Last updated:
Last verified: October 6, 2026, against City of Tampa Water Department and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
Modified Phase III: Tampa schedule and HOA boundary
| Address ending | Allowed lawn day |
|---|---|
| 0 or 1 | Monday |
| 2 or 3 | Tuesday |
| 4 or 5 | Wednesday |
| 6 or 7 | Thursday |
| 8 or 9; mixed or no address | Friday |
Hours: 12:01–4 a.m. or 8–11:59 p.m., once on the assigned day; a property under one acre uses one window. Hand watering and microirrigation of non-turf plants are allowed any day before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. The City states that no HOA, property manager, or other entity may enforce a deed restriction or standard that conflicts with current water restrictions; dry-appearing turf complying with the once-weekly rule may not be penalized. This is a rule summary, not legal advice.
Sources checked October 6, 2026: City of Tampa watering days and hours and SWFWMD District Water Restrictions.
Quick answer: As of October 6, 2026, Tampa and Hillsborough County are under a SWFWMD Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage, in effect through March 31, 2027. Landscape irrigation is limited to one day per week, assigned by your address number, and only during the cooler windows of 12:01–4 a.m.
or 8 p.m.–11:59 p.m. — there is no watering from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. (properties under one acre pick one window). Low-volume micro-irrigation, soaker hoses, and hand watering are allowed any day, but only before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Since mid-April, local utilities issue citations without a prior warning. Because the order is currently extended through March 31, 2027, confirm the current phase and your assigned day at watermatters.org or tampagov.net before you set a schedule. Source: Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). Updated 2026-08-31.
Under the 2026 Modified Phase III order, Tampa-area lawns may be watered only one day per week, and your day is set by your address number (check your specific day with your utility or at watermatters.org). On that day, in-ground sprinklers may run only between 12:01 and 4 a.m.
or between 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m.; properties under one acre choose a single window. For City of Tampa water customers the once-a-week limit is not temporary: the City has enforced once-per-week watering year-round since 1992 under its own ordinance, so Tampa customers stay on one day per week even after this District order lifts. What the Modified Phase III order changes for them is the hours — no watering between 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. In unincorporated Hillsborough County and other utilities, the District order is what tightens the day count during a shortage. Hillsborough County publishes a lookup that returns the watering days and hours for a specific address, which is the fastest way to settle it for an unincorporated property: Find My Watering Days & Times. The rule applies to all sources, including private wells, for lawn irrigation.
| Method | Allowed day | Allowed hours |
|---|---|---|
| In-ground / hose-end sprinklers | 1 assigned day/week (by address) | 12:01–4 a.m. or 8 p.m.–11:59 p.m. |
| Micro-irrigation, soaker hose, hand watering | Any day | Before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. |
| Daytime irrigation (4 a.m.–8 p.m.) | Not allowed | — |
Source: SWFWMD Modified Phase III water shortage order. Updated 2026-08-31.
City of Tampa: once-a-week watering is permanent, not a drought measure
If the City of Tampa is your water provider, one watering day per week is your permanent, year-round schedule. The City has had water use restrictions in place and enforced year-round since 1992, and the once-a-week schedule rests on the City’s own ordinance (Tampa Code Section 26-97, with Chapter 40D-22 of the Florida Administrative Code), not on any District shortage order.
So the day count does not change when the SWFWMD order lifts. When the Modified Phase III order ends, City of Tampa customers remain at one watering day per week. What the shortage order adds on top is tighter hours and extra limits, set out below. Outside the city limits — unincorporated Hillsborough County, Temple Terrace, Plant City and other utilities — the District order is what drives the once-weekly day count during a shortage, so those customers should confirm their own schedule with their own utility. The District says the same thing: always refer to your city or county rules first.
Sources: City of Tampa, My Allowed Watering Days and Hours and City of Tampa Water Conservation (“The City of Tampa has once-a-week watering restrictions year-round”). Checked 2026-08-31.
What is SWFWMD’s Modified Phase III rule for Tampa?
Modified Phase III is a drought order from the Southwest Florida Water Management District that cuts lawn watering to one day per week, inside the allowed night and pre-dawn hours. It took effect April 3, 2026 and was later extended through March 31, 2027. These orders get extended, modified or lifted, so recheck the phase before you set a timer.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), which covers Hillsborough County and the Tampa Bay region, declared a Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage effective April 3, 2026 and since extended through March 31, 2027 in response to severe regional drought. The core rule is the move from the normal schedule to one watering day per week within the allowed nighttime and pre-dawn hours. The order also prohibits wasteful practices and ties enforcement to local utilities and code officials. Like all SWFWMD shortage orders, it has a set window and can be extended, modified, or lifted as conditions change, so the phase in place today is a live number worth re-checking.
Source: SWFWMD. Updated 2026-08-31.
When can I hand-water or use drip in Tampa?
