Fort Worth’s Twice-a-Week Watering Schedule Explained

Fort Worth has year-round outdoor watering rules for irrigation systems and sprinklers. They are not seasonal restrictions that come and go with drought; they apply every day of the year. Knowing them helps you set your controller correctly, avoid violations and make the most of the water you use. This article explains the rules in plain terms.

The Basic Rules

According to the City of Fort Worth, the year-round outdoor watering requirements include:

• A twice-a-week schedule with assigned days for all water customers who use irrigation systems or sprinklers.
• No watering by irrigation systems or sprinklers between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• No watering during precipitation.
• No water waste through runoff, or through missing, misaligned or broken sprinkler heads.
• Hand watering with a hose is allowed at any time.

Assigned Watering Days

Your assigned days depend on the last digit of your address:

• Residential addresses ending in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8 may water on Wednesday and Saturday.
• Residential addresses ending in 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 may water on Thursday and Sunday.
• Non-residential sites, including apartments, businesses, parks and common areas, may water on Tuesday and Friday.
• Monday: no irrigation for anyone.

Allowed Hours

On your assigned days, irrigation systems and sprinklers may run from midnight to 10 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to midnight. The 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. window is off-limits every day because that is when the most water is lost to evaporation.

For most homes, early morning is the best time to water. Wind is usually calmer and grass dries during the day. Our guide to programming your controller explains how to set start times so every zone finishes before 10 a.m.

What the Rules Exempt

Fort Worth’s code allows lawns and landscaping to be watered on any day and at any time with:

• A hand-held hose
• Drip irrigation
• A soaker hose
• A tree bubbler

The code states the intent is to allow protection of structural foundations, trees and other high-value landscape materials. Our article on hand watering, drip and soaker hoses goes into detail.

Smart Controllers Still Follow the Days

Fort Worth notes that all customers must water only on their designated days, even when using smart irrigation technology. A smart controller can decide how long to water, or whether to skip a day, but it should be limited to your assigned days. See our article on smart sprinkler controllers.

New Landscapes

The city’s code includes a limited provision for establishing new landscaping, and variances may be granted in certain situations. If you are putting in new sod or seed, check with Fort Worth’s water department about what is allowed before watering outside your schedule.

Water Waste

Even on your assigned day, you can be in violation if your system wastes water. The rules name:

• Runoff onto streets, sidewalks and other hard surfaces
• Missing, misaligned or broken sprinkler heads
• Watering during rain

Our article on avoiding water waste violations covers each of these and how to fix them.

Rain and Freeze Sensors

Fort Worth requires rain and freeze sensors on residential irrigation systems installed on or after June 1, 2007. A working sensor helps you follow the no-watering-during-rain rule automatically. See our article on rain and freeze sensors.

Does Twice a Week Provide Enough Water?

For most established lawns in Fort Worth, twice a week is enough, even in summer, when the system is in good repair and run times are set correctly. The key is watering deeply on each day rather than lightly, so roots grow deeper. Many lawns actually need less than two waterings a week in spring, fall and winter. Our guide on how long to run each zone explains how to find the right run times.

What About Suburbs?

The rules in this article are for the City of Fort Worth. Nearby cities, including many of those we serve, such as Benbrook, Haltom City, Keller, North Richland Hills and Saginaw, set their own watering rules. If you live outside Fort Worth city limits, check with your own city or water provider.

Reading Your Address Correctly

The schedule uses the last digit of your street address, not your house number’s first digit or your unit number. A house at 4512 waters on Wednesday and Saturday because it ends in 2. A house at 4513 waters on Thursday and Sunday because it ends in 3. Duplexes and houses with a separate address for each unit follow each unit’s own address. Apartment complexes, businesses, churches, schools, parks and HOA common areas follow the non-residential days of Tuesday and Friday.

Why the Rules Exist

Fort Worth’s rules are part of the city’s water conservation and drought plans. Outdoor watering is one of the largest uses of water in North Texas during summer. Spreading watering across assigned days also eases demand on the water system during peak times.

Penalties

The city has stated that failing to follow the watering schedule may result in financial penalties, and that high-violation areas may see increased monitoring. The simplest way to avoid trouble is a correctly programmed controller, a working rain sensor and a system in good repair.

When to Call a Technician

If your system has broken heads, overspray or a controller that is hard to program, our sprinkler repair service can get it working within the rules.