South Florida Residents Face Drought Woes Despite Rain

Homeowners struggle with water restrictions, dying lawns, and hefty bills as region endures one of its worst droughts in decades.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Residents in South Florida's Broward and Miami-Dade counties are facing severe drought conditions, leading to water restrictions, dying lawns, and high water bills. Homeowners like Gabriel Ortiz and Chris Asher are pleading with local authorities for leniency on lawn citations as they try to keep their yards alive amid the dry spell.

Why it matters

The ongoing drought in South Florida is having a significant impact on homeowners, who are being forced to deal with water restrictions, costly lawn replacements, and the risk of citations from local authorities. This highlights the challenges communities face in managing limited water resources during prolonged dry periods.

The details

With water restrictions in place and no major rain in the forecast, residents are struggling to keep their lawns alive. Homeowners like Gabriel Ortiz and Chris Asher have had to replace their sod multiple times, with Asher reporting using 29,000 gallons of water to no avail. The replacement costs range from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the size of the yard. Residents are pleading with local authorities for leniency on lawn citations during the drought.

  • The South Florida drought has been ongoing for several months, with 64% of Broward County in severe drought and 38% of Miami-Dade County in extreme drought.
  • The year-round lawn irrigation restrictions in Miami-Dade and Broward counties have been in place for some time, limiting residents to watering their lawns two days a week.

The players

Gabriel Ortiz

A resident of the Croissant Park neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale who has had to replace his lawn multiple times due to the drought.

Chris Asher

A neighbor of Ortiz who has also struggled to keep his lawn alive, using 29,000 gallons of water to no avail.

South Florida Water Management District

The agency monitoring water levels and encouraging residents to conserve water and follow the year-round lawn irrigation restrictions.

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What they’re saying

“We've just been out here with the hose trying to do the best we can but the situation with the drought makes it difficult.”

— Gabriel Ortiz (CBS News Miami)

“I used 29,000 gallons to water it and it still died. The water bill is more than the grass cost to replace.”

— Chris Asher (CBS News Miami)

“Please give some lenience, we could use it.”

— Gabriel Ortiz (CBS News Miami)

What’s next

CBS News Miami has reached out to the City of Fort Lauderdale to ask if there will be any temporary changes to code enforcement during the drought, but a response is not expected until Tuesday when businesses reopen after the holiday.

The takeaway

The severe drought in South Florida is putting a significant strain on homeowners, who are struggling to keep their lawns alive while facing water restrictions, high water bills, and the risk of citations from local authorities. This situation highlights the need for communities to find sustainable solutions to manage limited water resources during prolonged dry periods.