While the order was approved on March 24, 2026, the strict new rules officially go into effect on April 3, 2026, and are scheduled to last through July 1, 2026.
Key Restaurant Restriction
For local dining, the most visible change is a mandate on how water is served:
- By Request Only: Restaurants are no longer permitted to automatically place water glasses on tables.
- Customer Initiative: Servers may only provide water if a patron specifically asks for it.
This move is designed to reduce the significant amount of water wasted through “automatic” pours that go undrunk, as well as the water and energy used to wash those glasses.
Other “Extreme” Restrictions for Residents
The transition from Phase II to Phase III also tightens rules for households and businesses across Lakeland and the rest of the county:
- Tighter Watering Hours: Lawn irrigation remains limited to once per week based on your house number, but the allowed time slots have been shortened. You may now only water between 12:01 a.m. – 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. – 11:59 p.m. (Properties under one acre must choose only one of those windows).
- Fountains: Decorative and aesthetic fountains are now limited to just 4 hours of operation per day, and the hours must be clearly posted.
- Car Washing: Non-commercial car washing is only allowed on your designated lawn-watering day and requires a hose with an automatic shutoff nozzle.
- Pressure Washing: This is now prohibited for purely aesthetic reasons (like cleaning a driveway just to make it look nice); it is only allowed when preparing a surface for painting or sealing.
Enforcement Update
Local utilities have been directed to ramp up enforcement. Notably, the “warning” period is ending; starting 14 days after the April 3 effective date, officials are expected to issue citations for the first infraction without a prior warning or courtesy letter.
The restrictions come as the region faces a rainfall deficit of nearly 14 inches, leading to “severely abnormal” levels in local aquifers and lakes.