Any day of the week, but only before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Under Modified Phase III, low-volume methods — micro-irrigation, soaker hoses, and handheld hose watering — are exempt from the one-day schedule because they apply water efficiently to roots rather than spraying broadly.
That makes them the practical, rule-compliant way to keep new plantings, vegetable gardens, containers, and stressed spots alive during the shortage. A drip or micro-spray zone on a timer set for early morning or evening is the most restriction-friendly setup for a Tampa landscape right now.
Source: SWFWMD. Updated 2026-08-31.
New lawns and plants have a 60-day establishment period. During days 1–30 they may be watered any day during the City’s permitted hours. During days 31–60, even addresses may water Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday and odd addresses Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, also during permitted hours. Keep a written schedule; this exception does not allow watering during prohibited hours. Source: City of Tampa; SWFWMD. Updated 2026-08-31.
How much should I water St. Augustine grass in Tampa?
Give St. Augustine about half to three-quarters of an inch per watering, applied deeply on the assigned day, and let summer rain cover much of the rest. Mow it tall, 3.5 to 4 inches, to shade the roots. Water when blades fold or turn bluish, not on habit, and keep the rain sensor working so storms shut the system off.
A Tampa lawn generally needs about ½ to ¾ inch of water per application, applied deeply on your assigned day, with summer rainfall often supplying much of what the lawn needs. St. Augustine, the dominant Tampa turf, is not especially drought-tough, so the keys under a one-day schedule are watering deeply in the allowed window, mowing tall (3.5–4 inches) to shade and protect roots, and letting the lawn show you when it is thirsty (folded blades, a bluish cast) rather than watering on a fixed habit. During the summer rainy season, a working rain sensor — required on Florida irrigation systems — should shut the system off after storms so you are not watering on top of the rain.
Source: UF/IFAS; SWFWMD. Updated 2026-08-31.
What water restrictions is Tampa under right now? A SWFWMD Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage, in effect through March 31, 2027: one watering day per week by address, only 12:01–4 a.m. or 8 p.m.–11:59 p.m. Confirm the current phase at watermatters.org.
How many days a week can I water my lawn in Tampa? One day per week under the current order, assigned by your address number, during the allowed pre-dawn and late-evening hours.
Can I hand-water during the Tampa restrictions? Yes. Micro-irrigation, soaker hoses, and hand watering are allowed any day, but only before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
Is there an exemption for new sod in Tampa? Yes. New lawns and plants have a 60-day establishment period: any day of the week during days 1 to 30, then three days a week during days 31 to 60, with even addresses on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday and odd addresses on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. A written schedule of establishment watering must be kept, and the allowance does not permit watering during prohibited hours. Low-volume and hand watering remain available on top of it.
When do Tampa’s water restrictions end? The Modified Phase III order is extended through March 31, 2027, and can be extended, modified, or lifted depending on drought conditions and the summer rains.
What happens if I water on the wrong day? Since mid-April 2026, local utilities and code officials may issue citations without a prior warning, so it pays to know your assigned day and the allowed hours.
- Tampa Fertilizer Rules — the June 1–Sept 30 summer ban
- Tampa Grass Types — St. Augustine, Zoysia, and salt-tolerant paspalum
- Tampa Lawn Care Guide — heat, humidity, fungus, and chinch bugs
- Tampa Landscaping Calendar — year-round zone 9b tasks
If you are here because the lawn is thinning on a once-a-week schedule, it is worth knowing that one watering day is enough when a system delivers evenly and never enough when it does not. Our irrigation page covers how to run a coverage check and confirm the rain sensor is working, and lawn mowing and care explains the routine that suits a single permitted day.
Tampa Watering Rules: Data
Current rules as observed, with every change we have recorded since tracking began. Source of record: SWFWMD / City of Tampa / Hillsborough County.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| 0 or 1 | Monday |
| 2 or 3 | Tuesday |
| 4 or 5 | Wednesday |
| 6 or 7 | Thursday |
| 8 or 9; mixed or no address | Friday |
| In-ground / hose-end sprinklers | Allowed lawn day: 1 assigned day/week (by address); 12:01–4 a.m. or 8 p.m.–11:59 p.m. |
| Micro-irrigation, soaker hose, hand watering | Allowed lawn day: Any day; Before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. |
| Daytime irrigation (4 a.m.–8 p.m.) | Allowed lawn day: Not allowed; — |
Change log
| First observed | Status | Rules recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-31 | current | Modified Phase III, one watering day per week by address; City of Tampa customers remain once-weekly under city code regardless of the order |
Last checked: 2026-08-31. A new row is added only when the observed rules change, so this log records what changed and when we saw it.
Cite this: “Tampa Watering Rules: Data,” updated 2026-08-31, https://tampaprolandscape.com/tampa-watering-restrictions/#watering-rules-dataset
What are the watering days in Hillsborough County?
