Modesto Watering Schedule: What Days Can You Water in 2026?
The Modesto watering schedule for summer 2026: odd-numbered addresses water on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday; even-numbered addresses on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; nobody waters on Monday. Sprinklers are also banned every day from noon to 7 PM. Those four facts answer most tickets — the details below cover the winter switch, the exemptions, and who actually enforces it.
Updated July 2026 — checked against the City of Modesto's official Watering Schedule page this month.
What days can I water in Modesto?
| Your address ends in | Summer days (Apr 1 – Oct 31) |
|---|---|
| Odd number (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) | Wednesday · Friday · Sunday |
| Even number (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) | Tuesday · Thursday · Saturday |
| Everyone | No watering on Mondays |
Three days a week is enough for an established lawn here — how long to run each zone on those days is its own question, covered in our summer watering how-often guide.
What hours are sprinklers banned?
From noon to 7 PM, every day. Midday spray mostly evaporates before it reaches roots, so the City blocks the window entirely. You'll see "9 AM" cited on some websites — that's wrong; the City's current page says 12 PM. Early morning is the best slot anyway: less wind, less evaporation, and the lawn dries by evening, which discourages fungus.
Does the schedule change in winter?
Yes. From November 1 through March 31 the city drops to two days a week: odd addresses Wednesday and Sunday, even addresses Tuesday and Saturday. One wrinkle worth knowing: Modesto's outlying water systems — Turlock, Grayson, Ceres "Walnut Manor" and Del Rio — run the two-day schedule year-round. If your controller has seasonal programs, set both now and you won't think about it again.
What's exempt from the rules?
- Drip irrigation — any day, any time. This is why converted planting beds are so low-hassle here; switching spray zones to drip is a standard part of a sprinkler system upgrade.
- Hand-watering trees and shrubs with a hose — allowed anytime.
- Car washing with a positive shut-off nozzle.
- New landscaping — you can request a 90-day exemption from the City to establish new sod or plantings. Ask before you install, not after the first citation.
Is this the City of Modesto or MID?
The City. Residential watering rules come from the City of Modesto Water Division — the outfit on your water bill. The Modesto Irrigation District (MID) is a separate agency that runs canal irrigation and electricity. If you call MID about lawn watering days, they'll politely send you back to the City.
What happens if I water on the wrong day?
Enforcement starts friendly and escalates: a first violation typically brings a written warning, and repeat violations bring growing fines. A surprising share of violations aren't defiance — they're a scrambled sprinkler timer running the old program after a power blip. If your controller lost its schedule or a zone won't shut off, that's a sprinkler repair problem before it's a compliance problem.
Frequently asked questions
Can I water my lawn today in Modesto?
Check your address number: odd addresses water Wednesday, Friday and Sunday; even addresses Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. No one waters on Monday, and sprinklers must be off between noon and 7 PM every day.
Can I water at night in Modesto?
Yes — anytime outside the noon-to-7 PM ban on your assigned days. Pre-dawn (4–8 AM) is better than late night: the lawn dries after sunrise instead of sitting wet for hours, which reduces fungus problems.
Is drip irrigation restricted in Modesto?
No. Drip irrigation is exempt from the day-of-week and time-of-day limits, as is hand-watering trees and shrubs. Only sprinkler irrigation is restricted.
Can I water new sod every day?
Not automatically — but the City offers a 90-day new-landscape exemption on request, which covers the daily watering new sod needs to root. Request it when you plan the install so it's in place before the first citation, not after.
Do the same rules apply in Del Rio and Turlock's city systems?
Modesto's outlying systems — Turlock, Grayson, Ceres "Walnut Manor" and Del Rio — follow the two-day schedule all year: odd addresses Wednesday and Sunday, even addresses Tuesday and Saturday.