This page tracks Denver Water's current watering rules and what they mean for your landscape. We keep the summary below up to date; the official source is always Denver Water's drought page. If you're ready to stop fighting the rules, our xeriscape installation service replaces thirsty lawn with plants that don't need it.

Current Rules (Updated September 24, 2026)

Stage 1 drought was declared March 25, 2026, and is in effect through April 30, 2027, or until further notice.
Through September 30: water no more than two days per week on your assigned days — even addresses Sunday and Thursday, odd addresses Wednesday and Saturday, multifamily and commercial Tuesday and Friday. No watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
From October 1, 2026: watering grass and using spray irrigation are prohibited.
Still allowed after October 1: trees, shrubs and other plants can be watered by hand-held hose with an automatic shutoff nozzle, or with low-volume irrigation such as drip. Annuals and vegetables can be watered that way until the first frost.
New grass: establishing new sod or seed isn't allowed after September 30 without an approved variance.
Into 2027: the lawn watering ban stays in place until Denver Water's board votes to lift it, which means sprinklers stay off in spring 2027 pending that resolution.
Enforcement: customers who repeatedly violate the rules face charges of up to $2,000.

The October 1 change is the big one. We broke down what's banned, what's allowed, and why your trees are the real risk this winter in Denver's lawn watering ban, explained.

How 2026 Got Here

Colorado went into the 2026 season with one of the lowest snowpack levels on record. Colorado State University covered it in its report on the record-low snowpack. Snowpack feeds the rivers and reservoirs that supply the Front Range through spring and summer, so a thin snow year shows up later as tight water supplies and restrictions on outdoor irrigation.

On March 25, 2026, Denver Water's Board of Water Commissioners declared a Stage 1 drought with mandatory watering restrictions and a goal of cutting water use 20% for the year. It was Denver Water's fifth Stage 1 declaration since 2000 and the first since 2013. In August, the board amended that declaration to end lawn watering on October 1.

Why Drought Rules Hit Landscaping Hardest

The restrictions target outdoor water use, and lawns are the thirstiest thing on most residential lots. With two watering days a week, then none, bluegrass goes dormant or thins out, and any plan built around keeping it green stops working. High-water shrubs and beds planted in spray zones get caught in the same squeeze.

The yards that come through fine are the ones that don't depend on spray irrigation in the first place.

Xeriscaping as the Practical Fix

A well-designed xeriscape uses native and adapted plants, groups them by water need, and waters them with drip. That setup lines up with the rules instead of fighting them — drip is exactly what Denver Water still allows after October 1.

A properly designed xeriscape can:

Use a fraction of the water a bluegrass lawn needs once established
Cut ongoing maintenance — no mowing, no fertilizing
Stay compliant when restrictions tighten, because drip remains allowed
Hold up through dry years without a scramble

If you're new to xeriscaping, start with our introduction to xeriscaping in Denver. If you have spray zones watering beds and shrubs, converting them is one of the most useful things you can do this year — see our drip irrigation service and our comparison of drip vs. sprinkler irrigation.

What It Costs to Convert

Our xeriscape installs start at $6/sq ft, and most projects land between $6 and $10/sq ft. A 500 sq ft front yard runs $3,000–5,000. Design is $500, credited toward the project on installs over $5,000. The full breakdown is in our xeriscaping cost guide.

Plan ahead. Demand for landscaping crews goes up when restrictions are announced, and spring 2027 is likely to book early.

Design Ideas for Low-Water Landscaping

A good xeriscape isn't gravel and nothing else. The strongest Denver designs combine native plants, boulders and decorative rock, mulched beds, and drip irrigation. For layouts and inspiration, see our xeriscape design guide.

Get a Quote for Your Denver Yard

Xeris designs and builds xeriscapes across the Denver metro — patios, boulders, native plants, fencing, and drip irrigation. Fill out our estimate form and we'll talk through your project, your budget, and what's realistic for your space under the current rules.

Denver Water Restrictions 2026: Current Watering Rules and What They Mean for Your Yard