New sod needs water more often than most city schedules allow. Before you set an install date, find the job's water provider below, read its current rules, and ask about a new-landscape variance.
Rules change with drought stages, sometimes with a few days' notice. This list is a starting point, not the rule. Always confirm the current stage and schedule with the water provider for the job address before you install.
Not sure who supplies the water? It is usually the city on the water bill. Some suburbs buy water from a regional district (listed separately) but set their own schedule. A city's own page wins over the district's.
Texas cities
Allen
Allen: Find My Watering Day
Standing rule: Sprinklers up to twice a week on assigned days; November 1 to March 31, once a week on your primary day. No sprinklers 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 1 to October 31. Hand-held hose, soaker hose or drip any time without runoff.
As of October 2026, verified from City of Allen, Find My Watering Day. Check current stage.
New sod or new landscape: Variance or exemption available. New lawn or landscape variance allows extra sprinkler watering for up to 30 days from installation (still not 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 1 to October 31). One per calendar year; none granted November 1 to March 31. Allen new lawn/landscape watering variance request
Arlington
Arlington Water Utilities: Water Conservation (Irrigation Rules)
Standing rule: City code prohibits irrigating lawns and landscape between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily, year-round, except hand watering and soaker hoses.
As of October 2026, verified from City of Arlington Water Conservation page, Irrigation Rules. Check current stage.
New sod or new landscape: Not confirmed on the provider's pages we checked. Ask the provider before you install.
Bonham
Bonham 2024 Water Conservation and Emergency Management Plan (PDF)
Standing rule: The city’s 2024 plan (adopted July 8, 2024) carries the regional year-round schedule: April 1 to October 31, sprinklers no more than two days a week and none 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; November 1 to March 31, no more than one day a week.
As of October 2026, verified from City of Bonham 2024 Water Conservation and Water Resource and Emergency Management Plan. Check current stage.
This is a plan document, not a live status page. Call the city for the current stage.
New sod or new landscape: Not confirmed on the provider's pages we checked. Ask the provider before you install.
Dallas (Dallas Water Utilities)
Save Dallas Water: watering schedule FAQ
Standing rule: Sprinklers and irrigation systems no more than twice a week year-round (addresses ending 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 or no number: Sunday and Thursday; 1, 3, 5, 7, 9: Saturday and Wednesday), and not between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on any day. Hand watering, soaker hoses and drip are allowed any day, any time.
As of October 2026, verified from Save Dallas Water (Dallas Water Utilities) FAQ and the DWU bill insert on the May 13, 2026 ordinance update. Check current stage.
New sod or new landscape: Variance or exemption available. Newly installed landscapes can apply for extra watering days for up to five weeks after installation; cool-season grasses are excluded. Be ready to show proof of the sod, seed and soil-amendment purchase. Review typically takes about ten business days. Dallas exceptions and variances
Denton
Denton Water Utilities: citywide irrigation schedule
Standing rule: Twice-a-week irrigation schedule: even addresses (or no address) Tuesday and Saturday, odd addresses Wednesday and Sunday, commercial and multi-family Monday and Thursday. The city FAQ adds an annual ban on lawn watering 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from June 1 to September 30.
As of October 2026, verified from City of Denton Water Utilities page and Utilities FAQ. Check current stage.
New sod or new landscape: Not confirmed on the provider's pages we checked. Ask the provider before you install.
Fort Worth
Fort Worth: year-round outdoor watering requirements
Standing rule: Twice-a-week sprinkler schedule year-round: residential even addresses Wednesday and Saturday, odd addresses Thursday and Sunday, non-residential Tuesday and Friday, no watering Monday. No sprinklers 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hand-held hose any time.
As of October 2026, verified from City of Fort Worth, Year-round outdoor watering requirements. Check current stage.
New sod or new landscape: Variance or exemption available. Watering for up to 30 consecutive days to establish newly planted hydromulch, grass sod or grass seed, with an approved irrigation schedule variance. Fort Worth irrigation schedule variance form (PDF)
Frisco
Frisco: Watering Schedule
Standing rule: Seasonal: November 1 to March 31, no sprinkler watering of lawn grass; April 1 to May 31 and September 1 to October 31, once a week on your trash day; June 1 to August 31, up to twice a week (second day only to split the weekly amount). Hand watering and drip up to 2 hours a day when needed.
As of October 2026, verified from City of Frisco, Watering Schedule. Check current stage.
New sod or new landscape: Variance or exemption available. Temporary exemption for new landscaping can allow daily watering, if needed, up to 30 days from installation. Apply before you buy or schedule the install, through the myFRISCO app; one per year; a free sprinkler checkup is required afterward. No watering in rain, below 40°F, or 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during daylight saving time. Frisco watering exemption request
Gainesville (TX)
Gainesville: Water Conservation Plan page
Check current stage. No standing rule is summarized here; read the provider's page.
The page links the city’s May 2019 conservation and emergency management plan. No current schedule or stage was posted on the page checked.
New sod or new landscape: Not confirmed on the provider's pages we checked. Ask the provider before you install.
