Spray irrigation in Albuquerque counts as water waste between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. from April 1 through October 31. A first observed violation is a warning, then homes pay $20, $50 and $100.
Rules verified November 3, 2026 using Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, Water Waste Overview and Enforcement and its Conservation and Rebates overview.
Whether you are in the North Valley or the Northeast Heights, ABQ Landscape Co takes on lawn watering and irrigation with in-house drip irrigation and artificial turf installation help, and (505) 630-1309 or get a free quote starts the conversation.
Albuquerque watering rules right now
Albuquerque does not assign watering days. There is no odd/even schedule, and the Water Authority’s 505 Outside program says Albuquerque is still in a Drought Advisory (505 Outside). The rule is a time-of-day one: using spray irrigation between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. from April 1 through October 31 is water waste, and water waste is billed.
Drip, low-precipitation bubblers and hand watering are exempt from that window. Water leaving your property into the street or a neighbour’s yard is water waste at any hour, on any date, in any year.
Read from the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority on 31 August 2026.
What water waste actually costs
This is the part almost no Albuquerque page carries, and it is the only part with a number attached. The Water Authority publishes a fee schedule by meter size, and the first observation is free.
| Meter size | Observed | 1st violation | 2nd | 3rd and after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1.5 inch (most homes) | $0, warning only | $20 | $50 | $100 |
| Over 1.5 inch to 4 inch | $0, warning only | $100 | $250 | $500 |
| 4 inch to 8 inch | $0, warning only | $250 | $500 | $1,000 |
Two conditions on that ladder are worth knowing before you assume a past violation still counts against you. Under the Water Waste Reduction Ordinance, sections 4-1-1 and 4-1-5, a previous violation is not considered once 365 days have elapsed since it was incurred, or if the property has been acquired by a new owner who provides a recorded document of the sale. Buy a house with a history and the clock starts clean.
The 48-hour rule on a broken sprinkler
A malfunction is not an excuse here, it is its own category of violation. Water waste explicitly includes waste caused by equipment malfunctions such as broken sprinklers and leaking air conditioners.
What the Authority requires is specific: contact the Enforcement division within 48 hours to explain how the problem will be resolved. If the repair will take longer than 48 hours, water must be shut off to the malfunctioning equipment. A malfunction still running after 48 hours draws a violation for non-repair.
Notification may arrive as a door hanger and an alert flag placed at or near the site of the malfunction, so the 48-hour clock can start while you are at work and nobody has phoned you. On a spray system that runs before 11 a.m., a cracked lateral can be visible to a passing inspector for a full day before you ever see it.
Who the rules cover, which is more people than you would think
Water waste is prohibited for all Water Authority customers and for anyone within the service area, even if they are not using water provided by the utility. A private well inside the service area does not put a property outside the ordinance.
And the definition is broader than irrigation. Water waste is any water, other than natural precipitation, that flows or sprays from a property to the public right-of-way or an adjacent property. The Authority names landscape irrigation as the most common cause, but also lists air conditioning systems, leaks, car washing and draining pools.
Six Albuquerque rules that decide a landscape
- No spray irrigation between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., April 1 through October 31. Using spray in that window is water waste by definition, whether or not a drop leaves your property.
- Drip, low-precipitation bubblers and hand watering are exempt from the time-of-day window. This is the single most useful line in the ordinance for a designer: move the beds and trees onto drip and that part of the landscape becomes legal at any hour, all season. Our page on drip irrigation in Albuquerque sets out how that conversion is planned.
- Runoff is a violation at any hour of any day. The time-of-day rule is seasonal; the runoff rule never lifts. Overspray onto a footpath from a misaimed head is the common case.
- There are no assigned watering days. Albuquerque does not run an odd/even or day-of-week schedule, so any page telling you to water on a particular weekday is describing a different city.
- A broken sprinkler starts a 48-hour clock once observed, and if the fix will take longer, the water to that equipment goes off in the meantime.
- Exemptions and variances exist and are applied for, not assumed. The Authority publishes a Time-of-Day Exemption Application and a Water Waste Variance Application. If a property genuinely cannot irrigate outside the window, that is a form to file rather than a fine to absorb.
What the Water Authority pays you, briefly
Albuquerque is unusual in pairing a modest fine with a large incentive. The headline is the xeriscape rebate at $3.00 per square foot of turf removed, which is paid only if the Authority’s inspector approves the project before any grass comes out. The full schedule, including the tree, rainwater and irrigation-efficiency rebates and the conditions attached to each, is on our Albuquerque landscaping cost guide.
Worth putting the two side by side. A third water waste violation costs $100. Removing 1,000 square feet of turf pays $3,000. The enforcement side of the ordinance is not where the money in an Albuquerque yard is decided.
