Round Rock TX Water Restrictions 2026

Current water restrictions in Round Rock, Texas

Round Rock is under Standard Restrictions, limiting outdoor irrigation to 2 days per week, year-round — this is not a temporary drought response but the City of Round Rock's permanent baseline watering schedule enforced as a mandatory ordinance.

The City of Round Rock Water Utilities administers these restrictions under the city's Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan. The 2-day schedule is not tied to a single drought declaration — it is the standing rule regardless of season, meaning residents follow it in January just as they do in August. Given that Central Texas has faced prolonged dry conditions and that neighboring cities like Pflugerville are currently under Stage 3 Emergency restrictions, Round Rock's permanent 2-day limit reflects a deliberate posture toward long-term conservation rather than reactive crisis management.

The broader regional picture matters here: Austin is operating under a year-round Conservation Stage, the Edwards Aquifer supplying San Antonio is critically low, and Texas as a whole is experiencing mixed but serious drought conditions. Round Rock draws from a different supply chain than the Edwards Aquifer, but regional stress on Central Texas water infrastructure affects planning decisions across Williamson County.

Practically speaking: if your address qualifies for Wednesday watering, you can water your garden on a Wednesday morning — but only before 10 a.m. Watering at 11 a.m. on your assigned day still violates the ordinance. The time-of-day restriction applies regardless of which day you water. Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle and drip irrigation are exempt from the day restrictions entirely, giving residents more flexibility for targeted plant care outside of scheduled irrigation windows.

For the most current information, visit roundrocktexas.gov or contact Round Rock Water Utilities directly.

Round Rock's watering days and hours

Rule	Details
Days per week	2
Day assignment	2 assigned days per week based on address
Allowed hours	Before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m.
Hand watering	Exempt (shut-off nozzle required)
Drip irrigation	Exempt
New sod/seed	30-day establishment window — register with City of Round Rock Water Utilities

Round Rock assigns watering days based on your street address, typically using the last digit of your address number to determine which two days of the week apply to your property. Odd-numbered addresses and even-numbered addresses follow different schedules, and the specific day pairings are published by Round Rock Water Utilities on the city website. If you are unsure of your assigned days, the city's online lookup tool or a call to Water Utilities will confirm them quickly — do not assume your neighbor's schedule matches yours if your address digits differ.

Commercial properties and multi-family complexes follow the same address-based day assignment system. Large apartment communities and commercial irrigation systems are not granted additional days by default; operators of large irrigation systems are expected to manage scheduling within the 2-day limit just as single-family homeowners are. HOA common areas, including shared landscaping and amenity-center turf, are also subject to the same schedule and are not exempt by virtue of being association-maintained.

Newly installed sod or seeded lawns qualify for a temporary establishment exception, but this requires registration with Round Rock Water Utilities before or immediately after installation. The establishment window typically allows more frequent watering for up to 30 days. Once that window closes, the property reverts to the standard 2-day schedule.

Homeowners with large established trees should prioritize deep watering during their two allowed windows. Live oaks (Quercus fusiformis), cedar elms (Ulmus crassifolia), and Texas red oaks (Quercus buckleyi) — all common in Round Rock's neighborhoods and the city's tree canopy — are particularly vulnerable during Central Texas heat and drought stress. Deep, infrequent soaks at the drip line during allowed hours are more effective than shallow daily watering and fit naturally within the 2-day schedule.

Violation fines and enforcement

Offense	Penalty
First offense	Written warning
Second offense	Monetary fine
Subsequent offenses	Escalating fines per violation

Round Rock's enforcement approach begins with a written warning for a first-time violation, giving residents an opportunity to correct their watering schedule before financial penalties apply. After the initial warning, repeat violations move to monetary fines that increase with each subsequent offense. The city does not publicly post a fixed dollar schedule the way some Texas municipalities do, so confirmed fine amounts should be verified directly with Round Rock Water Utilities or the city's Code Compliance division — fines can vary based on the nature and frequency of the violation.

Enforcement in Round Rock is complaint-driven as well as patrol-based. Code Compliance officers do conduct proactive inspections, particularly during high-use summer months when midday irrigation violations are most visible. Residents can submit complaints about neighbors violating the watering schedule through the city's online service request portal at roundrocktexas.gov. Round Rock has also been expanding its smart meter infrastructure across its water service area, which gives Water Utilities the ability to flag unusual usage patterns that may indicate off-schedule or excessive irrigation. If you believe a citation was issued in error — for example, if your drip system was running during a restricted window without your knowledge — the city does allow residents to contest violations through Code Compliance and, if necessary, through municipal court.

