How to Keep Your Lawn Watered with Water Regulations in Austin

Lawn watering regulations in Austin can make it challenging to keep your grass vibrant and hydrated, but we’ll help you navigate the rules covering odd and even addresses, days of the week, and types of sprinklers.

Not following the city’s water rules can be costly with fines up to $1,000.

Here is what you should know to maintain the health of your lawn while adhering to city regulations. 

Central Texas Water Restrictions in 2025

The Austin Water Conservation Department has put in place specific laws to enforce good watering habits that conserve our water resources.

As of May 2025, Austin is in Stage 2 Drought Water Use Restrictions due to declining water levels in the city’s water supply sources, Lakes Travis and Buchanan. The goal of the Stage 2 restrictions tis to cut back city water use by 10% to 20%.

At Stage 2, residential and commercial customers are permitted 1 to 2 watering days per week, depending on the type of irrigation method used.

Water restrictions often are even tougher in Austin-area cities like Kyle, Georgetown, Round Rock, and Cedar Park. For example:

• Kyle Watering Restrictions: Amended Stage 3 Watering Restrictions allow homeowners to water lawns by a hose and sprinkler, a soaker hose, drip irrigation, or automatic irrigation system only from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on a specified day every other week. Those found in violation face a fine of up to $2,000.
• Georgetown Watering Restrictions: Watering with an irrigation system is not permitted from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on any day. Watering with an irrigation system is not permitted on Mondays at any time. Watering with a hand-held hose or bucket can be done any day and at any time, including watering for trees, food gardens, and other plants.
• Cedar Park Watering Restrictions: Stage 3 Watering Schedule features a camel on the webpage. Residents can water before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on your designated day based on your home address. No watering on Mondays and Fridays.

How Often Can You Water Your Grass in Austin?

For homeowners, outdoor water use, such as watering grass and shrubswith sprinklers, is allowed only on certain days of the week. 

• Water only once a week with an automatic sprinkler and, if needed, on a second day with a hose-end sprinkler.
• If you do not have automatic sprinklers you may water only one day per week with a hose-end sprinkler. 
• If you have a drip irrigation system, you can water your garden or landscape twice a week. 

Here’s the mandatory watering schedule at the time of writing:

Hose-End Sprinklers (1 watering day per week). Hours: Midnight to 10 a.m. and/or 7 p.m. to midnight
Day Assignment Residential: • Even address – Sunday  • Odd address – Saturday	Day Assignment Multifamily/Commercial: • Even address – Tuesday  • Odd address – Friday
Automatic Irrigation Systems (1 watering day per week). Hours: Midnight to 5 a.m. and/or 7 p.m. to midnight
Day Assignment Residential: • Even address – Thursday • Odd address – Wednesday	Day Assignment Multifamily/Commercial: • Even address – Tuesday • Odd address – Friday
Drip Irrigation System (2 watering days per week). Hours: Midnight to 5 a.m. and/or 7 p.m. to midnight
Day Assignment Residential: • Even address – Sunday and Thursday • Odd address – Wednesday and Saturday	Day Assignment Multifamily/Commercial:  • Tuesday and Friday

If you fail to follow the watering restrictions, you can be fined up to $1,000 per violation. To avoid such fines, check the most up-to-date watering schedule for your address on the Austin Water website.

Pro Tip: To avoid worrying about your Austin lawn during times of drought, contact a an Austin landscaping service to advise you on the best drought-tolerant grasses or plants or suggest low-water landscaping alternatives like xeriscaping.

Exemptions to the Water Regulations

Though there are strict rules on when and how often you can water your lawn, there are a few exemptions. Some allowable water uses without restrictions include:

• Watering trees with a Treegator, automatic tree bubbler, or soaker hose 
• Pressure washing (such as sidewalks and patios) using a hose with an automatic shut-off garden hose nozzle.
• Watering vegetable gardens with a soaker hose 

With the following methods, you can water your plants at any time on any day: 

• Refillable container
• Drip irrigation
• Hand-held hose
• Irrigating with reclaimed or auxiliary water 

Austin Pro Tip (from Trae Tindall of Hayven’s Garden Lawn Care in Round Rock): Water by hand. You can water everyday by hand watering.