Reporting, and being reported
Water waste is reported to the Authority by phone on 842-WATR (9287) or through its online reporting form. Violations are observed and documented before a fee is assessed, and the first observation on any meter size is a warning at no charge.
Albuquerque questions we hear
What days can I water my lawn in Albuquerque? Any day. The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority does not assign watering days and there is no odd/even schedule. The restriction is on time of day, not day of week.
What are the Albuquerque watering hours? Spray irrigation may not be used between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. from April 1 through October 31. Using spray in that window is defined as water waste. Outside that seasonal window the time-of-day rule does not apply.
Is drip irrigation allowed during the middle of the day in Albuquerque? Yes. Drip, low-precipitation bubblers and hand watering are exempt from the 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. restriction.
What is the fine for water waste in Albuquerque? On a meter under 1.5 inches, the first observation is a warning at no charge, then $20 for a first violation, $50 for a second, and $100 for a third or later. Meters over 1.5 to 4 inches run $100, $250 and $500. Meters of 4 to 8 inches run $250, $500 and $1,000.
How long do old violations count against me in Albuquerque? A previous violation is not considered once 365 days have elapsed since it was incurred, or if the property has been acquired by a new owner who provides a recorded document of the sale.
What happens if my sprinkler breaks? Equipment malfunctions such as broken sprinklers and leaking air conditioners count as water waste. You must contact the Enforcement division within 48 hours to explain how it will be resolved, and if the repair will take longer than 48 hours, water must be shut off to the malfunctioning equipment. A malfunction still running after 48 hours draws a violation for non-repair.
Do the rules apply if I have a private well? Water waste is prohibited for all Water Authority customers and for anyone within the service area, even if they are not using water provided by the utility.
Is water running onto the pavement actually a violation in Albuquerque? Yes. Water waste is any water other than natural precipitation that flows or sprays from a property to the public right-of-way or an adjacent property, and that rule applies at any hour on any date.
Can I get an exemption from the Albuquerque watering hours? The Water Authority publishes a Time-of-Day Exemption Application and a Water Waste Variance Application for properties that need different terms.
Is Albuquerque under drought watering restrictions? Albuquerque is still in a Drought Advisory (505 Outside). The Water Authority’s published outdoor rule is the year-round water waste ordinance together with the seasonal 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. spray restriction from April 1 to October 31 (source).
Cost of lawn watering and irrigation in the Duke City? The answer depends on your lot, so we come look and then send a complete itemized bid: get a free quote, or call (505) 630-1309.
Sources
- Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, Water Waste Overview and Enforcement, including the definition of water waste, the seasonal spray restriction, the fee schedule, the equipment malfunction rule and the 365-day look-back: abcwua.org/water-waste. Read 31 August 2026.
- Water Authority, Conservation and Rebates overview, including the Time-of-Day Exemption and Water Waste Variance applications: abcwua.org/conservation-rebates-overview. Read 31 August 2026.
- Water Authority, Xeriscape Rebate: abcwua.org/conservation-rebates-xeriscape. Read 31 August 2026.
Method note: every rule, fee and deadline on this page is quoted from the Water Authority pages listed above, read on 31 August 2026 and again on 3 November 2026. Ordinances and drought positions change; confirm the current rules before setting a controller. Nothing here is a service quote.
Related Albuquerque Lawn Resources
Albuquerque rule data and revisions
Current rules as observed, with every change we have recorded since tracking began. Source of record: Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Under 1.5 inch (most homes) | Observed: $0, warning only; 1st violation: $20; 2nd: $50; 3rd and after: $100 |
| Over 1.5 inch to 4 inch | Observed: $0, warning only; 1st violation: $100; 2nd: $250; 3rd and after: $500 |
| 4 inch to 8 inch | Observed: $0, warning only; 1st violation: $250; 2nd: $500; 3rd and after: $1,000 |
Change log
| First observed | Status | Rules recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-11-03 | current | Drought status: still in a Drought Advisory per the Water Authority’s 505 Outside program; no assigned watering day; spray irrigation 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. from April 1 to October 31 is water waste |
| 2026-08-31 | superseded 2026-11-03 | Under 1.5 inch (most homes): Observed: $0, warning only; 1st violation: $20; 2nd: $50; 3rd and after: $100; Over 1.5 inch to 4 inch: Observed: $0, warning only; 1st violation: $100; 2nd: $250; 3rd and after: $500; 4 inch to 8 inch: Observed: $0, warning only; 1st violation: $250; 2nd: $500; 3rd and after: $1,000 |
| 2026-08-27 | superseded 2026-08-31 | Governing authority: Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA); Assigned watering day: None – ABCWUA does not assign a day of the week; Seasonal restriction: Spray and sprinkler irrigation prohibited from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| 2026-08-27 | superseded 2026-08-27 | Summary: Quick answer: Outdoor watering in Albuquerque is governed by the Albuquerque Bernalillo Co |
Last checked: 2026-11-03. A new row is added only when the observed rules change, so this log records what changed and when we saw it.
