CITRUS COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – The Southwest Florida Water Management District has declared Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage Restrictions, which will take effect April 3, 2026, and remain in place through July 1, 2026, for several counties, including Citrus.

Citrus County has been under Modified Phase II Water Shortage Restrictions since February 2026 due to dry water resource conditions. The updated Phase III requirements include stricter watering times and increased enforcement by local agencies.

According to the District’s fact sheet, the following rules are in place for residents, businesses, HOAs and local authorities to comply:

  • The Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage Order continues one day per week lawn watering Districtwide, including residents on private wells, with stricter watering hours.
  • Watering hours are reduced to 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.; properties less than one acre in size may only use one of these windows.
  • Unless your city or county already has stricter hours in effect, properties one acre or larger may only water before 4 a.m. and after 8 p.m.
  • Watering days are based on the following schedule for addresses ending in:
    • 0 or 1 shall only water on Monday
    • 2 or 3, on Tuesday
    • 4 or 5, on Wednesday
    • 6 or 7, on Thursday
    • 8 or 9, on Friday along with locations with a mix of addresses or for which an address cannot be determined (such as common areas associated with a subdivision)
  • Low-volume watering of plants and shrubs (micro-irrigation, soaker hoses, hand watering) is allowed any day but is limited to before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
  • Pressure washing in preparation for painting and sealing is allowed.
  • No HOA or other entity shall enforce deed restrictions or other community standards requiring an increase in water use, including replacement of plant material to meet aesthetic standards or pressure washing (i.e., driveways).
  • Car washing at home (non-commercial) is only allowed on your lawn watering day and you must use a hose with a shutoff nozzle.
  • Aesthetic fountain use is limited to four hours a day. The regular hours of operation can be selected by the owner but must be posted. Exemptions for koi ponds, small fountains, interactive commercial/institutional recreation areas and other incidental uses.
  • Restaurants are required to only serve water upon request.
  • Water utilities, in consultation with applicable local enforcement agencies, must:
    • Utilities must implement Phase III water conservation efforts, including customer education about the current water shortage and ways to conserve water.
    • Water utilities and other local enforcement officials must increase their enforcement efforts, including responding to citizen complaints, and monitoring water use through patrols or customer records.
    • Starting 14 days after the effective date of the water shortage order, utilities and other local enforcement officials are to issue citations first without issuing a warning.
    • Any violations should be reported to the appropriate local utility.

A full list of restrictions and FAQs are provided on WaterMatters.org/Restrictions.

For additional questions, please contact the Southwest Water Management District by email at Water.Restrictions@WaterMatters.org, or call 1-800-836-0797 (FL only) or 813-856-5679 during business hours.