Farmers Branch 2025 Water Restrictions

You don’t need to wait for a drought to start saving water. Farmers Branch is continuing its push for smart, efficient water use in 2025 with clear rules, practical tips, and real consequences for waste. This guide explains the watering schedule, the do’s and don’ts, penalties for non-compliance, and smart ways to keep your landscape healthy while staying within the rules.

By the end, you’ll know exactly when you can water, what tools you can use, what to avoid, and how to cut your water bill without sacrificing your yard.

Key takeaways

Even-numbered addresses water on Tuesdays and Saturdays; odd-numbered on Wednesdays and Sundays.
No outdoor watering on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays.
Only water before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
Hand watering with a shutoff nozzle is allowed; drip irrigation is allowed during approved hours.
No hosing down driveways or letting water run into the street.
Violations can result in warnings and escalating fines.
Use native plants, mulch, and rain barrels to save water and stay compliant.

Why water conservation matters in Farmers Branch

North Texas weather swings from heavy rains to long, hot dry spells. Lawn irrigation can make up 50–70% of a home’s summer water use, and much of that is lost to wind and midday heat. Conservation isn’t just about scarcity—it’s about making sure we have reliable water pressure for firefighting, keeping utility costs in check, and protecting shared reservoirs that serve multiple cities. Every gallon you don’t waste reduces strain on the system and keeps costs lower for everyone.

The 2025 outdoor watering schedule

Farmers Branch uses an address-based schedule to spread out demand and reduce waste.

Even-numbered addresses: Tuesdays and Saturdays
Odd-numbered addresses: Wednesdays and Sundays
No outdoor watering: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays

Time restrictions apply:

Allowed watering hours: Before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
Why this matters: Early morning and evening reduce evaporation and wind drift, so more water reaches roots and less is wasted.

Applies to:

In-ground irrigation systems
Hose-end sprinklers
Smart controllers (must still follow the schedule and hours)

What’s allowed and what’s not

Allowed

Hand watering with control: You can hand water anytime using a hand-held hose with a shutoff nozzle, a bucket, or a watering can. Keep the flow focused on plants, not pavement.
Drip irrigation: Allowed on any day during the permitted hours (before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m.). Drip targets roots and cuts evaporation, so it’s encouraged.
Soaker hoses: Treat as drip—use during allowed hours and ensure water isn’t running off.

Prohibited

Hosing down pavements: Don’t spray sidewalks, driveways, or patios with potable water. Use a broom or blower instead.
Runoff to streets and gutters: Adjust spray heads and duration to avoid water flowing onto hard surfaces or pooling at curbs.
Inefficient fountains: Ornamental fountains and waterfalls must recirculate water.
Midday irrigation: Sprinklers between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. are not allowed due to high evaporation.

Special cases

Vehicle washing: Allowed at home only on your designated watering days and only with a hose fitted with a shutoff nozzle. Using a commercial car wash that recycles water is encouraged.
Swimming pools and spas: Filling or refilling should follow designated watering days. Cover your pool to reduce evaporation.
New landscaping: New sod or landscape may qualify for a temporary exemption (often up to 30 days of daily watering) with a city permit. Check requirements before you plant.

Penalties for non-compliance

The city takes enforcement seriously to protect shared water supplies.

First violation: Warning notice
Second violation: Fine up to $100
Subsequent violations: Increasing fines and possible restrictions

Avoiding penalties is straightforward: follow your address schedule, water only during approved hours, and prevent runoff.

How to program your sprinkler controller for compliance

A few quick adjustments can help you stay within the rules and improve plant health.