Cite this: “Albuquerque rule data and revisions,” updated 2026-08-31, https://abqlandscapeco.com/albuquerque-watering-restrictions/#watering-rules-dataset
What are the Albuquerque water restrictions?
Albuquerque’s Water Authority publishes a year-round water waste ordinance plus a seasonal spray restriction barring watering between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. from April 1 through October 31. Albuquerque is still in a Drought Advisory per the Water Authority’s 505 Outside program. ABQ Landscape Co sets irrigation outside that midday window.
Which outdoor watering rules does the Water Authority enforce?
Two rules govern outdoor use: the year-round water waste ordinance and a seasonal restriction on spraying between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., April 1 through October 31. The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority publishes both. ABQ Landscape Co runs irrigation work in Albuquerque outside those restricted hours.
Is Albuquerque in a drought advisory?
The Water Authority’s 505 Outside program says Albuquerque is still in a Drought Advisory. The published outdoor rule remains the water waste ordinance plus the April 1 to October 31 spray limit, and customers who use more than twice their winter watering average can incur conservation surcharges. ABQ Landscape Co tracks that guidance before adjusting watering schedules for Albuquerque lawn clients.
Does Albuquerque assign watering days or use an odd even schedule?
No. The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority does not assign watering days, and no odd or even schedule exists. The restriction covers time of day instead: spray irrigation may not run between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. from April 1 through October 31. ABQ Landscape Co builds Albuquerque irrigation schedules around that window.
Is Albuquerque under drought watering restrictions?
The published outdoor rule is a year-round water waste ordinance plus a seasonal spray restriction from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., April 1 through October 31. Albuquerque is still in a Drought Advisory per the Water Authority’s 505 Outside program. ABQ Landscape Co schedules Albuquerque irrigation work around those hours.
Is there a set watering schedule for Albuquerque lawns?
No fixed schedule exists. The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority assigns no watering days and runs no odd/even system, so any day works. The limit is time of day: spray irrigation is barred between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. from April 1 through October 31. ABQ Landscape Co designs Albuquerque irrigation around that window.
Albuquerque watering restrictions: the short answer
What are the Albuquerque watering restrictions?
The Water Authority defines water waste as any water other than natural precipitation that flows or sprays from a property into the public right-of-way or onto adjacent property. Spray irrigation between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. from April 1 through October 31 is also water waste, and the rule covers all Water Authority customers and anyone in the service area. (source)
What happens if I get a water waste violation in Albuquerque?
All property owners receive at least one warning notice and a chance to correct the problem before a fine (source). On a meter under 1.5 inches the fees are $0 for the first observation, $20 for the first violation, $50 for the second and $100 for the third and after (source).
Water Authority guidance for lawns, trees and shrubs
The Water Authority’s 505 Outside conservation program says to run spray irrigation on grass lawns just three days a week, to water trees and shrubs for 90 minutes with drip irrigation twice a week or 55 minutes with a hose once a week, and to skip the next cycle after more than a half inch of rain (source). The same page notes a Drought Advisory, and says customers who use more than twice their winter watering average can incur conservation surcharges (source).
Turf replacement rebate
The Water Authority’s xeriscape rebate pays $3.00 per square foot for replacing turf. Inspector pre-approval must happen before any turf removal begins, and half of the approved area must be planted using the plant allowance. Soil between plants needs at least 3 inches of mulch and spray irrigation must convert to drip, bubbler or hand watering. You have 6 months to finish after approval, and the inspection line is (505) 289-3026 (source).
Reporting water waste and local help
Report water waste through the Water Authority’s online form or call 842-WATR (9287) (source). Conservation questions go to 505-842-9287, option 4 (source). The New Mexico State University College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences runs the Cooperative Extension Service that serves all 33 New Mexico counties (source).
Water Authority pages cited here
- Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, Water Waste Overview and Enforcement, fetched November 3, 2026.
- Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, Conservation and Rebates overview, fetched November 3, 2026.
- Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, Xeriscape rebate, fetched November 3, 2026.
- 505 Outside, Water Authority conservation program, fetched November 3, 2026.
- New Mexico State University, College of ACES and Cooperative Extension, fetched November 3, 2026.