Irrigation Restrictions

​​​​​Use this form to report wasteful watering, such as leaking irrigation systems, irrigating during or after rain events, watering sidewalks, or watering on the wrong day or at the wrong time.

Irrigation restrictions​ are enforced year round and are as follows:


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  • Irrigation is limited to no more than one hour or ¾ inch of water per irrigation zone per irrigation day.
  • Restrictions apply to private wells and pumps, ground or surface water sources, and water supplied by public or private utilities.
  • Automatic irrigation systems must have a functioning rainfall shutoff device that bypasses irrigation when sufficient moisture is present.

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Exemptions

The following uses are exempt from these restrictions:

  • Vegetable gardens
  • Hand watering with a spray nozzle that has an automatic shutoff
  • Reclaimed water systems
  • Athletic fields
  • Micro-irrigation systems
  • New landscapes during the first 60 days after installation

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Landscape irrigation can account for 60% of residential water use. Reducing irrigation is a great way to save money while leaving more water for our springs and future generations- View our Irrigation brochure or television commercial to learn how!

If you are installing a new irrigation system or adding to an existing one, you must comply with our Irrigation Design Standards​.

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Irrigation Maintenance

Do an inspection for leak detection! Irrigation systems require annual maintenance. 
 

Irrigation systems have a lot of moving parts and require annual maintenance. A broken or missing sprinkler head can waste 8,000 gallons of water each month! As plants mature you can also cap irrigation heads that are no longer needed. Check out this list of Florida Water Star Accredited Irrigation Professionals who can help you fix leaks and improve the efficiency of your system.

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Rainfall shut off devices

All automatic sprinkler systems are required by law to have a functioning rainfall shut-off device that is designed to interrupt the cycle of an automatic irrigation system when a adequate rainfall has occurred. Traditional ones are small devices that are mounted in an open area where they are exposed to rainfall. These need to be checked annually, as they are prone to failing.

To further reduce wasteful watering during rain events, consider installing a Smart Evapotransportation Irrigation Controller (look for the waterSense label) or a Soil Moisture Sensor. These water saving technologies are required for systems installed after 10/1/2019 and below you will find resources to help you learn more.

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Resources

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