Bergenfield, NJ Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Bergenfield, NJ, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Ordinance
- Ord. No. 21-2583, adopted Aug. 17, 2021
- Stage I schedule
- Hand-held hose only, 2 days/week by address
- Stage II
- All irrigation prohibited
- Daily restriction
- No irrigation 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Automatic system hours
- 3:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. only
- Maximum fine
- $2,000 per violation, per block and lot
Summary
Bergenfield's water conservation ordinance sets a permanent odd/even hand-held-hose watering schedule for a declared Stage I emergency and bans irrigation entirely in Stage II. Violations during a declared emergency carry a fine of up to $2,000 per block and lot, enforced by the Borough Code Enforcement Officer.
§ 306-5. Violations and penalties. It shall be unlawful and a violation hereof for any person to use water during the emergency period in violation of this article. Any property owner (or occupant) found to be in violation of the provisions of this article shall be subject to a fine up to a maximum of $2,000 per violation, per individual block and lot location. ... § 306-6. Irrigation schedule and water emergency regulations. ... A. Irrigation schedule, effective year round. The emergency stages shall be as follows: (1) Stage I, Pending/Critical: Mandatory restriction for all properties to the use of a hand-held hose on Tuesdays and Saturdays for properties with odd-numbered addresses and Wednesdays and Sundays for properties with even-numbered addresses. No irrigation of any kind shall be allowed on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 306, Article I of the Borough Code, adopted August 17, 2021 by Ordinance No. 21-2583, governs water use during declared emergencies. Under § 306-3, the Borough Administrator, or another official the Mayor and Council designate, decides when a water emergency exists and how severe it is, then notifies residents and businesses in the most expeditious manner available. Section 306-6 lays out two escalating stages. Stage I, labeled 'Pending/Critical,' restricts irrigation to a hand-held hose only, on Tuesdays and Saturdays for odd-numbered addresses and Wednesdays and Sundays for even-numbered addresses, with no irrigation at all permitted on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays.
Stage II, labeled 'Critical,' prohibits irrigation outright, though the Borough Administrator may allow narrow hand-held-hose exceptions. Both stages also stop car washing, house or property washing, and pool filling. m. Every automatic system must carry a working rain sensor calibrated to interrupt the watering cycle once a quarter inch of rain has fallen, per § 306-6E. Violating the emergency-period restrictions is a borough offense under § 306-5, punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 for each violation, assessed per individual block and lot. The Borough Code Enforcement Officer and any Borough employee the Administrator appoints carry out enforcement under § 306-7.
Violations & Fines
Using water in violation of a declared Stage I or Stage II emergency restriction under Chapter 306 is unlawful and can draw a fine of up to $2,000 per violation, assessed separately for each block and lot, under § 306-5. The Borough Code Enforcement Officer, or another Borough employee the Administrator designates under § 306-7, issues citations and can also act against irrigation run outside the year-round 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. no-water window, even with no emergency declared.
Frequently Asked Questions
What days can I water my lawn in Bergenfield?
What is the fine for watering during a Bergenfield water emergency?
Who decides when Bergenfield is in a water emergency?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bergenfield
How Bergenfield compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Bergenfield to another location·View the New Jersey landscaping rules overview
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