Austin Pro Tip (from Josiah Cantu of JC Landscaping): Purchasing a sizable rain collector is always a safe bet when restrictions or dry spells come around you can purchase them at the Home Depot. Sizes vary.

5 Ways to Keep Your Lawn Watered in Austin

Water regulations in Austin require a strict watering schedule for all customers throughout the year. Still, it doesn’t have to be a challenge to keep your lawn looking healthy.

Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a beginner, here are some ways you can keep your Austin lawn hydrated and at its best (without being fined).

1. Water Smartly and Efficiently

The City of Austin’s average annual rainfall is 10% below the Texas average, making it a little harder to keep the grass lush and healthy. Once you know your schedule, you want to ensure your water usage is minimal yet effective enough to nourish your grass.

First of all, pay attention to your grass and determine when it needs to be watered. It should bounce back when stepped on and be a healthy shade of green. 

If it has a blue-green hue or if walking across the lawn leaves visible footprints, those are signs your lawn needs water. Avoid watering until you start to notice these signs.

2. Water at the Right Time of Day

The best time to water your Austin yard is early in the morning, before 10 a.m., ideally between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. 

Avoid the peak hot hours between noon and 6 p.m. During these hours, the scorching Texas sun will evaporate most of the water before your soil can absorb it, resulting in significant water waste.  

3. Know Your Grass’s Needs

It’s best to water your grass on a schedule, but knowing your grass is vital. Different kinds of grass require different amounts of water. Here is a brief list of the most common grasses in Austin and their optimal water regimes:

Grass Type	Average Amount of Water Required
St. Augustinegrass	1-1.5 inches/week
Bermudagrass	1 inch /week
Zoysiagrass	1-1.5 inches/week

See Related: 
— Top 10 Drought-Tolerant Grasses for Your Yard

4. Know Your Soil and the Soil Around You

Soil types vary, and knowing yours is half the battle. Examine your soil, estimate the water needed, and learn what works best for your lawn. 

• On the western Edwards Plateau, west of I-35, the soil is rockier and shallower, so it requires more frequent watering.
• East Austin’s Blackland Prairie soils are black and reddish clay. These soils absorb water slowly but retain it very well. Water less frequently and in two shorter sessions, allowing the soil to absorb the water in between.
• Southeast of Austin, the Post Oak Savannah has deep, sandy, and loamy soils that absorb water well and drain quickly, but do not hold moisture. Turf in this area may require more frequent watering.

Pro Tip: We recommend testing the soil for its nutrient content, pH balance, and organic matter. It’s better to know what your grass needs than to guess and use lots of water where it’s not necessary.

See Related:
— Guide to Soil Types: Pros, Cons, and Plant Suggestions

5. Shallow Roots Won’t Survive Texas Weather

Roots require water and adequate nutrients to remain strong, so stress-resistant grass is vital to surviving the long, hot summer days. If you give your lawn frequent, shallow drinks of water, it may develop weak roots that can’t sustain it through the summer. 

Water your Austin lawn with 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, depending on the type of grass, to promote deep root growth and a healthy lawn. Aim to wet the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches each irrigation session.

How long should you run your sprinklers in Austin? Leave your sprinklers on for only as long as your soil can absorb water.

Experts generally recommend watering sessions of:

• 15 to 20 minutes for fixed sprinkler heads (these sprinkler heads apply a constant stream of water on the same area)
• 20 to 30 minutes for rotary stations (sprinkler heads rotate over the watered area)
• 20 to 30 minutes for drip stations.

If the moisture hasn’t reached deep enough, wait 2 to 3 hours for the water to seep in, and then do a second watering session. This helps reduce runoff and conserve water. 

See Related:
— 8 Lawn Watering Tips for Austin Homeowners
— Types of Sprinklers for Your Lawn and Garden

FAQ About Austin Watering Restrictions 

Water Your Austin Lawn Like a Pro or Hire One

Adhering to Austin’s water conservation regulations is a must. By utilizing smart watering techniques, understanding your soil, and being environmentally aware, you can maintain a hydrated and healthy lawn that you can take pride in. All it takes is a bit of effort and knowledge. 

If you still have any concerns, contact a local Austin lawn care expert through LawnStarter for advice and support. Good luck, and, like your lawn, remember to stay hydrated out there!

Main Photo Credit: Austin resident Jonas Weigert / LawnStarter