Hillsborough County publishes an address lookup, Find My Watering Days & Times, that returns the days and hours for a specific address. It is the fastest way to settle the schedule on an unincorporated property. The rule covers every water source used for lawn irrigation, private wells included. Tampa Pro Landscape checks it before scheduling.
How can an unincorporated property find its assigned watering day?
Hillsborough County publishes an address lookup, Find My Watering Days & Times, that returns the exact watering days and hours for an unincorporated property. It is the fastest way to settle the schedule, and the rule covers every source used for lawn irrigation, private wells included. Tampa Pro Landscape checks that lookup before scheduling irrigation work in Tampa.
Which weekday does each address number get for sprinklers?
Address numbers ending in 0 or 1 water Monday, 2 or 3 Tuesday, 4 or 5 Wednesday, 6 or 7 Thursday, and 8 or 9 or no address Friday. Sprinklers may run only between 12:01 and 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. Tampa Pro Landscape builds Tampa irrigation schedules around that table.
Does the one-day-per-week limit apply to lawns watered from a private well?
Yes. The rule covers all sources, including private wells, for lawn irrigation, so a well-fed lawn still gets one assigned day per week set by address number, with sprinklers limited to 12:01 to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Tampa Pro Landscape programs controllers to those Tampa windows.
Do private wells fall under Hillsborough County watering restrictions?
Yes. The rule covers every water source used for lawn irrigation, private wells included, so a well-fed sprinkler system still gets one assigned day per week by address. Daytime irrigation between 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. remains off limits. Tampa Pro Landscape checks the assigned day before scheduling any Tampa lawn work.
What water restrictions are in effect in the City of Tampa in 2026?
As of October 6, 2026, Tampa is under a SWFWMD Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage, in effect through March 31, 2027. Lawn irrigation is limited to one day per week, assigned by address number, between 12:01 and 4 a.m. or 8 and 11:59 p.m. Tampa Pro Landscape sets irrigation schedules in Tampa around these limits.
What hours can sprinklers run under Hillsborough County water restrictions?
Sprinklers may run only between 12:01 and 4 a.m. or between 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. on the one assigned day per week, which is set by address. Daytime irrigation from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. is not allowed under Modified Phase III. In Tampa, Tampa Pro Landscape checks the rule before scheduling work.
What hours can sprinklers run on a Hillsborough County watering day?
Sprinklers may run on the one assigned day each week, from 12:01 to 4 a.m. or from 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Daytime irrigation between 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. is not allowed. Micro-irrigation, soaker hoses and hand watering are permitted any day before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Tampa Pro Landscape schedules every Tampa lawn around those windows.
What hours are sprinklers allowed under Hillsborough County’s water restrictions?
In-ground and hose-end sprinklers may run only on the one assigned day each week, and only from 12:01 to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Daytime irrigation between 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. is not allowed under Modified Phase III, as recorded 2026-08-31. Tampa Pro Landscape builds every Tampa irrigation schedule around those hours.
When should my Tampa irrigation system run under the one-day schedule?
Set your Tampa irrigation controller to fire once, on your assigned day, in the 12:01 to 4 a.m. window or the 8 to 11:59 p.m. window. Properties under one acre use only one of those windows. Daytime sprinkler runs between 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. are not allowed under the current order.
Check the controller clock and the run times after any power outage, because a reset timer often puts zones back on a daytime default.
Does my Tampa irrigation system need a rain sensor?
Yes. Florida requires a working rain sensor on automatic irrigation systems, so storms can shut your Tampa zones off instead of watering on top of the rain. A sensor that is cracked, stuck, or bypassed defeats the purpose, and a failed one is worth replacing before the next rainy season.
How do I water a Tampa landscape on a one-day irrigation schedule?
Put the sprinkler zones on your single assigned day and water deeply, about half to three-quarters of an inch per application. Move shrubs, containers, and new beds onto drip or hand watering, which is allowed any day before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m., so they are not waiting a week.
How do I check whether my Tampa irrigation system is covering the lawn evenly?
Run one zone at a time during an allowed window and watch for dry arcs, misting heads, and puddling at the low spots. Set a few empty cans across the zone and compare depths afterward. Uneven coverage is the reason lawns thin on a one-day schedule, and it shows up fast.
Our Tampa irrigation page explains how to scope an irrigation repair or upgrade, and the summer lawn care guide covers what a lawn needs when the rainy season does most of the watering.
Is Tampa irrigation different if I am outside the City of Tampa water system?
It can be. City of Tampa customers are on a once-a-week schedule year-round under city code, while unincorporated Hillsborough County, Temple Terrace, and Plant City follow the District order and their own utility. Look up your address at the county lookup before you program a controller.
The Tampa landscaping FAQ answers related lawn questions, and the fertilizer rules page covers the summer feeding ban that sits alongside the watering rules.