I'm Tim Fitzwater, and I program every one of my customers' irrigation controllers to comply with Hillsborough County's watering restrictions. I'm honestly surprised how many homeowners don't know the rules. The county enforces a two-day-per-week schedule year-round under Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) rules. Odd-numbered addresses water Wednesday and Saturday. Even-numbered addresses water Thursday and Sunday. Watering hours: before 10 AM or after 4 PM only. And here's one most people miss: Florida Statute 373.62 requires every automatic irrigation system to have a functioning rain sensor. No sensor means you're in violation of state law.

The Current Schedule

Here are the rules in plain English:

  • Odd-numbered addresses (1, 3, 5, 7, 9 ending) — water Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Even-numbered addresses (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 ending) — water Thursday and Sunday.
  • Allowed hours: before 10 AM or after 4 PM only — never between 10 AM and 4 PM.
  • Maximum: one hour per zone per watering day.

These rules apply to county water and to private wells within the SWFWMD boundary — which covers basically all of Hillsborough County, including Brandon, Valrico, Riverview, Plant City, and FishHawk. There's no "well water exemption" most homeowners assume. If you're inside the district, the schedule applies.

Hand watering with a hose and shutoff nozzle is allowed any day, any time. Drip irrigation and microirrigation for landscape beds (not turf) are also allowed any day. The two-day rule is specifically for sprinkler systems hitting your lawn.

The Rain Sensor Requirement

Florida Statute 373.62 isn't a county suggestion — it's state law. Every automatic irrigation system installed in Florida is required to have a functioning rain sensor or soil moisture sensor that overrides the controller during and after rain.

I install rain sensors for $85–$150 depending on the system. They pay for themselves in skipped cycles — most homeowners save 15–20% on water bills the first year just from the sensor catching afternoon storms. More importantly, you stop seeing your sprinklers running during a downpour, which is the surest way to annoy your neighbors and get a friendly knock from a code enforcement officer.

If you're not sure whether yours is working, walk out next time it's raining hard. If your sensor's good, the system won't fire that night. If it fires anyway, the sensor's stuck or dead. This is one of the most common items I find on irrigation service calls.

How to Water Effectively on Two Days

Here's the part most homeowners get wrong: two days a week is plenty for established Florida lawns if you water correctly. The mistake is trying to compensate by running zones longer or adding extra hand watering — that just creates dependency on shallow surface moisture and weakens roots.

The right approach:

  • Deep watering beats frequent light watering. Aim for 3/4 to 1 inch per session, total. Deep water grows deep roots.
  • Run each zone 20–40 minutes depending on your sprinkler head type — rotors take longer than spray heads.
  • Water early morning (5–9 AM) to minimize evaporation and let blades dry before nightfall. Wet blades overnight = fungal disease risk.
  • Calibrate with a tuna can. Set an empty tuna can on your lawn during a watering cycle. When it's 3/4 inch full, that zone is done. That's how I dial in every customer's runtimes.

If your lawn is going brown between watering days even on the right schedule, the problem is usually irrigation coverage (broken heads, dead zones, misaligned spray) — not frequency. Run a manual cycle and walk every zone. More on diagnosing this in my brown lawn in summer guide.

The New Sod Exception

New sod is the one big exception. Freshly installed sod gets a 30-day temporary variance for daily watering, because newly laid grass with shallow roots will die without consistent moisture.

You contact SWFWMD for the permit before installation. For my sod installation customers, I handle this paperwork automatically — I'm not going to install a $3,000 lawn and let you risk a code violation while it roots in. The full first-30-days watering schedule is in my sod installation guide.

Tim's Answers to Common Questions

How often can I water in Hillsborough County?
Twice per week. Odd addresses water Wednesday and Saturday, even addresses water Thursday and Sunday. Before 10 AM or after 4 PM only. The rules apply year-round and they apply to private wells inside SWFWMD's boundary, which covers all of Brandon and the surrounding area.
Do I need a rain sensor?
Yes — Florida Statute 373.62 requires a functioning rain sensor on every automatic system in the state. Not a county rule, a state law. I install them for $85–$150 and they pay for themselves quickly through skipped cycles.
Can I water new sod daily?
Yes — new sod qualifies for a 30-day temporary variance to water daily during the establishment period. You file the permit through SWFWMD. I handle this automatically for every sod customer so you're not in violation while the roots take.