Denver Water’s watering rules and restrictions help reduce outdoor water use during drought while still allowing flexibility when it’s necessary.
Depending on your situation, you may be able to:
- Apply for a watering establishment permit.
- Operate under a water budget (for large, nonresidential properties).
- Request a water restriction variance.
If you’re planting new seed, sod, trees, shrubs, plants or water-wise grass seed, you may qualify for a temporary watering establishment permit.
What this allows:
- New landscape areas that need to be watered more frequently than two days per week and between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
- This allowance is temporary to help plants get established.
- All other watering rules still apply, including preventing water waste.
How long is allowed:
- New native and water-wise grass seed: up to 8 weeks.
- New sod, trees, perennials or shrubs: up to 3 weeks.
Important:
- You must apply and receive approval before watering outside your assigned watering day.
- You’re still responsible for water charges, including drought pricing.
- The permit applies only to the newly planted area.
Some large properties — like parks, schools and golf courses — operate under a water budget.
Why this exists: Large landscapes can’t always be watered within the two-days-per-week requirement like smaller properties. Water budgets give these customers flexibility while still requiring significant water savings.
How it works:
- Customers must reduce water use by 20% overall.
- They may water more than two days per week.
- Denver Water monitors total water use to ensure they stay within their budget.
What you might notice: You may see watering outside standard days at these locations. This is allowed as long as they stay within their total water use limits.
Not all situations require a permit or variance request. Some types of water use are already allowed under Chapters 14 and 15 of Denver Water’s Operating Rules, even during drought.
Health and safety uses
- Cleaning areas where sanitation is required (such as food waste or dumpster areas).
- Maintaining safe conditions on athletic fields.
- Cooling artificial turf to prevent heat-related injuries.
- Washing fleet vehicles more frequently when needed for safety or sanitation.
Irrigation system maintenance and repairs
- Testing irrigation systems.
- Identifying leaks.
- Performing repairs to prevent water waste.
Trees, Shrubs, Perennials, Annuals, and Vegetables
- Trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, and vegetables can be watered any day of the week using hand-watering or drip irrigation, but not between 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Recycled (non-potable) water
- Recycled water comes from reusable supplies, and users are approved to irrigate any day of the week. All other water waste rules apply to recycled water irrigation, including no watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Large properties on a water budget
- May water outside standard schedules under an approved water budget.
Still required for everyone
Even when these uses are allowed, all customers must:
- Prevent water from running onto streets or sidewalks.
- Fix leaks or broken irrigation systems.
- Follow allowed watering times.
If your situation isn’t covered above and you’re unable to follow standard watering rules, you can request a variance.
Denver Water recognizes that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work in every situation, but exceptions are limited and carefully reviewed.
When to request a variance
You may submit a request if your situation involves:
- Health or safety needs not listed above.
- Accessibility or medical needs.
- Other special circumstances that make it difficult to follow the rules.
If approved
- The variance will be temporary and limited in scope.
- You must follow any conditions included with your approval.
- Standard water rates still apply, including drought pricing.
- Misuse may result in enforcement action.
Until you receive approval, standard watering rules remain in effect.