Orange County’s published 2026 calendar allows residential landscape irrigation two days per week through October 31, then one day per week beginning November 1. The allowed day depends on whether the address is odd, even, or absent.
The County says the restriction applies regardless of whether irrigation water comes from a public utility, private utility, well, pump, groundwater, or surface water. Confirm that the County schedule and enforcement authority apply to the address before changing a controller.
Key Findings
- Through October 31, 2026, odd-numbered or no-address homes use Wednesday and Saturday; even-numbered homes use Thursday and Sunday.
- From November 1, 2026 through March 13, 2027, odd/no-address homes use Saturday; even-numbered homes use Sunday.
- Irrigation should occur only when necessary, never from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and for no more than one hour per zone.
- New sod or landscaping has a two-stage exception: any day for the initial 30 days, then every other day for the next 30 days, only in the newly planted area and only as needed.
The dated address-parity calendar
| Published period | Odd-numbered or no-address home | Even-numbered home | Nonresidential property |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 8–October 31, 2026 | Wednesday and Saturday | Thursday and Sunday | Tuesday and Friday |
| November 1, 2026–March 13, 2027 | Saturday | Sunday | Tuesday |
These dates and days come from Orange County’s current Watering Restrictions page, collected August 9, 2026.
“Odd” and “even” refer to the numerical street address, not a ZIP code, irrigation-zone number, meter number, or day of the month. Homes with no street number follow the odd/no-address column in the County table.
Three controller limits that do not change with the day column
The County publishes three additional limits:
- water only when necessary;
- do not irrigate between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.; and
- do not exceed one hour per zone.
One hour is a maximum runtime, not a recommended runtime and not a volume. Soil, plant, shade, rainfall, system output, leaks, and local restrictions can call for less or no irrigation. OUC’s conservation guidance reinforces the seasonal day pattern and avoiding the 10 a.m.–4 p.m. window.
The 60-day new-sod and landscaping timeline
The County publishes an exception for the specific areas where new sod or landscaping was installed.
| Stage | Calendar rule | Records to preserve |
|---|---|---|
| Installation date | Start the dated file | Invoice/receipt, installation address, installed area, and photographs if available |
| Days 1–30 | Any day and any time, only as necessary for establishment | Controller log and County notice information |
| Days 31–60 | Every other day, only as necessary and only in the new area | Continued controller log and receipts |
| After day 60 | Return to the current ordinary address schedule | Recheck period, parity, and any emergency restriction |
This is a day-count organization of the County’s two 30-day stages. It is not a recommendation to water daily during the first period.
The County instructs residents to provide Orange County Utilities with their name, phone number, address, and sod or landscape purchase receipts to avoid an irrigation violation during establishment. Keep proof of when that information was provided.
Do not merge five different questions
1. Which government has authority?
An Orlando mailing address may be inside the City, unincorporated Orange County, or another municipality. Confirm government jurisdiction before assuming the County enforcement process applies.
2. Who provides the water?
Utility provider does not necessarily equal the government enforcing landscape restrictions. Record both.
3. What is the water source?
The County says its schedule covers public and private utilities, wells and pumps, groundwater, and surface water. A different source does not automatically mean a different day.
4. Is there a newer emergency or site restriction?
Temporary water-quality, drought, maintenance, district, or other orders can be more specific than the seasonal table. Check current notices before using the calendar.
5. Is reclaimed water available and permitted?
The City says reclaimed-water availability is address-specific. Its reclaimed-water page also identifies a plumbing-permit and final-inspection path for new or converted irrigation connections, OUC account setup, and restrictions on reclaimed-water use.
Reclaimed service is not potable service, and its availability does not by itself cancel a watering schedule.
Enforcement and billing records are separate
The County page says a first violation receives a warning and repeat violations are subject to a $25 fine per violation. It also provides an appeal process. Preserve the actual notice, date, address, observed condition, and response deadline rather than relying on a generic summary.
Higher irrigation can also increase a bill. The County describes a possible residential lawn-replacement adjustment request and says supporting documents must be submitted within 60 days of unusually high consumption. That is an application window, not a promised credit or amount.
Do not add potential fines, water use, or adjustments into an estimate. The source does not provide enough address- and account-specific evidence.
Controller record checklist
Before saving a seasonal program, record:
- full address and odd/even/no-address classification;
- confirmed jurisdiction and utility;
- irrigation water source;
- applicable schedule page and access date;
- selected watering day or days;
- zone runtimes and start times;
- rain shutoff or soil-moisture controls;
- installation date and planted area if using the new-landscape exception; and
- any emergency, variance, violation, or account-specific notice.
Methodology and limitations
Local Service Ledger reviewed Orange County, OUC, and City of Orlando sources on August 9, 2026. We transcribed both dated schedule periods and converted the two published 30-day exception stages into a record timeline. We did not calculate gallons, runtime needs, bills, fines, or adjustments.
The article does not establish a particular property’s authority or current emergency conditions. Recheck the schedule at the November transition and before relying on it in 2027.