Homestead Year-Round Irrigation Rules Remain

Homestead residents and businesses must continue following the Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Conservation Measures, in effect since March 2010. The rule, part of the South Florida Water Management District's (SFWMD) Comprehensive Water Conservation Program, limits landscape watering to two days per week across the district.

The regulation applies to irrigation sourced from utilities, lakes, ponds, canals, or wells. Under the standard two-day schedule, properties with odd-numbered street addresses can water on Wednesdays and Saturdays, either before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Properties with even-numbered addresses, no street address, or those irrigating both even and odd addresses within the same zones can water on Thursdays and Sundays during the same time windows.

A three-day-a-week watering option is available for some. Odd-numbered addresses can water on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, while even-numbered addresses and those without a street number can water on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, all within the specified morning or evening hours.

The SFWMD rule allows a 90-day grace period for new landscaping. Immediately after installation, new plantings and soil can be watered once without regard to the regular schedule. For the first 30 days, new plantings may be watered on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. From 31 to 90 days, watering is allowed on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays during the same time frames.

Certain irrigation methods and water sources are exempt. Low-volume irrigation, container watering, and hand-watering with a hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle are permitted anytime. Additionally, the use of reclaimed water and harvested rainwater for irrigation is allowed year-round without restriction. These restrictions apply solely to landscape irrigation.

Local governments may enact ordinances that differ from the district rule. Residents should check with their local city or county government for specific local ordinances or visit www.sfwmd.gov/2days for more information.