Garland
Garland Water Utilities: Watering Schedule & Restrictions tab
Standing rule: In-ground sprinklers twice a week April 1 to October 31 and once a week November 1 to March 31 (you choose the days). No outdoor irrigation 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April through October. Hand-held hose with shutoff, soaker or drip any time.
As of October 2026, verified from City of Garland Water Utilities, Watering Schedule & Restrictions. Check current stage.
Garland’s page showed “Water Conservation Plan: YES; Water Resource Emergency Management Plan: NO.”
New sod or new landscape: Variance or exemption available. Newly installed landscape or sod watered by sprinkler more than twice a week needs a variance: email Water Utilities with name, address and the dates needed. Garland water variances (same tab)
Grand Prairie
Grand Prairie: Current Water Restrictions
Standing rule: Currently Stage 1: sprinklers on Monday and Thursday (even addresses) or Tuesday and Friday (odd); none Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday; none 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. any day. Hand watering and soaker hoses any time.
As of October 2026, verified from City of Grand Prairie, Current Water Restrictions. Check current stage.
New sod or new landscape: Variance or exemption available. The city’s conservation page says the ordinance allows watering outside the year-round rules for 30 days to establish hydromulch, grass sod or grass seed. Ask how that applies under the current stage. Grand Prairie water conservation plan highlights
Irving
Irving: Irrigation Insights (watering schedule)
Standing rule: City ordinance bans watering 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April 1 through October 31. The city asks for no more than twice a week April through October and only once a month, if needed, in winter.
As of October 2026, verified from City of Irving, Irrigation Insights. Check current stage.
New sod or new landscape: Variance or exemption available. Irrigation variance for situations such as new landscape installation, typically not more than 30 days; the city inspects before approval and at the end. Irving request for irrigation variance
Lewisville
Lewisville: Outdoor Watering Restrictions
Standing rule: Stage 1 year-round: two watering days a week (even or no address Tuesday and Saturday, odd Wednesday and Sunday, commercial and multi-family Monday and Thursday). No sprinklers 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 1 to September 30. Hand watering and soaker hoses any time in Stage 1.
As of October 2026, verified from City of Lewisville, Outdoor Watering Restrictions. Check current stage.
New sod or new landscape: Variance or exemption available. Properties that install new sod or landscaping can request a variance for more frequent watering for a set period. Lewisville variance information (same page)
Mansfield
Mansfield: Watering Schedule & Restrictions
Standing rule: No outdoor watering with an irrigation system 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., year-round. Day-of-week limits come with drought stages.
As of October 2026, verified from City of Mansfield, Watering Schedule & Restrictions, and its 2024 Drought Contingency Plan. Check current stage.
New sod or new landscape: Variance or exemption available. The 2024 drought plan says new hydromulch, sod or seed has no watering restrictions for its first 30 days in the first two stages; in the most severe stage new landscaping needs a variance. Mansfield Drought Contingency Plan (PDF)
McKinney
McKinney: Outdoor Water Use (WaterSmart)
Standing rule: Water on your designated day (your trash day) and, if needed, a second day three days later. No watering 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 1 to October 31, or during rain or freezes.
As of October 2026, verified from City of McKinney, Outdoor Water Use. Check current stage.
New sod or new landscape: Variance or exemption available. Newly planted landscape is exempt from the schedule for 30 days from installation with city approval. Over-seeding is not exempt. McKinney watering exemption guidelines and application
Plano
Plano: Watering Guidelines and Management
Standing rule: April 1 to October 31: up to twice a week (even addresses Monday and Thursday, odd Tuesday and Friday) and no sprinklers 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. November 1 to March 31: up to once a week (even Thursday, odd Tuesday).
As of October 2026, verified from City of Plano, Watering Guidelines and Management. Check current stage.
New sod or new landscape: Variance or exemption available. A variance may be requested to water new landscapes for up to 30 days. Plano water variance procedures (PDF)
Richardson
Richardson: Water Conservation (watering schedule)
Standing rule: Sprinklers twice a week: even addresses Tuesday and Saturday, odd Wednesday and Sunday. The winter plan from November 1 allows watering at any time of day on those days. Drip, soaker or hand-held hose with shutoff any day, any time.
As of October 2026, verified from City of Richardson, Water Conservation. Check current stage.
New sod or new landscape: Richardson has a variance request form for residents and businesses; the page checked does not name new sod specifically. Ask before you install. Richardson variances
Weatherford
Weatherford: Conservation Stages
Standing rule: Permanent: automatic sprinklers or irrigation systems up to twice a week, year-round; no sprinkler watering 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.
As of October 2026, verified from City of Weatherford, Conservation Stages. Check current stage.
New sod or new landscape: Variance or exemption available. New turf (hydromulch, sod or seed) may qualify for a 30-day watering variance. A New Turf Permit must be approved by Water Utilities before installation. Weatherford new turf permit (same page)
No provider on this list matches. Search the city's website for "watering schedule" or "drought contingency plan," or call the number on the water bill.
These providers had no official watering-schedule or drought page we could confirm on October 2026: Sherman, Tulsa, and Durant. Call the utility or check the city's code of ordinances.
Every summary above was checked against the provider's own page or plan on October 2026. Spot an outdated rule? Tell us at contact.