Navigate Bend's odd/even watering schedule, irrigation hours, and how Newport Avenue Landscaping can help you comply and conserve.
Bend, Oregon, is renowned for its natural beauty and commitment to sustainability. A crucial part of maintaining our high desert ecosystem and ensuring a sustainable water supply for future generations is adhering to the City of Bend's watering restrictions. These rules are designed to promote efficient water use, especially for outdoor irrigation, which accounts for a significant portion of residential water consumption. Understanding and following these guidelines not only helps conserve a vital resource but also allows residents to avoid potential fines.
The City of Bend implements a year-round odd/even watering schedule, a straightforward system designed to distribute water demand and reduce strain on the municipal water supply. This schedule applies to all outdoor irrigation, including lawns, gardens, and landscaping. All information regarding watering restrictions and rebates is sourced from the City of Bend's official website.
To maximize water absorption and minimize evaporation, the City of Bend restricts watering to specific hours:
Adhering to these hours is critical, as watering during the hottest part of the day leads to significant water loss through evaporation, making your irrigation less effective and wasting precious resources.
The City of Bend takes its watering restrictions seriously, and violations can result in fines. These penalties are in place to ensure compliance and support the city's overarching water conservation goals. The best way to avoid fines is to simply follow the odd/even schedule and permitted watering hours.
For residents installing new sod or seed, a temporary variance may be available to allow for more frequent watering during the establishment period. To inquire about or apply for a temporary variance, contact the City of Bend at 541-317-3000 ext. 2.
Newport Avenue Landscaping handles the entire project — design, installation, and rebate documentation. Serving Bend, Redmond, Sisters, and all of Deschutes County.
At Newport Avenue Landscaping, we are committed to helping Bend residents and businesses create beautiful, sustainable landscapes that thrive within the city's watering guidelines. Our services are designed to not only ensure compliance but also to significantly reduce your outdoor water consumption, saving you money and contributing to a healthier environment.
Beyond the watering restrictions, the City of Bend offers several programs and incentives to encourage water conservation among its residents and businesses. These initiatives are part of the city's ambitious goal to reduce water use by 7.9 billion gallons by 2040, a target that can be met if individuals save just 17 gallons per day.
The City of Bend's Turf Replacement Rebate program provides a significant incentive for homeowners to convert water-guzzling lawns into more water-efficient landscapes. As of April 1st, the 2026 season is open for applications.
This program supports larger-scale water conservation efforts for Homeowners Associations (HOAs) and commercial properties.
To help residents optimize their irrigation systems, the City of Bend offers free sprinkler inspections. Trained staff will:
This valuable service can help you identify and fix issues that lead to water waste, ensuring your landscape gets the water it needs without over-irrigating.
The City of Bend's watering restrictions are not just about rules and regulations; they are a critical component of a larger strategy to ensure a sustainable water future for our community. The city has set an ambitious goal to reduce water use by 7.9 billion gallons by the year 2040. This long-term vision is essential for preserving the health of the Deschutes River, protecting our local aquifer, and ensuring that Bend remains a vibrant and livable city for generations to come.
Achieving this goal requires a collective effort from all residents and businesses. The city estimates that if each individual saves just 17 gallons of water per day, we can meet this target. This highlights the significant impact that small, everyday changes in our water use habits can have on the overall health of our water system. By embracing water-wise practices in our homes and landscapes, we are not just complying with regulations; we are actively participating in the stewardship of our most precious natural resource.
Even with the best intentions, it's easy to make common watering mistakes that can lead to wasted water and an unhealthy landscape. Here are a few pitfalls to avoid:
The City of Bend enforces an odd/even watering schedule year-round. Even-numbered addresses water on even days, and odd-numbered addresses water on odd days. Watering is only permitted between 5 PM and 9 AM. Day 31 of any month is open for all addresses to water.
Watering is strictly prohibited between 9 AM and 5 PM every day, year-round. This is to minimize water loss due to evaporation during the hottest parts of the day.
Yes, the City of Bend issues fines for violations of its watering restrictions. These fines are designed to encourage compliance and support the city's water conservation goals.
Yes, temporary variances are available for new sod or seed. You can apply for a variance by calling the City of Bend at 541-317-3000 ext. 2.
The City of Bend offers a Turf Replacement Rebate of $3 per square foot, up to a maximum of $3,000. The 2026 season opened on April 1st. To qualify, you must be a City of Bend water customer, the project must include an entire irrigation zone, and at least 75% healthy turf is required. The project must be completed by October 15th. Applications can be sent to conservation@bendoregon.gov or mailed to 21051 NE Talus Place, Bend OR 97701. Funds are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
WaterWise Communities is a program offering a 50% match up to $10,000 for HOAs and commercial properties. This program includes landscape evaluations, irrigation evaluations, and project support to help these communities conserve water. Participants must be City of Bend water customers.
Yes, the City of Bend provides free sprinkler inspections. Trained staff conduct visual inspections, review watering schedules, perform system tests, and recommend improved watering schedules to help residents optimize their irrigation systems.
Newport Avenue Landscaping offers a range of services that align with Bend's watering restrictions and conservation efforts. These include xeriscape and turf conversion (which can help qualify for rebates), smart irrigation and drip system installations, spring activation with an audit, irrigation repair, and landscape design focused on water efficiency.
All information regarding watering restrictions, rebates, and conservation programs is sourced from the official City of Bend website. For more details, please visit: City of Bend Water Conservation.
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