Awesome news everyone! Central Texas is in a really bad drought and we are under Stage 2 water use restrictions.  There have been many people out there that want an exemption for those growing their own food. Hey, guess what?  The City of Austin has heard the public and has responded to them! Please read below to find all the info you may need about this new policy.
To support City sustainability initiatives and community-wide efforts to increase local food production, Austin Water has developed alternative restrictions for individuals using water to support food-producing plants in outdoor gardens. To receive a permit for alternative compliance, a water account holder must return the following form and adhere to the restrictions outlined (the form can be found here: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/water/conservation/downloads/gardenpolicy.pdf).

Approved alternative compliance permits will allow the account holder to water areas of food production at any day or time with drip systems or soaker hoses, Tuesday through Sunday in the morning and/or evening with a hose-end sprinkler, or twice per week in the morning and/or evening with an in-ground spray system. In all cases, alternative compliance permits require that water usage be reduced by 20% from a comparable month. This reduction meets the intent of Stage 2 or 3 water use restrictions, while allowing gardeners more flexibility to meet the needs of their plants by spreading out water application over multiple days.

Alternative compliance permits are intended for gardens producing food for retail sale, those used by many people as part of a community garden, and for individual gardens that provide a reasonable portion of household food consumption when in season. They are not intended for herb gardens, for solitary vegetable plants within a landscape garden, or fruit trees other than those that are part of urban farms and intended for retail production.

The water utility account holder is responsible for completing the form and ensuring compliance with its conditions.