Larimer County Water Restrictions: Rules, Fines, and Rebates

Water restrictions in Larimer County are voluntary across every major provider for the 2026 outdoor watering season. All of the county is classified in extreme drought (D3) by the U.S. Drought Monitor as of late June 2026,¹ and the City of Fort Collins, Fort Collins–Loveland Water District, East Larimer County Water District, West Fort Collins Water District, City of Loveland, and Town of Berthoud have all asked customers to cut back on irrigation. None have moved to mandatory enforcement, though providers have said that could change if conditions worsen.²

Which rules apply to you depends on who bills you for water. Guidelines differ from one provider to the next, so check your utility bill before you set your sprinkler schedule.

Fort Collins Utilities

On May 1, 2026, City Manager Kelly DiMartino declared a voluntary Water Shortage Watch under the city’s Water Shortage Action Plan, the first such declaration since 2021.³ Customers are asked to:

Water lawns no more than two days per week.
Avoid watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Use a shutoff nozzle on hoses when hand watering or washing vehicles.
Delay turning on sprinkler systems until after the last projected frost date, typically mid-May.
Skip watering during rain or wind, avoid overspray onto sidewalks and driveways, and prioritize trees and shrubs with hand or drip watering.⁴

The city also recommends turning off decorative water features, limiting pool and misting-device use, and choosing commercial car washes that recycle water.⁵ Because the watch is voluntary, no fines, citations, or rate increases apply for noncompliance.³ Customers using well or raw water are technically exempt, though the city encourages them to conserve.

Fort Collins–Loveland Water District

The Fort Collins–Loveland Water District (FCLWD) is on the same voluntary Water Shortage Watch status.⁶ Its recommendations:

Water turf no more than two days per week; customers choose which days.
Water between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m.
Split watering time into two blocks with an hour between to help soil absorption.
Apply the schedule to turf only. Drip irrigation, trees, and gardens are not affected.
Delay new sod installation from June through August. Water any recently installed sod as needed for about two weeks, then move to the two-day schedule.⁶

FCLWD has stated it cannot enforce these restrictions. As a Title 32 special district, it lacks legal authority to issue citations or penalties, so compliance is entirely voluntary. The district has said projected supply meets expected demand and that the watch is meant to raise awareness rather than respond to an immediate shortage.⁶

East Larimer County Water District

ELCO issued voluntary watering recommendations in May 2026 that closely track Fort Collins’ rules: no more than two days per week for lawn watering, no irrigation between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., shutoff nozzles on hoses, no watering in rain or wind, and priority for trees and shrubs. The Sunset Water District, managed by ELCO, follows the same guidelines.⁴

West Fort Collins Water District

The West Fort Collins Water District has bought water wholesale from Fort Collins Utilities since 1964, and its agreement contractually requires it to follow whatever rationing and restrictions the city issues.⁷ Its customers are under the same voluntary watch as Fort Collins Utilities customers.

City of Loveland

Loveland is operating at the voluntary response level of its drought plan, with slightly looser guidance than Fort Collins: three watering days per week rather than two, with no irrigation between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. City officials said mandatory restrictions are unlikely but possible if summer conditions worsen. Loveland Parks and Recreation has already declined to start new projects that would need significant sod and is weighing cuts to irrigation of non-sports turf.⁸

Town of Berthoud

Berthoud has no drought-specific restrictions beyond its standard year-round rule limiting lawn irrigation to between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. The town is encouraging voluntary conservation and advising residents to delay starting sprinkler systems as long as possible.⁹

What Would Trigger Mandatory Restrictions and Fines

Fort Collins’ Water Shortage Action Plan sets escalating mandatory stages, Levels I through IV, that can be activated if voluntary conservation falls short or supply deteriorates. At the mandatory levels, outdoor watering rules become enforceable, with monitoring, fines, and possible rate increases. Levels II and III include temporary rate increases to offset revenue lost to lower sales, and Income Qualified Assistance Program participants would be exempt from those surcharges. Level IV lets the city manager impose measures tailored to extreme scenarios, and an emergency level allows immediate cessation orders to protect public safety.⁵ In practice, mandatory restrictions could look like a one-day-per-week outdoor watering limit if demand continues to outpace supply.¹⁰

Wasting water from the city system is unlawful at any time under Fort Collins City Code Section 26-166, regardless of whether restrictions are voluntary or mandatory.⁵ When mandatory restrictions have been imposed in the past, enforcement started with warnings, and fines ranged from $50 to $1,000 for repeat violations.¹¹ Exception permits are available for situations such as medical hardship, new sod establishment, religious objection, or large properties that cannot be watered within standard time windows.

The watch could also be lifted if moisture conditions improve. Forecasts of monsoon storms and a developing El Niño pattern support that possibility, though experts have cautioned that summer rain alone will not refill reservoirs.¹²

How to Report Water Waste

Fort Collins residents can report water waste, such as pooling onto streets or sidewalks, irrigation leaks, or hose use without a shutoff nozzle, through the city’s online reporting form or by calling 970-416-2881. Include the property address or nearest cross streets, the date and time, and a description of the problem. Contact information is optional.⁵

Rebates and Free Sprinkler Evaluations

Fort Collins Utilities offers residential rebates for weather-based irrigation controllers (up to $65), rotary nozzles ($4 each), rain sensors (up to $40 for wireless), soil moisture sensors (up to $60), and drip equipment (up to $130 per zone). The city’s Xeriscape Incentive Program pays $0.75 per square foot, up to $750, for approved projects that replace turf with low-water landscaping.¹³

Commercial customers and homeowner associations qualify for larger rebates, including up to $500 for WaterSense smart controllers and up to $15,000 for xeriscape conversions at $1.50 per square foot.¹⁴ Both residential and commercial customers can sign up for free Slow the Flow sprinkler evaluations, run in partnership with Resource Central, which review system performance and generate custom watering schedules.¹³ Rebate funds are limited and awarded first-come, first-served, and applications are due within 60 days of purchase.

Loveland offers its own efficiency programs, including Slow the Flow irrigation assessments, free rain sensor installation, and a Garden In A Box program for water-wise plantings.⁸

1
USA Today. Drought Conditions in Colorado
2
CBS News Colorado. Northern Colorado City Voluntary Water Conservation
3
City of Fort Collins. Voluntary Water Shortage Watch
4
Fort Collins Coloradoan. Fort Collins Utilities, ELCO Won’t Have Water Restrictions for Now
5
City of Fort Collins. Water Programs
6
Fort Collins-Loveland Water District. Watering Restrictions
7
West Fort Collins Water District. Conservation
8
Loveland Reporter-Herald. Loveland Watering Restrictions
9
Town of Berthoud. Drought Water Usage
10
Fort Collins Coloradoan. Fort Collins Utilities, Other Water Districts Watch Water Supplies
11
KUNC. Fort Collins Water Restrictions Working to Reduce Demands
12
Colorado Sun. Colorado Declares Statewide Drought Emergency
13
City of Fort Collins. Residential Water Conservation
14
City of Fort Collins. Commercial Water Savings