Pasadena watering schedule 2026

Exceptions to the Pasadena rules

• EXEMPT FROM THE WATERING-DAY LIMITS (Pasadena Municipal Code 13.10.037, exempt from the watering day limitations in Levels 1 through 4, as determined by the department in its sole discretion):
• A. Landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use low flow drip type irrigation systems where no emitter produces more than 2 gallons of water per hour;
• B. Watering or irrigating by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, or a hand-held hose equipped with a water shut-off nozzle or device;
• C. Watering for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system;
• D. Maintenance of trees as necessary to sustain their health and viability;
• E. Maintenance of vegetation, including fruit trees and shrubs, intended for consumption;
• F. Maintenance of landscape for fire protection;
• G. Maintenance of landscape for soil erosion control;
• H. Maintenance of plant materials identified to be rare or essential to the well-being of protected species;
• I. Maintenance of landscape within active public parks and playing fields including playing fields on school grounds and at day care centers, provided that such irrigation is for the express purpose of maintaining the landscape in a condition required for recreation playing fields and athletic events, and does not exceed 3 days per week;
• J. Establishment of newly planted drought tolerant landscape consisting of drought tolerant plants, shrubs, and/or native plants (defined in 13.10.020.E as a landscape area planted or replanted with native plants with relatively low water requirements or plants well adapted to arid climate, within the prior six months); and
• K. Actively irrigated environmental mitigation projects.
• SEPARATE CARVE-OUTS FROM THE 9 a.m. TO 6 p.m. HOURS BAN (13.10.032.B): use of a hand-held bucket or similar container; a hand-held hose equipped with a water shut-off nozzle or device; or very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system.
• There is no hot-weather or heat-wave exception, no extra allowance for smart or weather-based irrigation controllers, no potted-plant or container-plant exception, and no general new-planting or new-turf establishment exception. New plantings are covered only where they consist of drought tolerant, shrub, or native plant material under item J. Edible plants are covered by item E.

Fines in Pasadena

1. 1First offense is educational. PWP states: "PWP will work closely with customers to provide helpful information and issue written warnings for first offenses."
2. 2RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS AND ALL OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH METERS SMALLER THAN 1-1/2 INCH (Pasadena Municipal Code 13.10.065.B):
3. 3First violation: written notice of violation, no monetary penalty. The notice states the facts of the violation, the possible penalties, and the customer's right to a hearing, and is mailed to the billing address.
4. 4Second violation within the preceding 12 calendar months: $100.00
5. 5Third violation within the preceding 12 calendar months: $200.00
6. 6Fourth violation within the preceding 12 calendar months: $350.00
7. 7Fifth and any subsequent violation: $500.00
8. 8NON-RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS WITH METERS 1-1/2 INCH OR LARGER (Pasadena Municipal Code 13.10.067.B), which is exactly double the residential ladder:
9. 9First violation: written notice of violation, no monetary penalty.
10. 10Second violation within the preceding 12 calendar months: $200.00
11. 11Third violation within the preceding 12 calendar months: $400.00
12. 12Fourth violation within the preceding 12 calendar months: $700.00
13. 13Fifth and any subsequent violation: $1,000.00
14. 14Penalties are added to the customer's water bill and are payable at the same time and in the same manner as the bill. All penalty money collected is deposited in the water fund.
15. 15PWP summarizes this on its own Report Water Waste page as: "Fine amounts range from $100 to $500 and are double for non-residential customers with meters of 1 1/2" or larger."
16. 16FLOW RESTRICTOR (13.10.095): where necessary to achieve compliance, the department may install a flow restrictor of approximately 1 gallon per minute capacity for services up to a 1-1/2-inch meter, and comparably sized restrictors for larger services, after a minimum of 48 hours advance written notice of intent. The customer pays the department's charges for installing and removing the restrictor and for disconnecting and reconnecting service.
17. 17HEARING (13.10.075): a customer receiving a notice of violation with a monetary fine, potential flow restrictor, or service disconnection has a right to a hearing before the department general manager or a designee. The written request must be received by the department within 10 days of the date of notification, or the right to a hearing is deemed waived. A timely request automatically stays the penalty until a decision is rendered.
18. 18PENALTY ALTERNATIVES (13.10.075): with the general manager's concurrence, a customer may waive the hearing and instead choose one of the following in place of the penalty: complete a water efficiency training class offered by the department; complete all recommendations from a landscape audit; retrofit inefficient fixtures or irrigation systems; or timely complete another water savings program the department establishes. The same option cannot be elected more than once in a 12-month period.
19. 19WILLFUL MISREPRESENTATION (13.10.090): willfully misrepresenting a material fact to the department to secure relief from Chapter 13.10 is punishable by a fine of up to $500, or up to 6 months in county jail, or both.

Report water waste

Pasadena Citizen Service Center. By phone at 626-744-7311, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Online at http://ww5.cityofpasadena.net/citizen-service-center/. Or through the free "Pasadena CS" mobile app for Android and iPhone. PWP asks reporters to give the specific address where the waste is occurring, the date and time observed, and a description of the waste, with a photo optional. Reportable conduct listed by PWP includes outdoor watering at any time on restricted days or between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on allowed days, outdoor watering within 48 hours of rain, using potable water to wash down paved surfaces unless for safety or sanitation, an unrepaired leak or broken water system, excessive runoff onto pavement, gutters, adjacent property or walkways, and using a hose without a shut-off nozzle to water landscape or wash a vehicle. Fine waiver requests go to water_waste@cityofpasadena.net.