Lawn watering complaints have tripled across Sarasota County since tougher drought restrictions took effect in April, and Lakewood Ranch residents on both sides of the county line are subject to the same fines — up to $500 — with no warning required.
In the two months after the Southwest Florida Water Management District escalated to Modified Phase III "Extreme" Water Shortage restrictions on April 3, local governments received more than 600 reports of watering violations, up from just over 200 during the drought's first five months, according to a Suncoast Searchlight investigation published July 26.
Sarasota County issued more than 60 citations in response to 322 complaints during that period. The Englewood Water District issued nearly 200 fines from 267 complaints. Fines in both jurisdictions range from $100 to $500.
The enforcement surge matters in Lakewood Ranch, which spans both Sarasota and Manatee counties. Both fall under the same Modified Phase III restrictions through Oct. 1.
No more warnings before fines
The county stopped issuing warnings before fines on April 17. Citations come first.
Brooke Bailey, Sarasota County's public utilities director, told Suncoast Searchlight the county sends a notice every time it receives a complaint but does not issue a citation unless a code enforcement officer personally observes the violation.
"You don't really see people irrigating much anymore," Bailey said in the July 26 report. "It seems like people have definitely taken the message to heart."
Manatee County's fine structure escalates: $100 for a first violation, $250 for a second and $500 for a third. No prior warning is required under Phase III rules in either county.
What the restrictions allow
Under Phase III, lawn and landscape watering is limited to once a week. The allowed day depends on the last digit of a property's street address:
- 0 or 1 — Monday
- 2 or 3 — Tuesday
- 4 or 5 — Wednesday
- 6 or 7 — Thursday
- 8 or 9 — Friday
Watering hours are restricted to 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Properties under 1 acre may use only one of those two windows.
Hand-watering flower beds, shrubs or other plants — not lawns — is permitted any day before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
Homeowners associations may not enforce deed restrictions or community standards that require increased water use, including requiring replacement of plant material to meet aesthetic standards, under Phase III.
How to report a violation — and what happens next
In Sarasota County, residents can file complaints online through the county's water violation portal, by calling 941-861-6790 or by emailing [email protected]. In Manatee County, reports go through the Manatee 311 app, by calling Manatee 311 or through the Code Enforcement Division.
Under Florida law, complaints cannot be anonymous. Filers must provide their name and address for the complaint to be investigated.
Nearly all complaints — 98% — came from unincorporated Sarasota County, the Englewood Water District and North Port, the jurisdictions with active enforcement and easy online reporting portals, according to Suncoast Searchlight.
What's ahead for the restrictions
The Southwest Florida Water Management District's governing board voted June 23 to extend the restrictions through Oct. 1 after the region recorded a 13.7-inch rainfall deficit compared with its 12-month average. Outdoor water use accounts for more than half of household consumption, according to the district.
Meanwhile, Manatee County's reclaimed water system was experiencing lower-than-normal pressure as of June 24 because of drought-driven irrigation demand exceeding production capacity. The county asked reclaimed water customers to voluntarily follow the same once-a-week schedule, even though reclaimed water is not legally subject to the restrictions.
Key dates and contacts
- Oct. 1 — Modified Phase III restrictions set to expire
- Report violations, Sarasota County: online portal, 941-861-6790 or [email protected]
- Report violations, Manatee County: Manatee 311 app or Code Enforcement Division
