Phase III Water Restrictions: Your 1 Watering Day by Address, the 10 Hours You Can't Water and What's Exempt

Jacksonville, Fla. — Most of Northeast Florida is limited to watering lawns one day a week under a Phase III Extreme Water Shortage, and never between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Odd-numbered addresses water on Saturday, even-numbered addresses on Sunday and businesses on Tuesday.

The St. Johns River Water Management District put the rules in place under Water Shortage Order 2026-017. The City of Jacksonville's website carries the same alert: "The St. Johns River Water Management District's Phase III Extreme Water Shortage remains in effect."

A rainy, windy weekend doesn't change the rules. The order stays in place until the district lifts it.

Find your watering day

For example, a house at 125 Main St. waters on Saturday. A house at 124 Main St. waters on Sunday.

The three limits on your watering day

Even on your day, three rules apply:

1. No watering between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. That's a 10-hour daytime window.
2. No more than three-quarters of an inch of water per zone.
3. No more than one hour per zone.

Both of the last two limits count. A zone that runs less than an hour can still break the rule if it puts down more than three-quarters of an inch, and a light sprinkler still can't run longer than an hour.

If you have an automatic system, check its programmed day, start time and run time for each zone now.

Set your sprinkler timer: a 5-step checklist

1. Pick the right day. Saturday for odd or no address, Sunday for even, Tuesday for businesses. Turn off any second day left over from the summer schedule.
2. Set the start time outside 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Every zone has to finish before 8 a.m. or start after 6 p.m.
3. Cap each zone at one hour.
4. Keep each zone at three-quarters of an inch or less.
5. Shut off decorative fountains, since aesthetic water use is banned under Phase III.

Why it's happening

The district says "Below-average rainfall, declining groundwater levels, and reduced river flows continue to place significant stress on regional water resources." It adds that "some areas are now experiencing severe to extreme drought."

Who's covered

The order follows district lines, not county lines, so it may not cover every property in every county listed. If you're not sure, check the district's website.

How Phase III compares with the normal rules

So right now, Phase III cuts watering from two days a week to one and adds four hours to the daily no-watering window.

Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. Under normal winter rules, homes would drop to one day a week anyway. But while the shortage order is in effect, the Phase III limits, including the 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ban, are the ones that count.

What's exempt

• Hand-held hoses and micro-irrigation (micro-spray, micro-jet, drip and bubbler systems). The district's FAQ says these can be used anytime for vegetable gardens.
• New landscapes, which have a 30-day establishment exception. Check the district's rules for the details before you plant.
• Reclaimed water, which the district allows anytime. Local governments can still set their own limits for reclaimed-water customers, so check with your utility.

Private wells are not exempt

If you water with a private well, the rules still apply. The district says they cover water "from a private well or pump, or from a public or private utility."

Other water uses are limited, too

Phase III goes beyond lawns:

• Aesthetic water use is banned, such as decorative fountains.
• Street and pressure washing face extra restrictions.
• Golf courses must stop washing equipment and cut back on watering fairways and tees.
• Businesses, industries and institutions must suspend certain nonessential water uses.

What happens if you break the rules?

The district says "Violators may be subject to penalties." Many local governments enforce the rules through their own ordinances. Where there's no local enforcement, the district runs a compliance program.

The district has not listed an end date for the order. For questions, call the St. Johns River Water Management District at 386-329-4545 or visit sjrwmd.com/wateringrestrictions.

Quick Q&A

I live at an odd address. When can I water? Saturday, but not between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Can I water my vegetable garden on other days? Yes, with a hand-held hose or micro-irrigation, according to the district's FAQ.

I have a well. Do the rules apply to me? Yes.

Does this weekend's rain end the restrictions? No. Only the district can lift the order.

How we did this

Jax Times used the St. Johns River Water Management District's watering restrictions page and FAQs and the City of Jacksonville's water shortage alert and irrigation page, all reviewed Oct. 23, 2026. Fine amounts and an end date were not listed and are not included.