Set watering days
- Even addresses: Program for Tuesday and Saturday.
- Odd addresses: Program for Wednesday and Sunday.
- Disable all other days, especially Monday, Thursday, and Friday.
Set watering windows
- Start times: Schedule early morning programs to finish by 10 a.m. or set evening programs to start after 6 p.m.
- Stagger zones so the system completes within your chosen window.
Use cycle-and-soak
- Break longer run times into two or three shorter cycles (for example, 6 minutes x 3) with 30–60 minutes between. This reduces runoff and improves root absorption, especially on clay soils and slopes.
Turn on rain and freeze protection
- Make sure rain/freeze sensors or smart controllers are active so the system skips watering after rainfall and during cold snaps.
Check coverage and pressure
- Aim heads away from sidewalks and streets.
- Match precipitation rates between rotors and sprays to avoid overwatering some zones.
Audit your system monthly
- Run each zone for a minute during allowed hours, look for broken heads, misting (too much pressure), and uneven spray. Fix leaks immediately.

Water-smart landscaping that thrives under restrictions

You can have a beautiful yard and still cut your water use dramatically. Focus on soil health, smart plant choices, and simple design tweaks.

Choose drought-tolerant and native plants

Go for Texas-tough options like:

- Trees: Live oak, cedar elm, desert willow
- Shrubs: Texas sage (cenizo), dwarf yaupon holly, agarita
- Perennials: Blackfoot daisy, salvia, lantana, turk’s cap
- Ornamental grasses: Gulf muhly, little bluestem, switchgrass

Benefits: Deeper roots, better heat tolerance, fewer pest problems.

Improve soil with compost and mulch

Mix 2–3 inches of compost into planting beds to boost water retention.
Add 2–4 inches of mulch to keep soil cool, reduce evaporation, and suppress weeds.
Keep mulch a few inches away from trunks and stems to prevent rot.

Group plants by water needs (hydrozoning)

Put thirsty plants together and drought-tolerant plants together.
Water each zone based on need to prevent overwatering.

Shrink high-water turf areas

Replace narrow or hard-to-irrigate strips with groundcovers, beds, or permeable paths.
Consider drought-tolerant turf varieties if you’re re-sodding.

Shade and windbreaks

Plant shade trees near western exposures and reflective hardscapes to reduce lawn stress and watering demand.

Practical ways to cut water use (and your bill)

Install a smart controller: Weather-based “ET” controllers adjust runtimes after rain and during heat waves. Many pay for themselves in one season.
Fix leaks fast: A dripping hose bib or an invisible lateral line leak can waste hundreds of gallons a day. Monitor your water meter during off hours to spot unseen losses.
Use high-efficiency nozzles: Rotary nozzles apply water more slowly and evenly, reducing runoff on clay soils.
Sweep, don’t spray: Use a broom or blower to clear driveways and patios.
Capture free water: Add rain barrels or a small cistern to irrigate beds. Even a half-inch storm can fill a 50–100 gallon barrel from a typical roof.
Water deeper, less often: Encourage deep roots by watering to a depth of 6–8 inches and allowing the soil surface to dry slightly between cycles.
Mow high, leave clippings: Taller grass (3–3.5 inches for most warm-season lawns) shades soil and reduces evaporation. Grasscycling returns moisture and nutrients.
Time fertilizer right: Light feeding in late spring and early fall helps turf without pushing thirsty growth during peak heat.

Common mistakes that lead to violations

“Just a quick rinse” of the driveway with a hose
Watering at 11 a.m. because “it’s not that hot”
Letting sprinklers hit the street or run for so long the water flows down the curb
Forgetting to switch the controller after installing new sod (without a permit)
Not replacing a broken nozzle that creates a geyser

Fix these habits and you’ll avoid fines and save water.

Landscaping on a budget: quick wins this weekend

Replace basic hose sprayers with shutoff nozzles.
Add a simple mechanical timer at the spigot for hand watering.
Move spray heads a few inches back from sidewalks and adjust arcs.
Add a 2–3 inch layer of mulch around shrubs and trees.
Install a rain barrel at the downspout with a debris screen and overflow.
Swap a few spray zones to drip with inexpensive kits from your local hardware store.

Taking small steps like these doesn’t just help you stay within Farmers Branch water restrictions—it makes your yard more resilient and can reduce your utility bills as well. Water conservation is a community effort, and every change you make adds up to make a real difference. Let’s work together to protect our water supply for future generations, keep our landscapes thriving, and set a positive example for our neighbors. Start with one change this week and watch how it multiplies over time!