South Florida Irrigation Restrictions by County — Updated 2025 Schedule for Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Collier, and Monroe
South Florida Irrigation Restrictions by County — 2025
Every county in South Florida operates under the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule as the baseline — two days per week, no watering between 10 AM and 4 PM. But each county and many municipalities have local overlay schedules that modify or restrict this further. The schedule that is legal in unincorporated Miami-Dade may not be legal within the City of Miami or in a municipality served by a different water utility.
This guide consolidates the 2025 schedules by county and flags the key municipal exceptions irrigation contractors encounter most often.
The SFWMD Baseline Rule (All Counties)
SFWMD Rule 40E-24 is the minimum restriction for all property in the District, which covers all five counties in this guide. Key provisions:
- 2 days per week maximum for landscape irrigation
- No irrigation between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM (year-round, not seasonal)
- Maximum 1 hour per zone per day — though most controllers run zones for 20–45 minutes, the 1-hour cap prevents excessive runtimes
- Rain sensor or soil moisture sensor required on all irrigation systems (new installations and replacement systems)
- New plantings exception: Up to 30 days of daily watering for newly installed plants with documented installation date
County-by-County Irrigation Schedule Reference 2025
South Florida Irrigation Schedule Restrictions by County 2025
| County / Area | Permitted Days | Allowed Hours | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade (MDWASD) | Address-based (odd: Wed/Sat; even: Thu/Sun) | Before 8 AM or after 6 PM | MDWASD has a stricter time window than SFWMD. City of Miami Beach has additional restrictions. |
| Broward (County utility) | Address-based per SFWMD 40E-24 | Before 10 AM or after 4 PM | Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood have local utilities with modified schedules — verify with utility provider. |
| Palm Beach (SFWMD zone) | Address-based per SFWMD 40E-24 | Before 10 AM or after 4 PM | Boca Raton and Boynton Beach operate municipal utilities with published modified schedules. |
| Collier (Big Cypress Basin) | 2 days/week per SFWMD | Before 10 AM or after 4 PM | Additional restrictions during declared water shortage; Marco Island has separate schedule. |
| Monroe (Lower West Coast Basin) | 2 days/week; specific days vary by utility district | Before 10 AM or after 4 PM | Key West, Florida Keys Electric Co-op service areas have local utility schedules; saltwater intrusion concerns amplify enforcement. |
Day assignments vary by address last digit per SFWMD 40E-24 baseline. Municipal utilities often publish their own assignment tables that supersede the county schedule. The irrigation contractor's responsibility is to program the controller to the schedule applicable to the specific utility providing water to the property. Source: SFWMD; county water utilities; FloridaLandscapeIQ, 2025.
Rain Sensor Requirements by County
Florida law mandates rain sensors on all new irrigation systems and on systems undergoing major repair. But county and municipal enforcement intensity varies:
Miami-Dade: Rain sensor functionality is checked during irrigation permit inspections. A bypassed sensor found during inspection results in a failed inspection and re-inspection requirement.
Broward: Rain sensor requirement enforced at permit inspection. Municipalities in Broward — including Coral Springs and Sunrise — have conducted irrigation enforcement operations that include rain sensor checks.
Palm Beach: Boca Raton has historically conducted active irrigation enforcement patrols. A non-functioning sensor is a first-offense citation.
All counties: An irrigation system with a bypassed or non-functioning rain sensor that runs during rainfall is evidence of a restriction violation, which triggers enforcement.
Fine Structure for Irrigation Violations
Enforcement is distributed across utilities, municipalities, and SFWMD directly. Typical fine progression:
| Offense | Typical Fine Range | |---------|-------------------| | First offense (warning in some jurisdictions) | $0–$100 | | First citation | $50–$250 | | Second offense | $250–$500 | | Third and subsequent | $500–$10,000 | | Commercial / large-scale violation | Up to $10,000 + enforcement costs |
SFWMD also has authority to issue water shortage orders during declared drought conditions that further restrict watering to once per week or less. Contractors should monitor SFWMD alerts during dry seasons, particularly October–May when South Florida's dry season coincides with low reservoir levels.
Find licensed irrigation contractors throughout South Florida through the FloridaLandscapeIQ Contractor Directory.
Source: SFWMD Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule 40E-24; Florida Statute 373.62; Miami-Dade Water and Sewer; Broward County; Palm Beach County Water Utilities; FloridaLandscapeIQ Staff, May 2025.