Tampa Bay Counties Enforce One-Day Weekly Watering Limits Under Drought Order

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The Southwest Florida Water Management District has ordered one-day-per-week lawn watering restrictions for eight counties in the Tampa Bay region, including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Sarasota, Manatee, Hernando, and Citrus. The new rules, which went into effect on February 8th and will last through July 1st, aim to conserve water during a regional drought.

Why it matters

The Tampa Bay area has experienced a significant rainfall deficit over the past year, prompting the water management district to take action to limit outdoor water usage, which accounts for more than half of household water consumption. The new restrictions apply to all residents, even those using private wells, in an effort to manage the region's limited water resources.

The details

Under the new rules, residents must water their lawns based on the last digit of their street address. Addresses ending in 0 or 1 can water on Mondays, 2 or 3 on Tuesdays, 4 or 5 on Wednesdays, 6 or 7 on Thursdays, and 8 or 9 plus addresses without a clear number on Fridays. Watering is only allowed between 12:01 a.m. and 8 a.m. or from 6 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Pinellas County has slightly different rules based on location. Homeowner associations cannot require residents to use more water or replace plants to meet visual standards.

• The new one-day-per-week lawn watering restrictions went into effect on February 8, 2026.
• The restrictions will remain in place through July 1, 2026.

What’s next

The water management district will continue to monitor the region's water levels and may adjust the restrictions if conditions improve or worsen.