Phoenix Summer Irrigation Schedule for Rental Properties (2026)

Phoenix residential irrigation schedules for 2026 must account for two overlapping constraints: what Bermuda grass needs to survive summer heat and what Phoenix Water Services currently allows.

Stage 2 drought restrictions have been in effect since August 2025, limiting residential irrigation to designated watering days based on property address, prohibiting watering between 10am and 6pm, and setting a maximum of 6 minutes per zone per watering day. Confirm your current restriction stage at phoenix.gov/waterservices before setting your controller program.

Phoenix Water Services Restrictions and Compliance (2026) #

Phoenix Water Services manages residential outdoor irrigation under a tiered drought response system tied to Colorado River and SRP storage levels. As of this article’s publication, Stage 2 restrictions are in effect. Stage 2 rules for residential properties:

Stage 2 restrictions represent a significant reduction from what Bermuda grass technically needs in July and August. The gap between agronomic water needs and restriction allowances means Phoenix rental properties under Stage 2 should use every allowed minute efficiently — which requires correctly sized heads, properly adjusted run times, and no system leaks that would waste the restricted allocation.

Always verify current restriction status. Restrictions can change when reservoir levels shift. Confirm the current stage at phoenix.gov/waterservices before programming any controller. Restrictions change faster than published articles are updated.

Phoenix Summer Irrigation Schedule by Month #

Per the restriction schedule. Begin transitioning to fall run times in late September	Bermuda Turf	Desert Beds (Drip)	Key Adjustment
June	Per restriction schedule, max 6 min/zone on designated day	2-3x per week early morning (confirm drip exemption)	Switch to summer ET settings before June 1. No spring run times
July	Per restriction schedule. Skip after storm delivering 0.5+ inches	2-3x per week; reduce after significant monsoon rainfall	Monsoon starts. Use rain delay feature, not manual reprogramming
August	Per restriction schedule. Monitor turf for stress during dry stretches	2x per week; adjust for monsoon rainfall frequency	Peak heat + active monsoon. Controller backup battery critical this month
September	Per restriction schedule. Begin transitioning to fall run times late September	Reduce to 1-2x per week as temperatures drop after mid-September	Monsoon ends mid-September. Restore full restriction-compliant summer schedule

Pre-June Controller Settings #

Every Phoenix rental property controller should be updated before June 1. Three settings require confirmation:

• Watering day. Program the controller to run only on the property’s designated restriction day (Monday for odd-numbered addresses, Tuesday for even-numbered addresses). Remove any additional watering days from the program. Under Stage 2 restrictions, running on a non-designated day triggers a violation.

• Run times. Set each zone to a maximum of 6 minutes per zone per day under Stage 2. Use the cycle-and-soak feature if available—two 3-minute passes with a 30-minute soak interval between them allow water to penetrate compacted Phoenix soil without surface runoff.

• Time window. Program all zones to run between 4:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. This keeps irrigation well clear of the prohibited 10am-6pm window, maximizes water absorption before peak heat, and allows foliage to dry before evening to minimize the risk of fungal disease.

• Backup battery. Replace the controller backup battery before June 1 so that monsoon power outages through July and August do not wipe the summer program.

Managing Drip Irrigation Under Restrictions #

Drip irrigation for desert landscape beds and trees is often treated separately from spray system restrictions under Phoenix Water Services rules. The City of Phoenix has historically encouraged the use of drip irrigation for desert plants and may exempt drip zones from the watering day limits that apply to turf spray systems.

Confirm the current drip exemption status at phoenix.gov/waterservices before programming drip zones on a different schedule from spray zones. Running drip zones on an assumed exemption that has been modified can result in a violation notice.

When drip zones are on a separate program from turf spray zones, program them in the 4:00-8:00 a.m. window as well. Early-morning drip irrigation on established desert plants is most efficient during this window, even when time-of-day restrictions do not technically require it.

Signs Your Current Schedule Is Wrong #

Visible runoff onto the sidewalk, driveway, or street. A violation risk under any restriction stage. Either reduce runtime, switch to cycle-and-soak, or check for a head spraying hardscape instead of turf.

Turf footprinting or blue-gray tint between watering days. The grass is not receiving enough water per cycle to last until the next designated watering day. Maximize the 6-minute run time per zone and check for head-coverage gaps that leave parts of the turf under-watered.

Controller running on the wrong day. Confirm the controller program matches the property’s designated restriction day. A controller accidentally set to the wrong day runs a visible violation.

Watering during the 10am-6pm prohibited window. Check controller start times. A controller set to a midday start time in spring may not have been adjusted before summer restrictions took effect.

Breasy handles controller programming to ensure compliance with restrictions and to perform seasonal ET adjustment.

For property managers with multiple Phoenix properties, we confirm all controllers are programmed to the correct restriction schedule before June 1. Our Phoenix irrigation diagnosis includes verifying controller settings as part of the standard system check.

Frequently Asked Questions #