Fresno watering schedule 2026

Exceptions to the Fresno rules

• Drip irrigation of community and residential fruit and vegetable gardens and fruit trees is permitted any day of the week (FMC 6-520(b)); 'drip irrigation system' means non-spray, low-pressure, low-volume emitters under 4 gallons per hour. A formal garden exemption after a citation requires: water use at or below the single-family class monthly average, system in good working order, used primarily for the garden, no flood irrigation or runoff, drip only, property 1/4 acre or smaller (larger properties may apply to the Director).
• Annual Exemptions to the schedule by application (FMC 6-520(a)(6)(i)): properties with multiple addresses, school and park facilities, and properties without street addresses; granted exemptions expire December 31 each year.
• Short-term Exemptions up to one month (FMC 6-520(a)(6)(ii)): properties with new lawns not yet established, and bona fide uses such as solar panel cleaning or other use necessary for health or preservation of property; apply at least 48 hours before the use that falls outside the schedule.
• Hoses/watering devices must have an automatic shut-off device or a person in immediate attendance (FMC 6-520(a)(7)).
• Vehicle, trailer, or boat washing only from a bucket or at a commercial car wash; a hose with a shut-off nozzle may be used for a quick rinse without runoff (FMC 6-520(a)(8)).
• Washing sidewalks, driveways, patios and other paved areas is prohibited except for public health and safety reasons at public gathering places (FMC 6-520(a)(9)).
• Fountains/decorative water features only with recirculating systems (FMC 6-520(a)(10)).
• Potable irrigation of ornamental turf on public street medians prohibited unless the turf serves a community function, is watered incidentally by tree irrigation, or uses recycled water; median trees and shrubs may be irrigated (FMC 6-520(a)(11)).
• No landscape irrigation during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall (FMC 6-520(a)(12)).
• Pools: topping off established pools only during the address's allowed watering times; filling new/refurbished pools requires a pool fill permit from the Water Division; draining limited to once every three years with a written application 48 hours ahead (FMC 6-520(a)(16)-(18)).
• No runoff onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, walkways, roadways, parking lots or structures (FMC 6-520(a)(1)); no leaking fixtures (a)(2); no willful or negligent waste (a)(3).
• The city's current schedule page and annual schedule print no blanket 'hand watering any day' or 'smart controller' exception; hand watering follows the attended hose or shut-off rule above.

Fines in Fresno

1. 11st month with water-waste incident(s): Notice of Water Waste issued, no fine (Master Fee Schedule Amendment #590, eff. 2026-07-01, 'Conditions of service work (related to Water Conservation, FMC 6-520(e))')
2. 22nd month with incident: $25.00
3. 33rd month with incident: $50.00
4. 44th month with incident: $100.00
5. 55th through 12th month with incident: $100.00 per month
6. 6Fines are added to the monthly utility bill (FMC 6-520(e)(2)); incident counts are tracked monthly and reset every January 1 (FMC 6-520(e)(3))
7. 7Water waste in more than six consecutive months: water service may be terminated unless termination would create a health/safety risk (FMC 6-520(e)(4))
8. 8MFS footnote: 'Fines shall not be imposed upon incidents of water waste recorded by the City's water meter reading system until the passage of a Council resolution authorizing such fines' (staff-observed incidents are finable)
9. 9Three-step appeal: Water Conservation Program staff/Supervisor within 30 days of the bill, then Director of Public Utilities, then the City's Administrative Hearing Officer (final) - FMC 6-520(e)(5)

Report water waste

Water Conservation Program: (559) 621-5480 or the city's online water-waste reporting form (per DPU FAQ); general city channel FresGO 311 app / call 3-1-1 or (559) 621-2489 (printed on the schedule page and the April 2026 bill insert); waterconservation@fresno.gov appears on DPU conservation pages. Watering rules shortlink: Fresno.gov/Water.