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What days can you water your lawn in Austin?
As of June 2026, Austin is in its baseline Conservation Stage watering restrictions – it left Stage 2 on September 2, 2025, after the Highland Lakes refilled. Automatic in-ground sprinklers may run just 1 assigned day per week, only before 10 a.m. and after 7 p.m. Hose-end sprinklers and drip irrigation get up to 2 days per week, and hand-watering with an auto-shutoff nozzle is allowed any day or time. Your assigned watering day depends on your address – look it up at austintexas.gov. Restrictions tighten by stage (Stage 1, Stage 2, Pro-Rata) as Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan levels fall, so confirm the current stage before setting a timer.
Source: Austin Water / austintexas.gov. Updated 2026-06-16.
| Watering method | Allowed schedule (Conservation Stage, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Automatic in-ground sprinklers | 1 assigned day per week; before 10 a.m. and after 7 p.m. only |
| Hose-end sprinklers & drip | Up to 2 days per week |
| Hand-watering (auto-shutoff nozzle) | Any day, any time |
| Assigned day | By address (look up at austintexas.gov) |
| Current stage | Conservation Stage (left Stage 2 on Sept 2, 2025) |
| Other rules | No runoff/waste onto pavement; fix broken heads |
| If drought worsens | Stage 1, Stage 2, then Pro-Rata as Highland Lakes fall |
What hours can you water your lawn in Austin?
Under Austin’s Conservation Stage, automatic sprinklers may only run before 10 a.m. and after 7 p.m. on your one assigned day, to limit evaporation in the Central Texas heat. Hose-end sprinklers and drip have the same daytime-avoidance intent across their two days. Hand-watering with an auto-shutoff nozzle is the exception – it’s allowed any day and any hour, which is how you spot-water hot, dry areas legally.
Hand-watering vs sprinkler: what’s allowed in Austin?
Austin’s rules are set by watering method. Automatic in-ground sprinklers are the most restricted (1 day/week, before 10 a.m. / after 7 p.m.); hose-end sprinklers and drip irrigation get up to 2 days a week; and hand-watering with a hose and an automatic shutoff nozzle – or a drip/soaker for trees and beds – is allowed any day and time. So you can always legally hand-water a wilting spot, just not run the in-ground system off-schedule.
Can you water new sod or a new lawn in Austin under the restrictions?
New sod and seed need frequent water to establish, which the normal 1-day automatic schedule doesn’t allow – but you have options. Hand-watering with a nozzle is permitted any day and time, and Austin Water offers a variance for new and replacement landscapes that allows additional establishment watering for a limited period. Apply for the variance through austintexas.gov before you install, and keep records. Don’t run an automatic system off-schedule without an approved variance, or you risk a fine.
Why is Austin under watering restrictions in 2026?
Austin keeps year-round Conservation Stage restrictions as a baseline to stretch its Highland Lakes supply (Lakes Travis and Buchanan), even in normal years. The city tightened to Stage 2 during the recent drought and returned to Conservation Stage on September 2, 2025, after heavy July rains refilled the lakes. Stages escalate again automatically as combined lake storage falls, so the rules are tied to reservoir levels, not the calendar.
How much should you water an Austin lawn?
Aim for about 1 inch of water per week for established warm-season turf, including rain, delivered deeply and infrequently so roots grow down – not daily light sprinklings. In peak summer heat, St. Augustine needs that full inch (or slightly more) while Bermuda and Zoysia tolerate less. Use a rain gauge or tuna can to measure, water in the early-morning window, and let the lawn tell you (footprints that stay) when it’s thirsty.