What Are the Watering and Fertilizer Rules in Manatee and Sarasota Counties?

What are the watering rules in Lakewood Ranch right now?

Through March 31, 2027, lawns in Lakewood Ranch may be watered only one day a week, based on the last digit of your address. The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) declared a Modified Phase III water shortage on March 24, 2026, effective April 3, 2026. It covers all of Manatee and Sarasota counties, so it applies on both sides of the county line in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. In September 2026 the district extended it through March 31, 2027, citing ongoing drought. Manatee County reported a regional rainfall deficit of 13.7 inches against the 12-month average.

Address ends in	Watering day
0 or 1	Monday
2 or 3	Tuesday
4 or 5	Wednesday
6 or 7	Thursday
8 or 9 (and places with no address, such as common areas)	Friday

Source: SWFWMD and Manatee County, checked October 5, 2026.

Property size	Allowed hours on your day
Under 1 acre	12:01 to 4 a.m. or 8 to 11:59 p.m. (pick one window)
1 acre or more	Before 4 a.m. and after 8 p.m.
Hand watering and micro-irrigation of plants (not lawns)	Any day, before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.

Cities and counties can set stricter rules than the district, so check your county’s page if you see different guidance from your HOA.

What other water uses are limited during the shortage?

Car washing, fountains and new-lawn watering all have their own rules under the order. Manatee County lists:

• Car washing at home: only on your assigned watering day, using a hose with a shutoff nozzle.
• Fountains and water features: no more than four hours a day.
• New lawns and plants: water any day for the first 30 days; for days 31 to 60, three days a week on a written schedule (even addresses Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday; odd addresses Monday, Wednesday and Saturday).
• Pressure washing: allowed when preparing a surface for painting, per SWFWMD.

What are the normal watering rules when there is no shortage?

Without a shortage order, Manatee County allows two days a week and Sarasota County allows one, with hours before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. These standard rules return once the shortage order ends, unless the district or the counties change them.

Rule	Manatee County (unincorporated)	Sarasota County (unincorporated)
Days	Even addresses Thursday and/or Sunday; odd addresses Wednesday and/or Saturday	One day by address: 0 or 1 Monday through 8 or 9 Friday; common areas Saturday
Hours	Before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.	Before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
Hand watering of plants	Allowed	Any time (plants other than lawns)
Reclaimed water	Not restricted unless blended with another source	Excluded from the restrictions

Sources: Manatee County Utilities, and UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County (summary published December 2022; confirm current rules with Sarasota County). Lakewood Ranch is unincorporated, so county rules generally apply. If a different utility serves your address, its schedule may differ; your water bill shows which utility serves you.

When is the fertilizer ban in Manatee and Sarasota counties?

From June 1 through September 30 every year, you may not apply fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphorus to lawns or landscape plants in either county. The summer rainy season washes these nutrients into ponds, rivers and bays, where they feed algae blooms. Both counties adopted ordinances to cut that runoff.

Rule	Manatee County	Sarasota County
Restricted season	June 1 to September 30: no nitrogen or phosphorus	June 1 to September 30: no nitrogen or phosphorus
Slow-release nitrogen	Granular nitrogen at least 50% slow release	Nitrogen applications at least 50% slow release
Yearly nitrogen limit	4 lb per 1,000 sq ft	Not stated in the county summary we reviewed
Phosphorus	Only if a soil test shows a deficiency	Max 0.25 lb per 1,000 sq ft per application, 0.5 lb per year
Water setback	No fertilizer within 10 feet of a water body or wetland; deflector shield within 3 feet	10-foot buffer plus a deflector shield
Clippings	Sweep or blow clippings and spilled fertilizer back onto the lawn	No clippings or debris in drains, ditches, water bodies or roads
Commercial applicators	State limited certification for urban landscape fertilizer application plus a best management practices class	County-approved best management practices certification

Sources: Manatee County Ordinance 11-21 and UF/IFAS Extension in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Manatee County also says not to fertilize when heavy rain is forecast within 24 hours.

What can I put on my lawn during the summer ban?

You can use products with no nitrogen or phosphorus, usually labeled 0-0-X, such as potassium and micronutrients like iron. UF/IFAS Extension in Manatee County points homeowners to these during the restricted season. They can help color and stress tolerance without feeding algae downstream. Feed with nitrogen in spring once the grass is actively growing, and again in fall after September 30. Our Lakewood Ranch lawn care calendar lays out the month-by-month timing.

What are the fines for breaking the watering rules?

Under the shortage order, Manatee County fines are $100 for a first violation, $250 for a second and $500 for a third, with no warning period. SWFWMD’s order lets local governments issue citations without a warning starting 14 days after it took effect. Under standard rules, Manatee County notes that violations can carry fines of up to $15,000 under Florida Statute 373.129(5).

Sarasota County enforces the same district order through its own utility. Penalty amounts can differ, so check with Sarasota County Utilities if you live on the Sarasota side. We did not find published fine amounts for the fertilizer ordinances in the county summaries we reviewed; contact the county’s environmental office if you need them.

Do I need a rain sensor on my sprinkler system?

Yes. Florida law requires every automatic landscape irrigation system to have working technology that stops it from running when there is enough moisture. Florida Statute 373.62 puts the duty on anyone who installs an automatic system to install, maintain and operate it, and it requires licensed irrigation contractors to test the device and fix or install it before finishing work on a system. A rain sensor or soil moisture sensor is the usual way to comply. If your sprinklers run during a downpour, the sensor is broken or missing.

How much should I water when I do water?

Apply about 1/2 to 3/4 inch per watering, which wets the top 8 inches of soil where most roots are. UF/IFAS recommends watering when about half the lawn shows signs of wilt, unless rain is forecast within 24 hours. Signs include leaf blades folding in half lengthwise, a bluish-gray color, and footprints that stay visible long after you walk on the grass. With only one day a week allowed, a deep soak on your day is better than a light sprinkle.

Tips that help under the one-day schedule:

• Run a quick “tuna can test”: set a few empty cans in each zone and time how long it takes to collect 1/2 to 3/4 inch.
• Fix broken heads and tilted sprays that hit the driveway.
• Mow St. Augustine on the high side, which shades the soil and keeps roots deeper.
• Skip watering in a week with good rain.

What if my HOA’s landscape rules seem to conflict with the order?

The water shortage order applies to every property, including HOA and CDD common areas, so ask your association in writing how it expects owners to comply. If your HOA or CDD runs your irrigation, ask its management company which day and hours it uses and which water source feeds the system, since unblended reclaimed water is treated differently in Manatee County.

If you hire a lawn company, ask to see its fertilizer certification and make sure it knows the June 1 to September 30 blackout. Our guide on how to check a contractor’s license in Florida covers what to ask, and the lawn care hub has more on choosing a service.