Designed to conserve Jacksonville’s water supply and reduce the amount of nutrients flowing into the St. Johns River, Chapter 366 of the city’s ordinance code limits watering to two days a week during daylight saving time.
 
Residential properties with an address that ends in an odd number or places without an address may water Wednesday and Saturday, and those addresses which end in an even number may water Thursday and Sunday. Non-residential irrigation is only permitted Tuesday and Friday.
 
Watering is allowed only before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. year-round. Some exceptions to the restrictions apply such as using a hand-held irrigation tool, micro-irrigation systems, maintenance and repair or watering to establish new landscaping.
 
Violators of the irrigation schedule and fertilizer ordinance requirements will be issued a warning ticket for the first observed offense with tickets for $50 and $250 for the second and third violations, respectively. Violators may also be subject to other enforcement.
 
Lawn watering will return to one designated day per week beginning Nov. 6, 2016.
 
To learn more about the restrictions, visit the City of Jacksonville, Environmental Quality Division at http://www.coj.net/departments/regulatory-compliance/environmental-quality/irrigation-and-fertilizer.aspx or visit the St. Johns River Water Management District at www.sjrwmd.com/wateringrestrictions.
 
Residents are also reminded that the University of Florida Extension program offers Florida-Friendly landscaping programs and assistance. The Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program provides educational outreach opportunities to homeowners, landscaping professionals, builders and developers on low maintenance and native plants and environmentally sustainable practices to enhance landscapes while reducing water consumption and saving money, time and energy. To learn more or register, visit http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/ or call (904) 255-7450.