Watering Schedule and Rules

Year-Round Conservation Measures (Effective August 2, 2017)

When Can I Water?

In Pinellas County, there are specific days and times when you may water the plants in your yard. By following these laws, you can help save water and reduce strain on the water system. Select your water source from the chart below to see when to water your yard and plants.

 

Drinking, Well, Lake and Pond Water

Reclaimed Water North County

Reclaimed Water South County

 

Basic Rules

• Wasteful and Unnecessary Use of Water Is Prohibited
  • Allowing water to flow from an unattended hose
    
  • Hand-watering a lawn on a restricted day or more than once a day
    
  • Hosing down a driveway or solid surface or structure when a dry method could be used
    
  • Allowing water to flow from a broken sprinkler head, outdoor faucet, malfunctioning plumbing or irrigation system after receiving verbal or written notice
• Violations
  • The Year-Round Conservation Measures and Seasonal Reclaimed Water Restrictions allow the first violation of these restrictions to be issued as a "warning" Notice of Violation. In accordance with Sixth Judicial Circuit Administrative Order No. 2018-068 PI-CTY, Local Ordinance Violations and Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Violations Uniform Fine Schedule, Attachment A, Miscellaneous Ordinance, Marine Patrol, Fish and Wildlife Conservation commission, and Natural Resources Violation fines start at $193, and may be doubled for a second offense; and for each subsequent offense thereafter. Contested citations may result in the cost of the fine plus additional court costs. For more information after receiving a citation, please contact Business & Customer Services at (727)464-4000.
• New Lawns and Plants - Establishment Period
• Chemical Applications
• Irrigation System Testing and Repair
• Sprinkler System Calculator
• Additional Restrictions

 

 

 

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Subscribe to receive email notifications when water restrictions change for potable, well, lake, and pond sources and Pinellas County reclaimed water.

 

 

This notification information is for Pinellas County Utilities customers only. If you receive water from a municipality, check with your water supplier for information on restrictions.

 

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Potable Water

 

Irrigation using:
County Drinking Water or Well, Lake, and Pond Water
for unincorporated Pinellas County residents

Addresses ending in:	Authorized Watering Days:
Even numbers: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8	Thursday and/or Sunday
Odd numbers: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9	Wednesday and/or Saturday
Mixed or No Address (such as common areas and other "no address" locations)	Tuesday and/or Friday

For unincorporated Pinellas County residents (Pinellas County Code 82-2 FAC 40D-22)

 

Watering Hours
(regardless of property size)

Morning: 12:01 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.	Evening: 4:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Two Days a Week - One time per day

 

Rules include:
• Lawn irrigation is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Properties with 2 acres or more of irrigated land may water ½ on Thursday and/or Sunday and may water the remaining ½ on Wednesday and/or Saturday. A diagram with the irrigation schedule for each zone must be submitted to Business & Customer Services.
• Watering of new lawns and plants must follow an establishment period exemption schedule. See Basic Rules
• View the Water Restrictions flyer to find information about the 60-day establishment period for new lawn & landscaping, chemical applications, wasteful and unnecessary water use, car washing, and more or see rules.

 

Irrigation Using City Water

• If you are using Well, Lake, and Pond Water, use restrictions as listed for non-city properties.
• Your drinking water supplier may have additional restrictions or a different watering schedule.
• If you are not sure who provides your water, please check your water bill or call Pinellas County Utilities Business & Customer Services at (727) 464-4000.

• Check City Service Areas

  If you live in one of the following cities and receive drinking water from that city, follow the city's restrictions (SWFWMD contact list).
  • Belleair
  • Clearwater
  • Dunedin
  • Gulfport
  • Oldsmar
  • Pinellas Park
  • Safety Harbor
  • South Pasadena
  • St. Petersburg
  • Tarpon Springs

 

 

 

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Reclaimed Water

 

North County Reclaimed Watering Schedule
for unincorporated Pinellas County residents

Addresses ending in:	Authorized Watering Days:
Even numbers: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8	Tuesday and/or Saturday
Odd numbers: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9	Wednesday and/or Sunday
Mixed or No Address (such as common areas,entry areas/office complexes, shopping centers and other "no address" locations)	Wednesday and/or Sunday

For unincorporated Pinellas County residents (Pinellas County Code 82-2 FAC 40D-22)

 

Due to increased demand and limited rainfall, the North County reclaimed water availability has implemented a two day per week watering schedule. Reclaimed water will be available from midnight to 8 a.m. and available again from 4 p.m. to midnight on watering days. The system will be off between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on watering days. The North County reclaimed system will be off on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

 

Watering Hours
(regardless of property size)

Morning: Midnight to 8:00 a.m.	Evening: 4:00 p.m. to Midnight

2 Days per Week

Seasonal Restrictions October 1 - November 30 and April 1 – June 30

 

North County 60–Day Establishment Period Guidelines

• Day 1 to day 30, new plant material may be watered every day reclaimed water is available. On days reclaimed water is not available, potable water may be used (via a hose with a sprinkler head attached).
• Day 31 to day 60, new plant material may be watered on your two authorized days. Two days per week should be sufficient, but if an additional day is needed, then reclaimed may be used on one of the remaining days reclaimed is available.
• Irrigation may only take place during authorized hours.
• Irrigation shall be isolated to the new lawn or plant area only. New trees, shrubs and plants shall be watered by hand.
• An entire zone of an irrigation system may be used if the zone waters an area that contains at least 50% new plant material.
• Partial zone and dispersed plantings (such as trees, plants, and shrubs) shall be watered by some other targeted means of supplemental irrigation.
• Proof of new lawn material should be submitted prior to or immediately following installation and should include, at a minimum, the date and location of installation as well as the amount of material installed.
  • Irrigation Exemption Proof of new plant material may be:
    • Faxed to (727) 464-3717
    • Emailed to custsrv@pinellascounty.org
    • Dropped off at the Customer Services, Payment Center at 14 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater, FL 33756

