Updated August 2026 — Austin is not currently in Stage 2. Austin Water returned to its baseline Conservation Stage on 2 September 2025, and that is still the stage in effect. If you are looking for the rules that apply to your property today, they are below. The Stage 2 guidance that follows is kept as a reference for what changes if the city moves back up a stage.
The rules in effect right now (Conservation Stage)
Under the Conservation Stage, automatic irrigation systems may run on one designated day per week, and only before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. Hose-end sprinklers and drip irrigation get up to two designated days per week, within the same hours. Watering days are assigned by address, and Austin Water publishes a lookup tool so you can confirm yours rather than guess.
Hand watering with a hand-held hose or a refillable container is not restricted, on any day, at any time. Neither is watering trees within the drip line using drip irrigation, a soaker hose, a tree bubbler or a watering bag.
These rules apply to Austin Water customers. If you are in Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock, Georgetown, Lakeway, Bee Cave or the Highland Lakes, your utility sets its own stages and its own assigned days, and several of them are currently stricter than Austin. Our service area pages list the current rules for each city we work in.
One practical note that applies in every stage: on Central Texas soil, a single long station run mostly produces runoff. Splitting each zone into two or three shorter cycles with time in between puts far more of the same water into the root zone. If your controller has not been adjusted in a few years, an irrigation system check is usually worth more than anything you can put on the lawn.
What Stage 2 looks like if Austin returns to it
Austin has moved in and out of Stage 2 several times over the past few drought cycles, so it is worth knowing what changes. The guidance below describes the Stage 2 rules as the city has written them. It is reference material, not the current schedule — always confirm the stage in effect with Austin Water before you reprogram a controller.
Daily Watering Allowances
Before exploring the watering restrictions for each day of the week, property owners can find it helpful to learn about daily allowances. For example, there are no restrictions on using a handheld garden hose or a refillable watering container.
Property owners can also use the following methods when watering trees in the drip line of a tree canopy:
- Drip irrigation
- Treegator®
- Soaker hose
- Soaker tapei
- Automatic tree bubbler
Homeowners can use soaker tape, soaker hoses, and drip irrigation to water their vegetable gardens. In addition, there aren’t any restrictions on using auxiliary types of water, such as greywater and rainwater.
Daily Water Restrictions for Homeowners
Water allowances will change for each day of the week. Before using yourirrigation systems, check this guide to make sure you follow the day’s restrictions.
On Mondays, all properties within homeowner association communities must meet the same watering standards as public schools, colleges, and golf courses.
Property owners can use automatic irrigation between 7:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Homeowners can also use drip irrigation between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m.
On Tuesdays, water usage restrictions apply to commercial properties. This includes multi-family properties with four or more residential units.
Residential properties with odd-numbered street addresses may use water on their properties each Wednesday. They can use automatic irrigation from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. and drip irrigation from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Water usage allowances permit both automatic (7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.) and drip irrigation (7:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m.) for residential homeowners with even-numbered street addresses.
Additionally, all properties within homeowner association communities can use drip irrigation during the applicable hours. This allowance also applies to public schools, universities, and golf courses.
Water usage applies to commercial and multi-family properties with odd-numbered addresses on Fridays. These properties can use automatic irrigation between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
All commercial and multi-family properties can use drip irrigation (7:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m.) on Fridays as well.
Saturday and Sunday
Homeowners share weekend water usage under stage 2 restrictions. On Saturdays, homeowners with odd-numbered street addresses can use hose-end irrigation and drip irrigation. On Sundays, homeowners with even-numbered street addresses can use hose-end irrigation and drip irrigation.
Reduce Water Waste Under Stage 2 Restrictions
While stage 2 water restrictions are in place, Austin encourages property owners to reduce water waste as much as possible. This includes making prompt repairs for leaking sprinkler heads, pipes, and valves. Never operate a permanently installed sprinkler system that has a broken, misaligned, or missing sprinkler head.
The city also asks property owners to avoid letting water spray onto sidewalks, asphalt, and other nonporous surfaces. Don’t let any water arc extend beyond 50 feet. Avoid letting puddles of more than ¼” deep form on hard surfaces.
Adjust Your Water Use to Comply With Stage 2 Restrictions
If you own an Austin home, you can refer back to this page to ensure you remain compliant with stage 2 restrictions. The best method for following these restrictions is to create a long-term water usage plan that will help you use less water week by week.
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