Lubbock's Fall and Winter Watering Rules Start Oct. 1: Your Days and the 35-Degree Rule

LUBBOCK, Texas — The City of Lubbock's fall and winter watering rules started Oct. 1 and run through March 31, 2027. The two-days-a-week limit applies all year. What this season adds is a cold-weather rule: on your assigned days, the city says irrigation is allowed only when it is warmer than 35 degrees.

The days depend on the last digit of your house address.

No assigned day falls on a Sunday.

Look only at the last number of your street address. A house at 4503 Main St. ends in 3, so its days are Monday and Thursday. (An example, not a real property.)

The city announced the seasonal rules Oct. 1. It says its year-round limits keep peak demand on the water system down, and that the winter version is meant to prevent hazardous road conditions in freezing weather.

The piece that is specific to fall and winter is temperature. On your scheduled days, the city says irrigation is only allowed when temperatures are above 35 degrees Fahrenheit. The city says the reason is road safety: the winter version is meant to prevent hazardous conditions in freezing weather.

The city's Water Conservation page lists the same limit among its irrigation restrictions: not allowed when temperatures are below 35 degrees.

If your system runs on a timer, it will not check the thermometer for you. The city suggests a rain and freeze sensor, which keeps the system from running when temperatures drop below freezing.

• Irrigate landscape only during your two assigned days per week.
• Irrigate without runoff. Water should stay on your landscape, not the street or alley.
• Do not irrigate during precipitation.
• Hand watering is allowed any time of day and on any day of the week.

The Water Conservation page also says the rules limit watering to "specific hours of the day." The city's Oct. 1 notice did not list those hours, so we are not printing any. If you are unsure, call the City of Lubbock at 806-775-3000.

The city's Water Conservation page walks through winterizing. It says shutting off and draining the system takes only a few minutes and can save hundreds of dollars in repair costs and water bills. The city's steps for the irrigation system:

• Find the main irrigation valve and drain. They may be in a vertical plastic pipe or in your green irrigation box.
• Use a sprinkler key to close the main valve by turning it to the right.
• With the same key, open the drain by turning it to the left.
• Turn your irrigation controller to the off position. The city says all your watering times and data will be saved.

For the backflow device, the city says to:

• Turn both flat handles 90 degrees to the closed position.
• Use a flat head screwdriver to turn both test cock screws 90 degrees, in either direction, to drain the device.
• Turn both flat handles halfway back, to a 45-degree angle, so water is not trapped in the device.
• Wrap the backflow device with insulation tape and cover an above-ground assembly with a weatherproof cover.
• If it has a heating element, test that it works.

For hoses and faucets, the city says to disconnect and drain outdoor hoses and cover faucets with faucet covers. For pools, it says to drain and winterize them according to your pool maintenance provider or manual.

The city's winter-readiness list also covers plumbing, because a burst pipe in the middle of winter can cause extensive damage:

• Insulate pipes in unheated areas of the home. Measure each pipe's diameter, buy insulation that fits, and follow the maker's instructions.
• On a pier-and-beam home, insulate the pipes under the house; the city calls that your first line of defense against freezing.
• Cover the crawl space entrance and vents so cold air cannot rush in and freeze the pipes.
• Pipes in cabinets and along exterior walls freeze more easily. Keep those cabinet doors open so warm air reaches them.
• Seal cracks and use spray foam in hard-to-reach spaces to keep the house warmer.
• If you are leaving town, turn off your water meter.

New landscaping needs more water than the normal schedule allows. If you plant new sod, overseed, or add trees, shrubs or plants, the city's Water Utilities page says to fill out a Landscape Variance Form. Once it is approved, you can water for three weeks to get the new landscape established. If you need more than three weeks, the request must be submitted to the Water Board of Appeals.

The city's page says lawn care can be a daunting task in West Texas, with hot summer days, high winds and a dry climate making it hard for grass and plants to thrive. Its suggestion is to choose native, WaterWise or drought-tolerant grasses and plants. It points to the Texas SmartScape plant database and a state guide to yard care as resources.

• City of Lubbock fall and winter irrigation notice, Oct. 1, 2026 (as published by KCBD)
• City of Lubbock: Water Conservation
• City of Lubbock: Irrigation Installation and the Landscape Variance Form

Last updated: Oct. 2, 2026.

— 806 Connect

Photo: file photo, not in Lubbock. TCAtexas via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.