Am I still required to water my lawn in Sacramento County? Your question answered

As California’s drought persists, so do water-related questions from Sacramento residents.

A Reddit user Monday asked the r/Sacramento forum if Sacramento County is still requiring residents to water their lawn after they said a neighbor asked them to do so. The Reddit user said they plan to install a “water saving alternative” but their lawn needs to brown first.

Short answer: You do not have to water your lawn.

Due to drought, Sacramento County Code Enforcement does not enforce or restrict lawn watering cycles, according to its website.

“[I]n fact, what that person is doing is what we’re hoping more people will do,” said Matt Robinson with Sacramento County Water Agency.

Residents who are looking to switch their lawn out for something more eco-friendly don’t have to wait, he said. Qualifying residents looking for “drought tolerate landscaping” can receive up to $2,000 in a “Cash for Grass” rebate program.

“We’ve been pushing this since last drought — last year we bumped it from $1,000 to $2,000,” Robinson said.

When can I water my lawn?

For those who still want to water their lawns, the county suggests using the “stress your lawn and save your trees” method by reducing lawn watering by two minutes.

“Lawns can handle less water and eventually recover while trees can be lost forever,” Sacramento County wrote on its website. All Sacramento County residents are strongly recommended to comply with any additional water rules set by their local water supplier, Robinson said.

According to the Regional Water Authority’s watering guidelines map, Sacramento County Water Agency, which serves nearly 200,000 customers and is one of 27 water companies in the county, is at a 20% voluntary reduction. Here’s what that means, according to the website:

• Landscape watering is limited to three days a week.
• Watering days for an odd numbered home address is Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. An even numbered home address is Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
• Irrigation times are from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Recycled water users are exempt from Sacramento County Water Agency’s watering schedule. To find your area’s water provider and learn about restrictions, use this map.

ADDITIONAL WATER RULES

The following water activities are “permanently prohibited,” according to Sacramento County’s water resources page:

• Using safe drinking water to wash sidewalks and driveways.
• Using hoses with no shutoff nozzles to wash cars.
• Using safe drinking water in decorative water features that do not recirculate the water.

You also must:

• Avoid irrigation runoff when using safe drinking water.
• Avoid outdoor irrigation during and 48 hours following measurable rainfall.

What is city of Sacramento’s watering schedule?

Compared to the county’s three-times-a-week schedule, city customers are asked to water only twice a week before 10 a.m. and after 7 p.m.

Even-numbered homes can water on Wednesdays and Sundays and odd-numbered homes can water on Tuesdays and Saturdays, according to Sacramento’s watering schedule page. Fines for not complying run more than $1,000.