Field notes
Can an HOA be fined for common-area watering?
Yes. Common-area irrigation follows the same city watering rules as homes, and fines go to the water account holder, which is usually the association. McKinney fines run $50 to $150 per violation; Lucas fines reach $2,000.
City watering ordinances apply to every irrigation system, not just homes. Entry beds, medians, parks, and amenity centers on an association’s water meter have to follow the same assigned days and the same daytime ban from spring through fall. When a system waters on the wrong day, in the afternoon, or into the street, the violation goes to the account holder on that meter, which is usually the association.
Fines vary by city. In McKinney, violations start with a warning, then $50, $100, and $150. Lucas sends a certified-letter warning, then fines of $500 and $2,000.
The usual causes are controllers reset by a power outage, schedules never changed after a city update, and broken heads spraying pavement. Our Property care plan checks every zone monthly, keeps each controller on the city schedule, and sends the manager a report after every visit.