WateringDay
Short answer. Rachio doesn't know your city's watering rules, so set them yourself: use a Fixed schedule on your assigned days with a start time inside the allowed hours. To keep it right when the rules change, connect Rachio to the WateringDay app (Pro): copy the API key from the Rachio app (Account icon → API Key → Copy), paste it in WateringDay, and it flags schedules that break the rules and can pause the controller with a rain delay on days you're not allowed to water.
Why Rachio needs help with restrictions
Rachio decides how long to water from weather and soil data, but it has no list of city watering rules. Days, hours and drought stages are up to you — and when your utility changes stage or season, you have to remember to change the schedule. Rachio owners have asked for restriction support for years (Rachio community — dealing with water restrictions).
Option 1: set the schedule by hand
- Look up your days and hours (use the box below or your city page).
- In the Rachio app, open your schedule and choose Fixed watering on specific days of the week — your assigned days. Flex Daily and interval schedules can land on any day.
- Set the start time so the whole run finishes inside the allowed hours (for example before 10 a.m. in Austin, or after 8 p.m. in Tampa).
- Check it again when your utility changes stage or season — Las Vegas changes four times a year, Orlando when the clocks change, San Antonio with the aquifer.
Option 2: let WateringDay keep it right (Pro)
The WateringDay iPhone app can connect to your Rachio through Rachio's official public API:
- Schedule check — lists every Rachio schedule that waters on a day or at a time your city doesn't allow, and Flex or interval schedules that could.
- Auto-protect (beta) — on days and hours you may not water, WateringDay sets Rachio's standard rain delay until your next allowed window, so no schedule runs. You can see and cancel the delay in the Rachio app at any time.
- When your utility changes stage or season, WateringDay updates your days — and the check and the pauses follow.
Where to find your Rachio API key
- Open the Rachio app and tap the Account icon in the top-right corner.
- Scroll to the bottom: your API Key is there. Tap Copy (Rachio support — Smart Home Integrations (finding your API key)).
- On a computer you can also sign in at app.rach.io, open Settings and choose Get API Key.
- In WateringDay, go to Settings → Rachio smart controller, paste the key and tap Connect, then pick your controller.
Treat the key like a password: it gives access to your Rachio account. WateringDay keeps it in your iPhone's Keychain and sends it only to Rachio. To revoke access, tap Disconnect Rachio in WateringDay; you can also generate a new key in Rachio.
Good to know
- Auto-protect runs when iOS lets the app check in the background, so keep your Rachio schedules on your allowed days as well — the pause is a safety net, not a replacement.
- Rain delay pauses the whole controller, including drip zones. Most cities allow drip at other times; if you rely on that, leave auto-protect off and use the schedule check.
- Rachio's public API can't edit schedules, so WateringDay never changes your zones or run times.
Find your watering day
Never miss your watering day. The WateringDay app reminds you the evening before and alerts you when your utility changes stage or season.
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