Houston TX Water Restrictions 2026

Current water restrictions in Houston, Texas

Houston is currently under Moderate Restrictions, limiting outdoor watering to 2 days per week on a mandatory basis enforced by Houston Public Works.

Houston Public Works administers the city's water conservation program under the authority granted by the City of Houston's Water Conservation Plan, which was developed in compliance with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requirements. The current 2-day-per-week schedule applies citywide and is not optional — violations carry escalating consequences beginning with a written warning. Houston Public Works enforces this schedule as a standing water conservation measure, meaning it is not triggered solely by a single drought event but operates on a seasonal basis tied to demand and system capacity.

Texas is experiencing significant drought pressure statewide. San Antonio is under its first-ever Stage 3 restrictions in SAWS's 30-year history due to critically low Edwards Aquifer levels, and multiple Central Texas cities including Austin and Pflugerville are also under mandatory conservation stages. Houston draws from a different supply system — primarily surface water from Lake Houston and Lake Conroe — but statewide drought conditions increase regional pressure on water infrastructure and support the rationale for Houston's conservation schedule.

Practically speaking: if your assigned watering days are Tuesday and Saturday, you cannot run your irrigation system on a Wednesday morning regardless of temperature. You also cannot run it between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on any allowed day. Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle and drip irrigation are exempt from the day restriction. If you are unsure of your assigned days or need to report a violation, call 311 — Houston's primary contact point for Public Works inquiries.

When can you water in Houston?

Houston Public Works assigns watering days based on street address, typically using the last digit or odd/even designation of the house number. Odd-numbered addresses and even-numbered addresses fall on different day pairs, distributing demand across the week and preventing peak-load stress on the city's distribution system. If you have recently moved or are unsure of your assignment, call 311 and provide your address for confirmation.

Commercial properties, apartment complexes, and homeowners associations with shared irrigation systems are subject to the same 2-day restriction but may have separate meter accounts and billing structures through Houston Public Works. Large commercial irrigation accounts should contact Houston Public Works directly to confirm their assigned days, as multi-meter properties may be managed under a commercial water use agreement with specific compliance requirements.

Houston's subtropical climate means certain trees planted in residential landscapes are under significant heat stress from June through September and deserve priority on your two allowed watering days. Live oak (Quercus virginiana), a dominant street and yard tree across Houston, has deep roots but requires supplemental irrigation during establishment and drought. Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is common across Houston neighborhoods and shows stress through yellowing and leaf drop when under-watered. Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), frequently planted near Houston's bayou corridors and detention ponds, also benefits from deep, infrequent watering during dry stretches. Direct slow drip irrigation to root zones of these trees on your allowed days rather than applying sprinkler coverage to turf that these trees share.

Penalty schedule for water violations

Houston Public Works enforces the watering schedule through a combination of complaint-based reporting and field patrols. Residents can report violations by calling 311 or submitting a service request through the city's 311 online portal, which logs the complaint with a tracking number and routes it to the appropriate Public Works district. Enforcement officers may follow up with a site visit, and in some cases repeat offenders are flagged in the city's utility account system, allowing cross-referencing when future violations are reported at the same address.

If you receive a warning or fine you believe was issued in error — for example, if your drip irrigation was mistaken for prohibited sprinkler use — Houston Public Works has an administrative review process. Contact Houston Public Works at houstontx.gov/publicworks or through 311 to request a review. Document your irrigation system type and, if applicable, provide purchase receipts or photos of drip emitters to support an exemption claim. Responding promptly to a first warning, rather than ignoring it, keeps the matter at the written-warning stage and prevents escalation to a fine.

Other outdoor water rules

Houston's Moderate Restrictions affect more than lawn irrigation. The following activities have specific rules or are commonly misunderstood during the current restriction period:

