Hollywood commission adopts year‑round landscape irrigation rules after public comment on enforcement

The Hollywood City Commission on Dec. 4 adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 51 of the city code to implement year‑round landscape irrigation conservation measures recommended by the South Florida Water Management District.

Assistant Director of Utilities Vin Morello told commissioners the district controls consumptive use permits and has been following up with the city to implement the measures, which most other Broward municipalities have already adopted. Morello said the ordinance was first proposed in 2020 but withdrawn and that the district requested an update as part of its jurisdictional oversight.

Resident Terry Cantrell, whose neighborhood floods frequently, voiced support for the conservation measures but urged stronger enforcement and warned that without active compliance the new rules could be “aspirational.” “Who’s gonna be enforcing any additional or modified codes or laws to restrict watering?” he asked.

Commissioners discussed enforcement tools and public outreach. The city manager and Morello said the utilities department would work with the city’s communications office to educate residents about the new schedule and the conservation rationale, and staff agreed to explore options such as warnings and targeted code enforcement where noncompliance persists.

The city attorney read the ordinance on second reading and the commission voted 6‑0 to pass it on second reading, allowing the local implementation to take effect under the adopted timetable.

The ordinance integrates the district’s mandatory schedule into local code and gives staff the authority to begin public education and compliance steps; the city said it will provide a follow‑up plan describing outreach materials and enforcement procedures.