Florida has been the nation's dominant state in production of citrus, with nearly 80% of all U.S. citrus growing in 2004. Most of the citrus groves are located from central to south Florida, and agricultural irrigation permitting is regulated by the water management districts within the state. Permitting for Highlands, Polk and Hillsborough counties are conducted by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), based on the AGMOD computer program. Part of Highlands County lies within the Southern Water Use Caution Area where it has been determined that aquifer and lake levels are lower than historical reference points. In 2003, the SWFWMD implemented new permit criteria to help address these problems so that permitted amounts were more representative of actual water use. This paper compared the actual reported citrus irrigation water use in Highlands, Polk and Hillsborough Counties for 1994 through 2005 with permitted values and theoretical consumptive use values calculated by a daily water balance using the same long term weather data.