 

 

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South County Reclaimed Watering Schedule
for unincorporated Pinellas County residents

Addresses ending in:	Authorized Watering Days:
Even numbers: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8	Tuesday, Thursday, and/or Saturday
Odd numbers: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9	Wednesday, Friday, and/or Sunday
Mixed or No Address (such as common areas,entry areas/office complexes, shopping centers and other "no address" locations)	Wednesday, Friday, and/or Sunday

For unincorporated Pinellas County residents (Pinellas County Code 82-2 FAC 40D-22)

 

Watering Hours
(regardless of property size)

Morning: midnight to 10 a.m.	Evening: 4 p.m. to midnight

3 Days per Week

Seasonal Restrictions October 1 - November 30 and April 1 – June 30

 

South County 60-Day Establishment Period Guidelines:

 

• Day 1 to day 30, new plant material may be watered any day of the week.
• Day 31 to day 60, new plant material may be watered on the 3 authorized days for your address.
• Exemption begins on the day of installation.
• On the day of installation, new turf grass or plant material may be irrigated once without regard to the allowable watering times.
• Irrigation may only take place during authorized hours.
• Irrigation shall be isolated to the new lawn or plant area only. New trees, shrubs and plants shall be watered by hand.
• An entire zone of an irrigation system may be used if the zone waters an area that contains at least 50% new plant material.
• Partial zone and dispersed plantings (such as trees, plants, and shrubs) shall be watered by some other targeted means of supplemental irrigation.
• Proof of new lawn material should be submitted prior to or immediately following installation and should include, at a minimum, the date and location of installation as well as the amount of material installed.
  • Irrigation Exemption Proof of new plant material may be:
    • Faxed to (727) 464-3717
    • Emailed to custsrv@pinellascounty.org
    • Dropped off at the Customer Services, Payment Center at 14 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater, FL 33756

 

 

Additional Information:

• Business & Customer Services at (727) 464-4000, or visit www.pinellascounty.org/utilities/reclaim-conservation.html.
• Map of reclaimed water areas
• Reduce fertilizer use when irrigating with reclaimed water

 

Fines for Reclaimed Water Noncompliance:

• Notice of Violation issued for all observed violations of the reclaimed water ordinance.
• More than three violations in a twelve month period may result in reclaimed service being terminated.

 

Reclaimed Water Provided by a City

Check Reclaimed Water Service Areas

Customers receiving reclaimed water from a city (not Pinellas County) must follow the restrictions established by the city. The following cities provide reclaimed water to their customers:

• Clearwater (727) 562-4600
• Dunedin (727) 298-3100
• Largo (727) 518-3076
• Oldsmar (813) 855-5257
• Pinellas Park (727) 369-0690
• South Pasadena (727) 384-0701
• St. Pete Beach *For new connections only: (727) 363-9243
• St. Petersburg (727) 892-5111
• Tarpon Springs (727) 942-5616

 

 

 

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Basic Rules

• New Lawns and Plants - Establishment Period
  • New lawns and plants have a 60-day total establishment period
  • From day 1 to day 30, new plant material may be watered any day of the week
  • From day 31 to day 60, new plant material may be watered 3 days per week
  • Even addresses only on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
  • Odd addresses only on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
  • Only during authorized hours
  • Isolated to new lawn or plant area only
  • Exemption begins on the day of installation
  • On the day of installation, new lawns and plants may be irrigated once without regard to the allowable watering times
  • An entire zone of an irrigation system may be used if the zone waters an area that contains at least 50% new plant material
  • Partial zone or dispersed plantings shall be watered by some other, more targeted means of supplemental irrigation
  • The property owner or manager shall, upon request, provide proof of installation date and call (727) 464-4000 to report the installation of new material to have an exception placed on the account and avoid receiving a violation
  • The property owner or manager shall, upon request, provide proof of installation date and call (727) 464-4000 to report the installation of new material to have an exception placed on the account and avoid receiving a violation.
    • Irrigation Exemption Proof of new plant material may be:
      • Faxed to (727) 464-3717
      • Emailed to custsrv@pinellascounty.org
      • Dropped off at the Customer Services, Payment Center at 14 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater, FL 33756

 

• Chemical Applications
  • Irrigation to water-in necessary lawn chemicals is not restricted when required by the manufacturer or when required by law
    
  • Chemical applications shall be watered during authorized watering hours
    
  • Watering-in shall be limited to one application of one-quarter inches within 24 hours of the application
  • The property owner or manager shall, upon request, provide proof of application date and call (727) 464-4000 prior to, or immediately following, the application of chemicals
    
    

• Irrigation System Testing and Repair
  • May be operated for testing and repair purposes
    
  • Testing may be done as often as once a week
    
  • The run-time for any one test may not exceed 10 minutes
    
  • An attendant must be on-site in the area being tested

 

• Additional Restrictions

 

 

 

For additional information, contact Southwest Florida Water Management District (800) 836-0797 | www.swfwmd.state.fl.us For fact sheets on golf courses, hand-watering, new plant establishment, and more, visit www.swfwmd.state.fl.us.