The Las Vegas summer watering schedule is a mandatory seasonal irrigation plan enforced by the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) from May 1 through August 31 each year. During these four months, residential and commercial properties across the Las Vegas Valley — including Henderson, Summerlin, North Las Vegas, and Boulder City — are permitted to run sprinkler systems up to six days per week, with Sunday irrigation strictly prohibited. This guide outlines the current summer watering rules, assigned watering groups, time restrictions, and best practices for staying compliant while keeping your landscape healthy.
The summer irrigation period runs from May 1 through August 31. These dates are fixed annually by the SNWA and apply to all Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) customers, as well as residents served by the cities of Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Boulder City. Once September 1 arrives, the schedule transitions to the fall watering plan, which limits irrigation to three assigned days per week.
Summer watering is capped at six days per week, with Sunday excluded. The SNWA recommends a gradual increase rather than jumping straight to the maximum allowed days. In May, while overnight temperatures remain cool, three to four watering days per week is typically sufficient. As temperatures rise in June, July, and August, homeowners can scale up frequency based on landscape condition and weather patterns.
| Season | Dates | Max Watering Days |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | May 1 – Aug 31 | 6 days per week |
| Fall | Sep 1 – Oct 31 | 3 days per week |
| Winter | Nov 1 – Feb 28 | 1 day per week |
| Spring | Mar 1 – Apr 30 | 3 days per week |
In addition to assigned days, the summer watering schedule enforces strict time-of-day restrictions. From May 1 through August 31, landscape irrigation is prohibited between 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. This restriction applies to both sprinkler systems and drip irrigation. The goal is to reduce evaporation losses during the hottest hours of the day, when temperatures across the Las Vegas Valley frequently exceed 100°F.
The most efficient window to run your irrigation system is in the early pre-dawn hours, typically between 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Watering at this time minimizes evaporation, reduces wind drift, and allows moisture to penetrate the soil before the heat of the day.
Every property in the Las Vegas Valley is assigned to one of six watering groups — A, B, C, D, E, or F — based on its address. Your watering group determines which specific days of the week you are permitted to run sprinkler systems. This assignment is mandatory, and irrigation outside of your assigned days is considered water waste, subject to fines and citations.
| Group | Assigned Summer Watering Days |
|---|---|
| A | Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday |
| B | Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday |
| C | Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday |
| D | Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday |
| E | Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday |
| F | Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday |
The SNWA and LVVWD both recommend the cycle-and-soak method for lawn irrigation during summer. Rather than running sprinklers in one continuous session, this approach splits watering into multiple short cycles with rest periods between them. This allows water to absorb into the soil instead of running off onto sidewalks and driveways.
| Sprinkler Type | Cycles Per Day | Run Time Per Cycle | Rest Between Cycles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pop-up spray heads | 3 | 4 minutes | 1 hour |
| Rotating / rotor heads | 1 | 12 minutes | N/A |
| Drip emitters | 1 | 30 – 90 minutes | N/A |
Drip systems deliver water directly to plant roots and are far more efficient than spray irrigation. While summer drip irrigation is subject to the same Sunday prohibition and midday restrictions, the SNWA recommends running drip systems only two to three days per week, even during peak summer months. Plants and trees require significantly less water than turf grass, and overwatering through drip systems is a common cause of root rot and wasted resources.
Drip run time depends on emitter flow rate, plant type, and soil conditions. A typical cycle ranges from 30 to 90 minutes per zone. Group high-water-use plants on one valve and low-water-use desert plants on another to maximize efficiency.
Running your irrigation system outside of your assigned days, during the 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. prohibited window, or on Sunday is classified as water waste. Violations can result in warnings, fines added to your monthly water bill, or formal citations. Additionally, LVVWD customers who exceed 28,000 gallons per month face an excessive use charge of $9 per 1,000 gallons over the threshold.
Common water waste violations include sprinklers running during the midday restriction window, water flowing off property onto sidewalks or streets, broken sprinkler heads spraying into the air, and irrigation on non-assigned days.
A few activities are permitted outside the standard summer watering schedule:
Staying compliant with the summer watering schedule is only half the battle — keeping your landscape healthy through 110°F+ temperatures requires a properly tuned irrigation system. Whether your property is in Henderson, Summerlin, North Las Vegas, or Boulder City, these practices help reduce water loss and prevent costly damage:
No. Summer watering is limited to a maximum of six days per week, and Sunday irrigation is prohibited year-round. Most properties are assigned four watering days during the summer months.
Landscape watering is prohibited between 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. from May 1 through August 31. Pre-dawn hours between 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. are the most efficient time to irrigate.
Yes. The Sunday watering prohibition applies to all automated irrigation, including drip systems. Only handheld hose watering with a shutoff nozzle is permitted on Sundays.
Watering outside your assigned group days is classified as water waste and can result in a warning, a fine on your water bill, or a formal citation depending on the jurisdiction and frequency of the violation.
Your watering group is listed on your monthly water bill and can also be looked up by address through the SNWA’s online watering group finder tool.
If you live in the Las Vegas valley and want to know when to Change Your Irrigation Controller, keep reading.
Irrigation Solutions of Las Vegas is here to serve our community, and we want to help serve by providing information on how to keep your sprinkler system in compliance with the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) watering schedule. By following their schedule, you can avoid paying unwanted and unnecessary fees or dealing with violations.
Every zip code is assigned a watering group. To locate your watering schedule, you will need to know the letter of your watering group. This can be identified by going to the SNWA water schedule website and enter your home address and zip code or you can locate it on your monthly statement. If you are not in the Las Vegas area, for example Henderson, North Las Vegas or Boulder City, it will direct you to those respective sites, but for those residents in the city of Las Vegas or county, enter your home address and zip code and click “Submit”. The next page will display the following info:
In Las Vegas, the seasons can blend into each other and it may be difficult to know when to change your sprinkler or irrigation system based on the temperature. Below is a quick list of the start dates to change your controller for the seasons. Also, you can set these dates in your calendar as a reminder to change your controller accordingly.
