Tampa Watering Restrictions in 2026: SWFWMD Modified Phase III Rules and Days

What days can I water my lawn in Tampa right now?

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. This is tighter than the District’s normal year-round schedule, which allows more frequent watering, because Hillsborough is in an Extreme shortage. 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 2026-06-16.

What is SWFWMD’s Modified Phase III rule for Tampa?

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 to July 1, 2026 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 2026-06-16.

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 2026-06-16.

How do I water new sod or seed under Tampa’s restrictions?

Carefully, and mostly by low-volume methods. New sod needs frequent moisture to root, but the one-day schedule limits sprinkler use, and this particular order does not spell out a separate new-lawn establishment allowance — so do not assume one. The safe path is to establish new plantings with hand watering or low-volume irrigation (allowed any day before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.) and, if you need a sprinkler establishment variance, request it through your utility or SWFWMD rather than watering off-schedule. Better yet, in an Extreme shortage, consider timing a new lawn for after the restriction eases or once the summer rains arrive. Always confirm the current allowance before you install, since terms change by phase.

Source: SWFWMD; City of Tampa. Updated 2026-06-16.

How much should I water St. Augustine grass in Tampa?

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 2026-06-16.

Frequently asked questions about Tampa watering restrictions

What water restrictions is Tampa under right now? A SWFWMD Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage, in effect April 3 through July 1, 2026: 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? This order does not specify a separate new-lawn allowance, so establish new plantings with low-volume or hand watering, or request a variance through your utility rather than watering off-schedule.

When do Tampa’s water restrictions end? The Modified Phase III order runs through July 1, 2026, 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.