Birmingham, AL Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Birmingham, AL, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- City Ordinance
- None - no permanent municipal watering ban
- Utility
- Birmingham Water Works Board (independent)
- Stage 2 Hours
- No watering 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; none Wed/Sat/Sun
- New Lawn Exemption
- First 30 days after installation
Summary
Birmingham has no permanent municipal lawn-watering ordinance. Outdoor watering limits are set by the Birmingham Water Works Board through voluntary drought-stage advisories tied to reservoir conditions.
Addresses ending in an even number should water established lawns and landscaping on Mondays and Thursdays. Addresses ending in an odd number should water established lawns and landscaping on Tuesdays and Fridays. No watering should be done between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. New lawns and landscaping exempt from day of the week watering restrictions for the first 30 days after installation.
Full Breakdown
No Birmingham-specific city ordinance directly imposes routine outdoor-watering restrictions; water service is provided by the independent Birmingham Water Works Board (BWW), which manages conservation through staged drought advisories rather than a year-round schedule. Under a Stage 2 Drought Watch, BWW asks customers to follow an odd/even outdoor-watering schedule (even-numbered addresses water established lawns and landscaping Mondays and Thursdays; odd-numbered addresses Tuesdays and Fridays), to avoid watering between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and to do no outdoor watering on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays; new lawns and landscaping are exempt from the day-of-week limits for the first 30 days after installation. These remain voluntary 'reduction in usage' measures unless escalated; only at Stage 3 (Drought Warning) can BWW impose surcharges. At the state level, the Alabama Office of Water Resources / ADECA issues drought declarations that may trigger such advisories.
Violations & Fines
Stage 1-2 measures are voluntary requests with no fine. At Stage 3 (Drought Warning), Birmingham Water Works may impose surcharges on excess usage. There is no municipal citation for routine lawn watering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there days I can't water my lawn in Birmingham?
Will I be fined for watering during a drought?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Birmingham
How Birmingham compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Birmingham to another location·View the Alabama landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jefferson County handle water restrictions.