keeping your lawn alive on restricted water

Dallas sits in the warm-season transition zone, where summers are brutally hot — regularly exceeding 100°F — and winters are mild enough to prevent cool-season grasses from thriving year-round. The grasses that survive and perform in Dallas lawns are almost exclusively warm-season varieties.

In Dallas's climate, the two-day-per-week restriction is genuinely workable for most established warm-season lawns — especially Bermudagrass, which evolved for the Southern Plains and will go brown and dormant rather than die outright when water is limited. The priority is deep, infrequent watering on your assigned days: run your zones long enough to push water 4–6 inches into the soil rather than running short cycles daily. This encourages deeper root development, which increases heat and drought resilience through August.

For St. Augustinegrass lawns — common in the shadier, older neighborhoods of East Dallas and the Oak Cliff area — the restriction period is harder to manage. St. Augustine shows stress quickly: look for folded blades and blue-gray color as early signs. Raise your mowing height to 3.5–4 inches to reduce evaporative loss from the soil. Avoid fertilizing nitrogen during the restriction period, as it pushes blade growth that demands more water than your schedule can support. If you're reconsidering your turf, Dallas Water Utilities has promoted buffalograss and low-water landscape conversions as long-term alternatives suited to North Texas conditions.

Dallas water restriction FAQ

What days can I water my lawn in Dallas right now?

Under the current Moderate Restrictions, Dallas Water Utilities assigns two watering days per week based on your street address. Odd-numbered addresses and even-numbered addresses receive different day assignments to distribute system load. Contact Dallas Water Utilities at 214-651-1441 or visit dallascityhall.com/water to confirm the specific days assigned to your address, as assignments are tied to the active drought stage.

What time can I run my sprinkler system in Dallas?

You may only operate an automatic irrigation system or sprinkler before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. on your assigned watering days. Running irrigation between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. is prohibited regardless of which day it is — this window restriction applies even on your assigned days. Early morning watering (before 9 a.m.) is the most efficient window, as wind speeds are lower and evaporation loss is minimal in Dallas's summer conditions.

Can I wash my car at home in Dallas during Moderate Restrictions?

Yes, but only with a hand-held hose fitted with a positive shut-off nozzle. Leaving the hose running continuously while washing is prohibited. Commercial car washes that use water recycling systems are not subject to the residential restriction and remain fully operational.

Does Dallas Water Utilities use smart meters to catch irrigation violations?

Yes. Dallas Water Utilities has deployed advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) across much of the service area, which records water consumption in hourly intervals. Analysts can flag accounts that show elevated usage on non-assigned days or during the prohibited 10 a.m.–6 p.m. window. Smart meter data is used as supporting evidence in enforcement investigations, though most cases are still initiated by neighbor or field reports rather than automated alerts alone.

What rebates or programs does Dallas Water Utilities offer for reducing outdoor water use?

Dallas Water Utilities runs a WaterSmart rebate program that offers incentives for qualifying water-efficient upgrades, including smart irrigation controllers (weather-based ET controllers) and high-efficiency sprinkler nozzles. Turf removal and conversion to drought-tolerant landscaping may also qualify for assistance depending on available program funding. Contact Dallas Water Utilities directly at 214-651-1441 to confirm current rebate availability and application requirements, as funding levels change seasonally.

My irrigation controller malfunctioned and watered on the wrong day — will I still be fined?

A first confirmed violation results in a written warning rather than an immediate fine under Dallas Water Utilities' enforcement policy. If you receive a warning due to a controller malfunction, document the equipment failure — service records, controller error logs, or a repair invoice — and contact Dallas Water Utilities customer service to note it on your account. A demonstrated good-faith effort to fix the problem strengthens your position if a second incident occurs before repairs are complete.

Are vegetable gardens and fruit trees exempt from the watering restrictions?

No. Vegetable gardens and fruit trees irrigated with a sprinkler system or automatic drip on a timer follow the same two-day-per-week schedule as lawn irrigation. However, hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is exempt from the day restrictions, so you can water tomatoes, peppers, or a fig tree by hand on any day of the week. This makes hand watering or manually controlled drip the practical choice for keeping edible gardens productive during the restriction period.

Can my HOA fine me for a brown lawn while Dallas Water Utilities restrictions are in effect?

No. Texas Property Code § 202.007 explicitly prohibits HOAs from penalizing homeowners for brown or dormant turf caused by compliance with mandatory government water restrictions. Because the current Dallas Water Utilities restriction phase is mandatory, your HOA has no legal authority to fine you for reduced lawn irrigation during this period. If you receive an HOA notice, respond in writing citing § 202.007 and referencing the active Dallas Water Utilities Moderate Restrictions declaration.

What time can I water in Dallas?

Watering is allowed Not 10am-6pm. Watering outside these hours is a violation even on your assigned day.

What are the fines for watering violations in Dallas?

First offense: Warning first. Repeat violations: Fines for repeat violations. Contact Dallas Water Utilities for the full enforcement schedule.

When will water restrictions end in Dallas?

Current Moderate Restrictions restrictions are in effect through Seasonal. Monitor https://dallascityhall.com/water for the latest status.