How can I keep my lawn green, save money in Sacramento? City watering schedule changes soon
Want to keep your lawn green year-round? You might need to change the way you water.
On Saturday, the city of Sacramento will start enforcing its spring and summer watering schedule.
The spring and summer schedule accounts for hotter temperatures by allowing homeowners and business owners to water their plants more than during the wet winter months.
The new schedule will be enforced through Oct. 31.
Here’s what you need to know.
When can I water my lawn in spring and summer in Sacramento?
According to the city’s website, Sacramento utility customers can water their landscapes two times per week between March and October.
The schedule depends on your street address:
- Even-numbered addresses can water on Wednesdays and Sundays.
- Odd-numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
You can only water your plants before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m., and you cannot water within 48 hours of receiving at least one-eighth of an inch of rain.
Alysson Aredas, a representative for the Sacramento Department of Utilities, said watering your landscape in the early morning and later in the evening can boost water efficiency.
“(Watering before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m.) allows water to soak into the soil rather than evaporating due to the heat that we typically see in the middle of the day,” Aredas said.
Are there exceptions to city water rules?
There are certain exceptions for the spring and summer watering schedule, according to the city website.
These include:
- Drip irrigation or soaker hoses
- Using a hose with a spray nozzle
- Smart water controllers that have been approved for use by city staff
- Potted plants
- Edible gardens
- New landscaping, for up to 30 consecutive watering days after installation
- When there are two or more consecutive days above 100 degrees
If you have questions about whether your setup qualifies for an exception or you want to request an exception, you can call the city at 916-808-5605 or email waterconservation@cityofsacramento.org.
Can I save money on my bill with city’s watering schedule?
Aredas said the watering schedule is one of the various tools provided by the city that can help residents and business owners save money by using less water.
“We find that our customers tend to overwater their landscape,” she said. “By providing these (watering schedule) rules, we help them use less water as opposed to what they would be using if they kind of just were figuring out on their own.
“Hopefully by using less water, they’re also saving money,” Aredas said.
Can I get a rebate for conserving water?
To conserve water, Aredas suggested using a smart irrigation controller, which can automatically water a landscape only when it is needed.
Smart controllers can specially tailor watering times and amounts based on factors including local weather conditions, the moisture of the soil and the kind of landscaping you have, Aredas said.
Installing a smart irrigation controller can make you eligible for a city rebate, according to Aredas.
You can get up to $400 for installing a smart controller in a single-family home or duplex, and up to $700 per controller for multi-family homes and businesses.
The city offers a number of rebates for implementing water-saving measures inside and outside the home, including:
- Up to $3,000 for converting grass to drought-tolerant landscape
- Up to $150 for installing rain barrels
- Up to $150 for reusing laundry water for landscape watering
- Up to $125 to replace a toilet from before 1992 with a high-efficiency toilet
- Up to $125 to replace an old washing machine with a high-efficiency machine
What happens if I water my plants on an unscheduled day?
The city of Sacramento can impose fines up to $500 per offense if you are caught misusing water, according to the city’s website.
Your first offense is a warning, and each additional offense has an increasing fine, the city said.
On your second offense within one year, you can be fined $25. You can waive this fine by participating in a water conservation program through the city.
The third time you are caught not complying with the city’s water ordinance within 365 days, you may be subject to a $100 fine.
On the fourth and each subsequent violation, you may have to pay $500.
How can I report water misuse?
If you witness a resident or business watering their landscaping on the wrong day, over-watering their plants, allowing water to runoff into drains or otherwise misusing water, you can contact the city of Sacramento.
You can call the city at 916-264-5011 or simply dial 311.
You can also email 311@cityofsacramento.org, visit the city’s 311 website or download Sacramento’s 311 app.
In your report, make sure to include:
The days and times the watering is occurring
If there is a pattern to the watering, such as the frequency or length of time it is being watered.
Address of where the water misuse is taking place
This story was originally published February 25, 2025 at 12:50 PM.
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