Water restrictions in Boston, MA — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Boston Water and Sewer Commission does not have year-round outdoor watering restrictions because MWRA sources are drought-resilient, but state Drought Management Plan advisories can add voluntary limits.
Boston's water comes from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoir system, which historically maintains surplus capacity. BWSC does not impose mandatory odd-even or day-of-week watering schedules like MWRA member communities without MWRA water. During state-declared Level 2 or 3 droughts (MA EEA Drought Management Task Force), BWSC issues voluntary conservation requests including hand-held hose only, no washing impervious surfaces, and no new sod installation. Commercial irrigation in new developments must use efficient drip or smart controllers per Article 37 green building requirements. Hydrant use for construction water requires a BWSC permit.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact Boston code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
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See how Boston's water restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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