Other outdoor water rules

Beyond lawn irrigation, Round Rock's water conservation ordinance addresses several other outdoor water uses. The following rules apply under Standard Restrictions:

• Car washing: Washing vehicles at home is permitted only with a hand-held hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle. Leaving a hose running unattended is prohibited. Commercial car washes that recycle water are not subject to the same limitations.
• Pool filling and topping off: Filling a new pool requires a permit from Round Rock Water Utilities. Topping off an existing pool to offset evaporation is generally allowed but should be done with a shut-off nozzle or automated fill valve to avoid waste. Given Central Texas summer temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F, pool evaporation loss is a real factor — evaporation covers significantly reduce this demand.
• Pressure washing: Pressure washing of driveways, sidewalks, and exterior walls is discouraged under conservation guidelines. If necessary, it should use the minimum water required and should not involve runoff into storm drains or streets.
• Decorative fountains: Ornamental fountains and water features that do not recirculate water must be shut off. Recirculating fountain systems are permissible.
• Construction water use: Builders and contractors working within Round Rock's ETJ and city limits are subject to the same conservation requirements and must coordinate with Water Utilities for dust control and construction-related water draws.
• Landscape watering by hand: Always permitted with a shut-off nozzle, any day, any time — this is the most flexible watering option available under the current schedule.

How Round Rock gets its water

Round Rock sources its municipal water primarily from the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA) and through its membership in the broader Central Texas water network. The city purchases treated surface water that originates from the North Fork of the San Gabriel River, stored at Lake Georgetown — a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the San Gabriel River in Williamson County, approximately 10 miles west of Round Rock. Lake Georgetown has a conservation storage capacity of roughly 42,500 acre-feet and serves as a critical supply buffer for the region.

Round Rock also receives water through an agreement with the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), which manages the Highland Lakes system — including Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan on the Colorado River. These two reservoirs collectively form the primary water supply for much of the Austin metro region. When the Highland Lakes are under drought pressure, water availability for cities drawing from the LCRA system tightens, directly affecting Round Rock's supply outlook.

Water from these surface sources is treated at the Round Rock Water Treatment Plant before distribution through the city's municipal network. The treatment plant serves Round Rock's growing population, which has roughly doubled since 2000, placing increasing demand on a supply system that is sensitive to both regional drought cycles and competition from neighboring fast-growing Williamson County cities.

Unlike San Antonio, Round Rock does not depend on the Edwards Aquifer as a primary supply source — a meaningful distinction, since the Edwards is currently at critically low levels. However, regional drought in the Colorado River watershed directly affects Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan levels, and multi-year dry periods like those Central Texas has experienced since the early 2010s can stress the LCRA system that Round Rock partially relies on. This is precisely why the city maintains a year-round 2-day watering schedule as a baseline rather than waiting for reservoir levels to trigger emergency restrictions.

HOA and brown lawn protections

Texas Property Code § 202.007 explicitly prohibits homeowners associations in Texas from fining or penalizing a homeowner for not irrigating their lawn during a period of drought or water restrictions. If Round Rock Water Utilities has imposed mandatory watering restrictions — which they have, year-round — your HOA cannot fine you for a brown or dormant lawn that results from compliance with those rules. The statute applies to all residential property owners' associations subject to the Texas Property Code, which covers the vast majority of HOAs in Williamson County.

In practice, some HOAs in Round Rock still send warning letters to homeowners with drought-stressed lawns, either because HOA management companies are unaware of the current restrictions or because they apply blanket aesthetic standards without checking city ordinance status. If you receive such a letter, you are not obligated to increase watering beyond your assigned 2 days per week to satisfy HOA appearance standards.

Use the following as a template response to your HOA:

"This property is in compliance with mandatory water restrictions currently in effect under the City of Round Rock's year-round Standard Restrictions water conservation ordinance. Under Texas Property Code § 202.007, a property owners' association may not enforce deed restrictions or levy fines against a property owner for failing to water or maintain landscaping in a manner that is inconsistent with water restrictions imposed by a governmental entity. Any fine or enforcement action related to lawn appearance during this mandatory restriction period is not enforceable. Please update your records accordingly."

If your HOA persists, you may file a complaint with the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), which has oversight authority over HOA management companies, or seek guidance from the Texas Attorney General's HOA Assistance Helpline.

Keeping your lawn alive on restricted water

Central Texas sits firmly in the warm-season grass zone. The grasses that actually grow and survive in Round Rock's climate are Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine, and Buffalo grass — not cool-season varieties like Kentucky Bluegrass, which cannot withstand the region's summer heat. Managing these grasses correctly within a 2-day watering schedule requires understanding how each one responds to heat stress and restricted irrigation.

Grass Type	Drought Tolerance	Survival on 2 Days/Week	Notes
Bermudagrass	High	Good — goes dormant, recovers well	Most drought-resilient option for Round Rock lawns
Zoysiagrass	Moderate–High	Good with deep watering	Slow recovery from dormancy; deep soak on both days helps
St. Augustinegrass	Moderate	Fair — struggles in prolonged heat	Needs at least 1 inch per watering session; common in shaded yards
Buffalograss	Very High	Excellent — native to Texas	Ideal for low-water lawns; thrives in Round Rock's clay soils

During Round Rock's summers — where daytime temperatures regularly reach 100°F or above and the region can go weeks without measurable rainfall — the most important adjustment is watering deeply rather than frequently. When your two assigned windows arrive, run each zone long enough to deliver 1 to 1.5 inches of water, penetrating 6 to 8 inches into the soil. Round Rock's heavy clay-loam soils, common throughout Williamson County, hold moisture longer than sandy soils, meaning a thorough soak on Tuesday evening can sustain turf through midweek if mowing height is kept at 3.5 to 4 inches for St. Augustine and at least 2 inches for Bermuda. Raise your mower deck now if you haven't.

