On Sunday, November 1, 2026, every customer you have in Orange County loses a watering day. Two days a week drops to one. Most of them will not touch their timer.
Here is the short answer. That date is a problem and a sales opening. The problem: new installs still have to live, and a failed sod job could cost you almost two good ones. The opening: every customer needs a timer reset, and you have a reason to call all of them. Next door, Lake County is under a Phase III Extreme Water Shortage with tighter rules. Orange County is not on that list today. That could change.
Dr. Paul Borosky has worked with 1,000+ small business owners over 14+ years as an Orlando business consultant. His rule is simple. You cannot control the rain. You can control your service mix.
What Are the Watering Rules in Orange County Right Now?
Orange County follows the St. Johns River Water Management District's standard rule:
- Daylight saving time: two days a week. Odd addresses Wednesday and Saturday. Even addresses Thursday and Sunday. Nonresidential properties Tuesday and Friday.
- Eastern Standard Time, starting November 1, 2026: one day a week. Odd addresses Saturday. Even addresses Sunday. Nonresidential properties Tuesday.
- No watering between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- No more than three-quarters of an inch and one hour per zone.
The exceptions matter to your business:
- New landscape can be watered any day for the first 30 days, then every other day for the next 30.
- Micro-spray, drip, and bubbler irrigation is allowed anytime.
- Watering in fertilizer or pesticide is allowed within 24 hours of application.
What Happens When a Customer Breaks the Rule?
Orange County spells it out for its utility customers:
- First violation: a warning, by door hanger and letter.
- Repeat violations: $25 each.
- An unpaid fine can be added to the water bill.
The fine is small. The paperwork is where you can help. To use the new sod exception without a violation, the county says the customer must give Orange County Utilities their name, phone, address, and the sod or landscaping receipts. The exception covers only the new areas. Extra watering also means a higher water bill, and the county has an adjustment request form the customer can file within 60 days.
See Orange County's watering restrictions page for the details. Other cities and utilities may enforce their own way.
What Changes Under Phase III?
In the Phase III counties, the district lists tighter limits:
- One watering day a week, year round.
- No watering between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
- New sod and plants: every day for 15 days, up to three days a week for the next 30, then two days a week for the last 15.
- Added limits on pressure washing and other non-essential water use.
The district also suggests delaying new sod until conditions improve. Check the current map on the St. Johns River Water Management District watering restrictions page. One local exception: the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District follows a different water district.
Dr. Paul's Insight
From a business consultant's perspective, a watering rule is a demand signal. It may shift what customers buy from you, and when. Dr. Paul's view: do not wait for Phase III to reach your county. Plan for it while it is still next door.
How Could Water Restrictions Hit a Landscaping Company?
- Install warranties. New sod on a tight watering schedule could fail. A free replacement may wipe out the profit on the job.
- Scheduling. Customers may delay installs until the rules loosen. Your crews still need hours.
- Customer blame. A brown lawn could look like your fault, even when the customer skipped the schedule.
- Two rulebooks. A crew working Winter Garden in the morning and Clermont in the afternoon may cross from the standard rule into Phase III.
Where Does the Line Fall Locally?
- Orange County, including Orlando, Winter Garden, and Apopka: the district's standard rule.
- Lake County, including Clermont and Mount Dora: Phase III.
- Reclaimed water customers: rules may differ. Check with the customer's utility.
What Does One Failed Sod Job Cost You?
Start with the warranty. It is the fastest way a watering rule turns into a loss.
Worked Example 1: A 3,000 Square Foot Sod Install
Price is the typical installed rate from a published Florida estimate ($1.10 to $1.80 per square foot). The margin is an example. Plug in your own.
| Step 1. Job price (3,000 sq ft x $1.42) | $4,260 |
| Step 2. Gross profit at 35% ($4,260 x 0.35) | $1,491 |
| Step 3. Sod and labor cost ($4,260 - $1,491) | $2,769 |
| Step 4. Cost to redo the job under warranty | $2,769 |
| Step 5. Good jobs needed to pay for one redo ($2,769 / $1,491) | 1.9 |
Almost 2 jobs to cover 1 redo
Lose 1 job in 10 and the profit on those 10 jobs drops from $14,910 ($1,491 x 10) to $12,141 ($14,910 - $2,769). That is 19% gone.
So the warranty wording is not fine print. It is a margin decision.
What Does a Slow Install Season Do to Your Numbers?
If customers delay installs, something has to replace the gross profit. Find out how much before it happens.
Worked Example 2: A $600,000 Landscaping Company
Example numbers only. Plug in your own.
| Step 1. Annual revenue | $600,000 |
| Step 2. Install revenue at 40% ($600,000 x 0.40) | $240,000 |
| Step 3. Installs drop 25% ($240,000 x 0.25) | $60,000 |
| Step 4. Lost gross profit at 35% margin ($60,000 x 0.35) | $21,000 |
| Step 5. Irrigation tune-up price | $250 |
| Step 6. Gross profit per tune-up at 60% ($250 x 0.60) | $150 |
| Step 7. Tune-ups needed ($21,000 / $150) | 140 |
140 tune-ups a year
That is about 12 a month (140 / 12). If you already have 200 maintenance customers, you would need 7 out of 10 to buy one.
Now it is a sales target. Not a weather problem.
Dr. Paul's Insight
The customer's problem just changed. It used to be "make my yard look good." Now it may be "keep my yard alive on one day of water." From a business consultant's perspective, that is a new service line. Dr. Paul's view: sell water efficiency before a competitor does.
How Do You Adjust With Organize-Plan-Grow™?
- Organize. Split your revenue by service. Maintenance, installs, irrigation, treatments. Know the gross margin on each one.
- Plan. Write the watering schedule into every install contract. Spell out what the warranty covers when the customer skips it. Hand every install customer the receipt and the county's steps for the new sod exception. Build a tune-up offer, a drip conversion offer, and a drought-tolerant plant option.
- Grow. Call every customer before November 1. Offer the timer reset. Sell the tune-up while you are there. Micro-irrigation is allowed anytime, so a drip conversion is an easy next step.
Business Plan Writer Tip
Run two versions of next year's forecast. One with a normal install season. One with installs down 25%. If the second version breaks your cash flow, you know what to fix now.
Not just landscapers. The same rules could hit sod installers, irrigation contractors, lawn treatment companies, and pressure washers. And if your fleet is growing, see where Orlando contractors can park their trucks.
Trade Smart but Business Lacking?
You know landscapes. Dr. Paul knows the numbers. Build a service mix that holds up in a dry year.
Central Florida Water Restriction Questions
How many days a week can you water in Orange County, Florida?
Under the St. Johns River Water Management District standard rule, two days a week during daylight saving time and one day a week during Eastern Standard Time. The one day schedule starts November 1, 2026.
Is Orlando under Phase III water restrictions?
As of October 2026, the district's Phase III list includes Lake County and ten other counties. It does not list Orange County. Conditions can change, so check the district's current map.
What is the fine for breaking watering restrictions in Orange County?
Orange County gives a warning for a first violation. Repeat violations are $25 each, and an unpaid fine can be added to the water bill.
Can new sod be watered more often than the schedule allows?
Yes. Under the standard rule, new landscape can be watered any day for the first 30 days and every other day for the next 30. Orange County asks the customer to provide their name, phone, address, and receipts to avoid a violation. Phase III counties have a tighter schedule.
Last Updated: October 9, 2026