The biggest change: Denver Water ended lawn watering after Sept. 30, 2026, and says sprinklers need to stay off into spring 2027. That covers about 1.5 million people in Denver and the suburbs it supplies. Other providers have their own rules.
Watering rules by provider
| Provider | 2026–27 rules | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Water Denver, Littleton, Greenwood Village, the Wheat Ridge districts, and parts of Lakewood, Centennial, and Lone Tree (west of I-25) | Stage 1 drought since March 25, 2026. Lawn watering and all spray irrigation ended after Sept. 30, 2026, and sprinklers need to remain off in spring 2027 until Denver Water sets new rules. Trees, shrubs, and perennials can be watered any day by hand-held hose with a shutoff nozzle or by drip. | Denver Water |
| City of Thornton Thornton | Stage 1 since March 15, 2026: lawns up to 2 days a week (you choose the days), no lawn watering 10 a.m.–6 p.m. The city asks residents to winterize in October and not turn sprinklers on before May 1. Fines start at $100 for homes after a courtesy warning. | Thornton Water |
| City of Northglenn Northglenn | Stage 2, mandatory (April 2026): 2 days a week (even addresses Sun/Thu, odd Wed/Sat, commercial, apartments, and HOA common areas Tue/Fri), no watering 10 a.m.–6 p.m., no new sod watering before May 1. Fines of $50, $300, and $999 go on the utility bill after a door-hanger warning. | Northglenn drought declaration |
| City of Brighton Brighton | Stage 1, extended through Nov. 15, 2026: 2 days a week (even addresses Tue/Fri, odd Wed/Sat, HOA tracts Mon/Fri), no irrigation 10 a.m.–6 p.m. A third violation brings a fine of $125 to $1,500 depending on tap size. | City of Brighton |
| Highlands Ranch Water Highlands Ranch | Stage 1: odd addresses Wed/Sat, even Thu/Sun, multifamily Mon/Fri, commercial Tue/Sun, and no irrigation 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Outdoor water budgets have ended for the year, and the district says it's time to turn sprinklers off and winterize. | Highlands Ranch Water |
| Parker Water & Sanitation Parker and Lone Tree east of I-25 | No watering 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; even addresses Sun/Tue/Thu, odd Mon/Wed/Sat. Daytime limits end each year on Oct. 1. | Parker Water |
| City of Lafayette Lafayette | Stage 1 since April 10, 2026: irrigation strongly encouraged no more than 2 days a week, no landscape watering 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and no hosing down paved areas. | City of Lafayette |
| City of Boulder Boulder | Voluntary Drought Watch. A permanent rule bars running lawn sprinklers 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and the city asks for lawn watering no more than twice a week. | City of Boulder |
| City of Louisville Louisville | No mandatory restrictions in 2026; the city asked residents to voluntarily end lawn watering by Oct. 1. | City of Louisville |
From each provider's own announcements and pages, checked October 2026. Aurora, Westminster, Arvada, Broomfield, Golden, Englewood, Erie, Superior, and Commerce City aren't listed here; check your provider's site. Drought rules change, so confirm before you set a controller.
Which rules apply to you?
The ones from whoever supplies your water, which isn't always your city. Many districts in Centennial, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, and Lone Tree buy their water from Denver Water and follow its rules. The name on your water bill tells you. Providers by city →
What this means for your sprinkler system
- It still needs a blowout. Turning the controller off doesn't drain the water already in the lines, valves, and backflow preventer. That water freezes, expands, and cracks things. Sprinkler blowouts →
- Repairs are still allowed. Denver Water lets a system run for installation, repair, or reasonable maintenance as long as someone attends it the whole time and no water is wasted.
- Don't plan on a normal spring startup. If you're on Denver Water, wait for its new rules before turning the system back on in 2027. In Thornton, the 2026 rule was no sprinklers before May 1. Spring startup guide →
- Backflow tests still come due. Your water provider's notice sets the date. If the system can't run for a test yet, call your provider and ask how it wants it handled. Backflow rules by provider →
Trees and shrubs
Denver Water still allows trees, shrubs, and perennials to be watered any day by hand-held hose with a shutoff nozzle or by drip, just not by spray irrigation. If your sprinkler system has drip zones for beds and trees, those can be set up to run on their own.
Need the system winterized or fixed?
We blow out systems across the metro, fix leaking valves and broken heads (with the system attended the whole time, as the rules require), and test backflow preventers. First test $95 per device for new customers. Call or text (720) 818-5569.