• Car washing: Washing vehicles at home is permitted but must use a hose with a self-closing (shut-off) nozzle. Leaving a hose running unattended is prohibited under Houston's water waste ordinance regardless of restriction level.
• Pool filling and topping off: Filling a new pool requires a permit through Houston Public Works. Topping off existing pools to compensate for evaporation is generally allowed but should not involve continuous unattended flow. Houston's summer heat causes significant pool evaporation — pool covers are strongly encouraged to reduce the need for topping off.
• Pressure washing: Pressure washing of driveways, patios, and exterior walls is permitted but should use the minimum water necessary. Using a running garden hose as a substitute for a pressure washer on hard surfaces is considered water waste under city code.
• Ornamental fountains: Decorative fountains that recirculate water are permitted. Fountains that discharge to drain without recirculation are prohibited during restriction periods.
• Landscape construction and irrigation system testing: New irrigation system testing and landscape installation using potable water may require advance coordination with Houston Public Works if work occurs outside assigned watering days. Contractors should confirm requirements before starting large commercial or HOA projects.
• Restaurant water service: Per standard Texas conservation practice, restaurants are expected to serve water only upon customer request during conservation periods — this applies to Houston establishments under the current schedule.

Where Houston's water comes from

Houston's drinking water comes primarily from two surface water reservoirs: Lake Houston on the San Jacinto River and Lake Conroe on the West Fork of the San Jacinto River. Together these reservoirs supply the majority of treated water delivered through the city's distribution system. Houston is among the largest surface-water-dependent municipalities in Texas, which distinguishes it from San Antonio and the Hill Country cities that rely on the Edwards Aquifer.

Water from Lake Houston and Lake Conroe is treated at the East Water Purification Plant and the Northeast Water Purification Plant (NEWPP) — the latter being one of the largest water treatment expansions in Houston's history, designed to significantly increase the city's surface water treatment capacity. Houston Public Works operates these facilities and manages distribution across a system serving more than 2 million residents within city limits plus wholesale customers in surrounding Harris County municipalities.

Houston has historically also drawn from groundwater — specifically the Gulf Coast Aquifer, the same system underlying much of the Texas Gulf Coast. However, the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District has mandated a dramatic reduction in groundwater pumping over several decades to counteract land subsidence, which caused significant infrastructure damage and flooding risk in low-lying Houston neighborhoods. As a result, the city has converted most of its supply to surface water, and groundwater now represents a much smaller share of total production.

During dry years, the San Jacinto watershed that feeds both Lake Houston and Lake Conroe receives reduced rainfall, and reservoir levels decline. Tropical weather systems can rapidly replenish supplies, but multi-month periods without significant rainfall — common in Houston's late spring and summer — directly stress storage levels and drive conservation scheduling decisions by Houston Public Works.

Can your HOA fine you for a brown lawn?

Texas Property Code § 202.007 protects Houston homeowners from HOA fines or enforcement actions related to brown, dormant, or water-stressed lawns during periods when outdoor watering is restricted by a government authority. Under this statute, a property owners association may not require a property owner to water their lawn in a manner that conflicts with a water restriction imposed by Houston Public Works or any other applicable governmental entity. This protection is automatic — you do not need to file paperwork with your HOA to invoke it.

The protection applies as long as the restriction is in effect. Once restrictions are lifted, HOAs may resume enforcement of landscaping standards. Keep documentation of the current Moderate Restrictions — including the effective date and the Houston Public Works source — in case your HOA disputes the applicability. Texas law is clear that HOA deed restrictions cannot override a municipal water conservation order.

If your HOA sends a violation notice related to lawn appearance during the current restriction period, use a response like the following:

"Please be advised that my property is in compliance with Texas Property Code § 202.007. The City of Houston is currently under Moderate Restrictions as administered by Houston Public Works, limiting outdoor irrigation to 2 days per week. Under state law, the Association may not require watering that conflicts with this mandatory restriction. I am watering on my assigned days within the hours permitted by Houston Public Works. Please rescind this notice and update your records accordingly. For questions about the current restriction, contact Houston Public Works at houstontx.gov/publicworks or call 311."

How to manage your lawn during drought

Houston's climate supports warm-season grasses that go semi-dormant under heat and drought stress but recover with rainfall and cooler temperatures. Managing your lawn correctly during restrictions reduces water demand and improves resilience.

St. Augustine is the most common lawn grass in Houston and will begin to show stress — rolling or folding blades — within a few days of missed irrigation during peak summer heat. Water St. Augustine deeply on both allowed days rather than lightly, targeting 1 inch total per week when possible. Raise your mower height to 3.5–4 inches during restriction periods; taller turf shades the soil surface, reduces moisture loss, and maintains root depth. Avoid fertilizing with high-nitrogen products during restriction periods, as this drives top growth that increases water demand without root development.

