Pinellas County
Watering restrictions and schedule.
Understand the watering rules to avoid expensive fines. Set your controller to maximize efficiency and the health of your landscape.
Phase III — Extreme Water Shortage is in force for Pinellas County.
Confirm the day and the hours that apply at your address with your water supplier before you set a controller.
Southwest Florida Water Management District rule 40D-21.641.
Last verified: 26 September 2026
Current status
Pinellas County is under the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage Order. Lawn watering is limited to one day a week for potable, well and lake water, watering hours are cut to two narrow windows, and reclaimed water is on its own restricted schedule. The order has been extended more than once.
Confirm the current order before you set a controller. Restrictions in Pinellas have moved several times this year and the county can change them at any time, so this page is re-checked rather than written once.
Official source: Pinellas County watering schedule and rules (opens in a new tab)
The current day and hour schedule
North of SR 580
| Address ends in | Potable, well or lake | Reclaimed |
|---|---|---|
| Even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) | Saturday | Tuesday and/or Saturday |
| Odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) | Wednesday | Wednesday and/or Sunday |
| Mixed or no address | Wednesday | Wednesday and/or Sunday |
South of SR 580
| Address ends in | Potable, well or lake | Reclaimed |
|---|---|---|
| Even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) | Tuesday | Tuesday and/or Sunday |
| Odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) | Thursday | Monday and/or Thursday |
| Mixed or no address | Thursday | Monday and/or Thursday |
Watering hours are 12:01am to 4am, or 8pm to 11:59pm. A property under one acre may use only one of those windows. One acre or larger may use both.
- Hand watering and micro-irrigation of beds, shrubs and other non-lawn plant material is allowed any day, but only before 8am or after 6pm.
- New plant material has a 60-day establishment period: any day for the first 30 days, then the district's establishment schedule for days 31 to 60. Proof has to be filed with the county, and a full zone may only be run if half or more of it is new material. The county currently advises against re-sodding at all.
- A system may be run for testing and repair once a week, for no more than 10 minutes per zone, with somebody standing in the zone being tested. That is what we do on a service visit.
- Car washing at home is only allowed on your watering day, with a shut-off nozzle. Ornamental fountains are limited to four hours a day at posted times. No HOA may require anything that increases water use.
How the schedule works
Three things decide when you're allowed to run: which side of State Road 580 you're on, the last digit of your street address, and which water source the system is on.
| Water source | How it's regulated |
|---|---|
| Potable (city water) | One day a week under the current order. The day comes from your address digit and from which side of SR 580 you are on. |
| Private well or lake | Same restrictions as potable under this order. A private source is not an exemption. |
| Reclaimed | Its own schedule, up to two days a week, and it can change independently of the potable schedule. |
| Hand watering / micro-irrigation | Beds, shrubs and other non-lawn plant material, any day, before 8am or after 6pm. |
| New sod and plantings | A 60-day establishment period with proof filed with the county. Days 1 to 30 any day; days 31 to 60 on the district's establishment schedule. |
| Testing and repair | Once a week, 10 minutes per zone, with an attendant in the zone. |
Pinellas County Utilities is required to issue a $193 citation for a violation, and the fine doubles with each further one. Warnings stopped on 17 April 2026.
What we do about it
On every visit we check that the controller is programmed to the schedule that currently applies to your address and your water source. It's a quick check-up that can prevent a large fine and help reduce your utility bill.
If you have a smart controller, we can program the logic for weather skipping, as well as current watering restrictions. After an initial visit we can handle future programming changes remotely, free of charge.
One thing worth knowing: Rain sensors are required for most new sprinkler system installations. Let us check if yours is operating properly.
Not sure?
Don't know if you're hooked up to reclaimed water, have a well, or are tied into the domestic supply? The differences matter. Contact us if you're unsure.