TAMPA, Fla. — New water restrictions are now in effect in Tampa, and while residents won’t see changes to how often they can water their lawns, homeowners associations are facing significant new limits on how they regulate their communities.
What You Need To Know
The city of Tampa is directing HOAs to pause fines for any violations that require water to cure, specifically brown lawns and pressure washing
Homeowners are only allowed to wash their cars on their individually secheduled water day, which is based on their street address
Outdoor fountains has also been restricted to eight hours per day
For more information on new water restrictions, water schedule and conservation tips, visit the city of Tampa’s water conservation website
Tampa residents have been under once-a-week watering restrictions since December 2023, and that policy will remain in place under the new restrictions.
However, as of Feb. 8, the city has rolled out new rules aimed squarely at HOAs that preventing them from enforcing penalties that would require additional water use to fix.
Under the new Phase 2 water restrictions, HOAs are no longer allowed to enforce deed restrictions or fine residents for conditions that would require water to correct — which includes brown or dry lawns, the replacement of plants to meet community aesthetic standards, and dirty driveways or homes that would require pressure washing.
City officials said the goal is to avoid putting residents in a position where they feel forced to violate water restrictions just to avoid HOA penalties.
“These new restrictions are really about tightening the screws on water use even more,” said Tampa Water Department spokeswoman Liz Hall.
Hall noted that the city’s conservation efforts are already making a difference.
“In the two-year period that we started our once-a-week watering restrictions, we’ve saved about 4 billion gallons of water,” she said. “That’s a lot of water.”
“It all comes down to all of us coming together and doing our part,” she added.
The city will also limit personal car washing to one day a week, and any homeowner with an outdoor fountain can only run it for up to eight hours per day.
The city has not announced a timeline for lifting the Phase 2 restrictions, though officials say they are likely to remain in place until at least mid-May, when the rainy season typically begins.
In the meantime, Tampa is actively enforcing the rules.
City crews are patrolling neighborhoods for violations, and penalties can add up quickly: The cost of a first violation is $100, with subsequent fines becoming more expensive.
City leaders said they understand the challenges homeowners face and are offering guidance on how to maintain lawns while staying compliant.
Tampa has created a dedicated webpage that outlines current water restrictions, approved watering days and times and conservation tips for residents
As drought conditions continue, city officials emphasize that cooperation — from residents and HOAs alike — is critical to protecting Tampa’s water supply.