Houston's high humidity creates conditions favorable for Take-All Root Rot and Brown Patch fungal disease, both of which are active in St. Augustine lawns from fall through spring and can be exacerbated by evening watering that leaves blades wet overnight. If your assigned watering days allow a morning start time before 10 a.m., use it — early morning irrigation reduces fungal pressure. Bermuda grass lawns handle Houston's summer heat significantly better and can tolerate the 2-day schedule with minimal visible stress if mowed at 1.5–2 inches and watered to a depth of 6 inches per session.

Questions residents are asking

What days can I water my lawn at my Houston address?

Your assigned watering days are based on your street address, typically determined by whether your house number is odd or even. Call 311 or visit houstontx.gov/publicworks with your address to confirm your two specific assigned days. You may water before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. on those days only — not between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and not on any other day of the week for sprinkler or irrigation system use.

Can I wash my car at home in Houston right now?

Yes, residential car washing is permitted under Houston's current Moderate Restrictions, but you must use a hose equipped with a self-closing shut-off nozzle. Leaving a running hose unattended while washing your vehicle violates Houston's water waste ordinance and can result in enforcement action independent of the watering schedule restrictions.

What happens if I accidentally water on the wrong day — will I get an immediate fine?

No. Houston Public Works issues a written warning for a first offense before any fine is assessed. If you receive a warning, correct the schedule immediately. A second violation at the same address moves into monetary fine territory. Keeping a visible reminder of your two assigned days near your irrigation controller is the simplest way to avoid an inadvertent violation.

Does my HOA have the right to fine me for a brown lawn right now?

No. Texas Property Code § 202.007 prohibits HOAs from fining or citing homeowners for lawn appearance that results from complying with a mandatory watering restriction imposed by Houston Public Works. If your HOA sends a violation notice, respond in writing citing § 202.007 and the current Moderate Restrictions. The law is unambiguous — the HOA restriction cannot override the city's mandatory conservation order.

Is drip irrigation affected by the 2-day-per-week schedule?

No. Drip irrigation systems are exempt from the day-of-week restriction under Houston's water conservation rules. Drip systems deliver water directly to root zones at low flow rates and are considered efficient-use methods that don't require the same scheduling limits as spray heads or rotary sprinklers. You may run drip irrigation on any day, but you should still avoid running it during the 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. window if possible to minimize evaporative losses in Houston's summer heat.

Can I fill or top off my pool during the current restrictions?

Topping off an existing pool to replace evaporation losses is generally permitted under Moderate Restrictions. Houston's summer temperatures and direct sun cause substantial pool water evaporation — a standard uncovered residential pool can lose 1–2 inches per week. A pool cover significantly reduces this loss and decreases how frequently you need to add water. Filling a brand-new pool requires a permit from Houston Public Works; contact them through 311 before starting.

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

Houston Public Works, in coordination with the city's sustainability programs, has offered turf replacement and irrigation efficiency rebates at various times. The Houston Water Conservation Rebate Program has historically included rebates for high-efficiency irrigation controllers (smart controllers), soil moisture sensors, and WaterSense-labeled products. Availability and amounts change seasonally and with budget cycles — check houstontx.gov/publicworks or call 311 for the current rebate offerings before purchasing equipment.

I have newly installed sod — do I have to follow the 2-day schedule immediately?

New sod and seeded areas typically qualify for a temporary establishment exception that allows more frequent watering for up to 30 days after installation. However, you must register your new installation with Houston Public Works before beginning the establishment watering schedule. Watering new sod without registering, even if it is genuinely new installation, can still result in a warning if an enforcement officer observes what appears to be a violation. Register first, then begin your establishment watering. After the 30-day window, your lawn falls under the standard 2-day mandatory schedule.

What time can I water in Houston?

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 Houston?

First offense: Warning first. Repeat violations: Fines for repeat violations. Contact Houston Public Works for the full enforcement schedule.

When will water restrictions end in Houston?

Current Moderate Restrictions restrictions are in effect through Seasonal. Monitor https://www.houstontx.gov/publicworks for the latest status.

Can I hand water during Houston 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 Houston Public Works.

How do I report a water waste violation in Houston?

Contact Houston Public Works at 311 or visit https://www.houstontx.gov/publicworks. Most utilities accept online reports and respond within 48 hours.