Installing sod when Dallas is under a water restriction is not impossible, but you will have to put in the effort. If you get started without doing enough preparation and homework, the result will be unsatisfactory. If you look at the city’s website, there is no ban or anything. However, you will come across some ifs and buts, and that may make you doubtful. If it sounds like a riddle, do not worry. You can still overcome the hurdles involved in the process.
What Exactly Is The New Landscape Exemption?
Apparently,the City of Dallas, according to Stage 2 restrictions, will allow you to access water for new sod installation. You can do this for up to 30 days. However, then you read a part mentioning it is applicable only to new landscaping. At that point, you start wondering what “new” is here.
If you have replaced an aging and damaged sod of Zoysia and put in St. Augustine, will that be deemed as new? Or is that what they call a patch job? The sad thing is the city administration has no answer for it. You may call 311, but all you will get is a prerecorded message about the weather along with a suggestion to consult your HOA. Now, that is downright useless because they don’t know how many homes are there in the respective subdivision.
The toughest part comes up next. You have to prove that you have set up new sod. What counts as evidence is not clear. Is it an invoice or a contractor’s document? Maybe you need some visual proof of installing new sod? Again, the city has no well-defined answer.
Watering Rules Can Be Hard To Interpret
The twisty part comes next. Suppose you are eligible for the new landscape exemption and 30-day grace period. You can only water the lawn after 6 pm and before 10 am- that too on specific days valid for your region.
There are instances of people installing new sod in Dallas and calling the water department for updates. They have received different responses from the administration at different times. You may find it hard to figure out if they are offering you gambling advice or interpreting the municipal code!
You can still go ahead and water the lawn with sprinklers. This is not what the so-called rule specifies. From a realistic viewpoint, if the lawn is large, can you water it manually every day? That does not sound like a practical option.
The funny thing is that there will be nothing like a citation or even a warning. Maybe the city administration is aware that implementing the rule is tedious.
The Landscapers Will Not Shy Away
What if you contact any local landscaping company during that time? The funny thing is they too do not bother much about that water restriction rule. These landscaping companies will install sod during Stage 2 with an attitude like nothing has changed! Yes, they will tell you about the watering restriction, but you may get a printout to prove it is a new installation!
You may ask them if doing so will be legal or not. Again, getting a clear answer may be tedious. They will tell you they do it for other clients too or something on that line. You are still left in uncertainty about the legality of the step.
Homeowners Left In The Lurch
Suppose you are trying to sell your home and the front yard looks like it barely survived a dust storm! There are two options here. You can install sod now and cope with the risk of troubles later. Or, you can wait for a few months and hope the lawn does not look wasted.
You may also think of buying artificial turf. That is not without its own issues as well. It is costly and the heat retention can prove to be tough. In some neighborhoods, you cannot do it either. It is ironic that a city that goes without rainfall for long stretches does not allow fake grass in parts.
So, if you install sod, and water it and that is reported, whose fault is it? That is also uncertain! Whether the property owner or the contractor will be held liable is not clear. You will struggle to get a clear answer on it. However, a few areas get drive-bys with citations.
What The City Administration Does Not Say
The reality is the city administration knows the residents will lay sod during the summer. Additionally, most people do not read beyond the 2nd or 3rd paragraphs of any city guideline. So, they do not try to implement well-defined standards during restrictions. They keep the guidelines vague in a politically correct way.
From a neutral and practical viewpoint, it would be more useful if they specify a reporting time and clear guideline for sod installations. In that case, residents will not keep guessing about their options. As of now, things are as ambiguous as they can be! The inclusion of so many ifs and buts makes the water muddy.
So What One Should Do?
When you are determined to install sod during Stage 2 in Dallas, be prepared to gamble a bit! You may or may not receive a warning from the city administration. There can be a tussle with your HOA president.
Technically, you can do it by hiring local landscaping entities. It is better if you get a printed invoice from the landscaping company. Taking a few before and after installation images will be helpful. However, even after taking such precautionary steps, some uncertainty will still remain.
Last modified: September 1, 2025
