Irrigation Days

Do you adjust your irrigation days throughout the year? If not, now is the time to start. Irrigation restrictions in the City of Ocala change based on the time of year. 

Daylight Savings Time

When Daylight Savings Time is in effect, landscape irrigation shall occur only in accordance with the following irrigation schedule and limitations:

• Odd or not numbered addresses: Wednesdays and Saturdays
• Even-numbered addresses: Thursdays and Sundays
• Non-residential properties: Tuesdays and Fridays

Eastern Standard Time

• Odd or not numbered addresses: Saturdays
• Even-numbered address: Sundays
• Non-residential properties: Tuesdays

Irrigation Times

• Residential and non-residential irrigation should not occur between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• No more than three-fourths inches of water may be applied per irrigation zone on each day that irrigation occurs, and in no event shall irrigation occur for more than one hour per irrigation zone on each day that irrigation occurs.

Irrigation Exceptions

1. Irrigation using a micro-spray, micro-jet, drip or bubbler irrigation system is allowed anytime.
2. Irrigation of new landscape is allowed at any time of day on any day for the initial 30 days after the landscape is planted, and every other day for the next 30 days for a total of one 60-day period, provided that the irrigation is limited to the minimum amount necessary for landscape establishment.
3. Watering in of chemicals, including insecticides, pesticides, fertilizers, fungicides, and herbicides, when required by law, the manufacturer, or best management practices, is allowed at any time of day on any day within 24 hours of application. Watering in of chemicals shall not exceed one-fourth inch of water per application except as otherwise required by law, the manufacturer, or best management practices.
4. Irrigation systems may be operated at any time of day on any day for maintenance and repair purposes not to exceed 20 minutes per hour per irrigation zone.
5. Irrigation using a hand-held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle is allowed at any time of day on any day.
6. Discharge of water from a water-to-air air conditioning unit or other water-dependent cooling system is not limited.
7. The use of water from a reclaimed water system is allowed anytime. For the purpose of this subsection, a reclaimed water system includes systems in which the primary source is reclaimed water, which may or may not be supplemented from another source during peak demand periods.
8. The use of recycled water from wet detention treatment ponds for irrigation is allowed anytime, provided the ponds are not augmented from any ground or off-site surface water, or public supply sources.

All of Marion County, including the City of Ocala, is to follow the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) restrictions. The only exceptions are The Villages and the City of Dunnellon, which should follow restrictions of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

To learn more about the St. Johns River Water Management District watering restrictions, visit: https://www.sjrwmd.com/wateringrestrictions/#restrictions-summary

For more information, please contact the City of Ocala Water Resources Department at 352-351-6772.