Homeowners considering lawn renovation should look seriously at Buffalograss or native plant conversions. Buffalograss is native to Central Texas, establishes well in the region's alkaline clay soils, and can survive on natural rainfall alone during non-extreme years. The City of Round Rock periodically offers rebates and incentives for turf replacement with water-smart landscaping through its conservation programs — check roundrocktexas.gov for current offerings before spending money on re-sodding with a high-water grass variety.

Round Rock water restriction FAQ

What days can I water my lawn in Round Rock?

Your two assigned watering days depend on your street address number. Round Rock Water Utilities assigns watering days based on the last digit of your address, with odd and even address numbers receiving different day pairings from the weekly schedule. To confirm your exact assigned days, use the address lookup tool on the City of Round Rock Water Utilities page at roundrocktexas.gov or contact Water Utilities directly. Do not assume your schedule matches a neighbor's without verifying — address assignments vary.

What time of day am I allowed to water?

You may only irrigate before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on your assigned days. Running your sprinkler system at noon on your assigned day still constitutes a violation. The time restriction exists to reduce evaporation loss — midday watering in Round Rock's summer heat can lose 30 to 50 percent of applied water to evaporation before it reaches the root zone. Watering in the early morning, between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m., is generally the most efficient window.

What happens if I get caught watering on the wrong day?

Your first offense results in a written warning from Round Rock Code Compliance — no fine on the first contact. After that, subsequent violations carry monetary fines that escalate with each offense. Violations can be reported by neighbors through the City of Round Rock's online service request portal, or cited directly by Code Compliance officers during patrols. Smart meters in Round Rock's expanding metered network can also flag high-usage anomalies for Water Utilities review.

Is drip irrigation restricted in Round Rock?

No. Drip irrigation systems are exempt from the day and time restrictions under Round Rock's watering ordinance. Drip delivers water directly to the root zone with minimal evaporation, which is exactly the kind of efficient delivery the conservation program is designed to encourage. If you are currently using overhead spray irrigation, switching high-value planting beds to drip can give you watering flexibility seven days a week while significantly reducing your water use.

Can I water my new sod or newly seeded lawn more than twice a week?

Yes, but you must register with Round Rock Water Utilities first. Newly installed sod or seeded lawns qualify for a temporary establishment exception that allows more frequent watering for up to 30 days after installation. Once the establishment period expires, your lawn reverts to the standard 2-day mandatory schedule. Document your registration and keep a copy in case a code complaint is filed during the establishment window.

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

Round Rock Water Utilities periodically offers conservation rebate programs for turf replacement, smart irrigation controllers, and water-efficient landscaping upgrades. The availability and dollar amounts of these programs change — past programs have included rebates for replacing St. Augustinegrass with native or drought-adapted plants and for installing WaterSense-certified irrigation controllers. Check roundrocktexas.gov under the Water Conservation section for current program availability before starting any landscaping project, since rebate windows sometimes have limited funding.

My HOA is threatening to fine me for a brown lawn — do I have to comply?

No. Texas Property Code § 202.007 prohibits HOAs from fining or penalizing homeowners for maintaining a lawn that conflicts with HOA appearance standards when that condition results from compliance with mandatory government water restrictions. Round Rock's year-round 2-day mandatory schedule qualifies. Respond to your HOA in writing citing the statute, identify that the City of Round Rock has mandatory Standard Restrictions in place, and state that you are in compliance. If fines continue, you can escalate to the Texas Real Estate Commission or the Attorney General's HOA Helpline.

Is Round Rock connected to the Edwards Aquifer?

No. Round Rock's water supply does not rely on the Edwards Aquifer, which is the source currently at critically low levels and driving Stage 3 Emergency restrictions in San Antonio. Round Rock sources its water primarily from Lake Georgetown on the San Gabriel River and through the LCRA's Highland Lakes system — Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan on the Colorado River. However, those surface water supplies are not immune to regional drought; multi-year dry cycles in Central Texas affect Colorado River inflows into the Highland Lakes, which is one reason Round Rock maintains its conservation schedule year-round rather than reacting only when a crisis emerges.

What time can I water in Round Rock?

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 Round Rock?

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

When will water restrictions end in Round Rock?

Current Standard Restrictions restrictions are in effect through Year-round. Monitor https://www.roundrocktexas.gov for the latest status.

Can I hand water during Round Rock 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 Round Rock.

How do I report a water waste violation in Round Rock?

Contact City of Round Rock or visit https://www.roundrocktexas.gov. Most utilities accept online reports and respond within 48 hours.