Charlottesville, VA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

City Code § 31-125(a) takes effect only after City Council adopts a resolution declaring a drought warning stage for water drawn from the city's public water supply. Once triggered, established shrubbery, trees, lawns, grass and home gardens may be watered only manually, with a non-leaking hand-held hose fitted with an automatic shutoff nozzle, using the minimum amount needed to keep plants alive. m. Sodded lawns installed by a licensed contractor get a 20-day establishment period and a ½-inch daily water cap; new plantings get 45 days; both require the customer to give the director of public works a written estimate, a dated contractor receipt and the irrigation method before starting.

The same subsection bans washing vehicles outside a licensed car wash, hosing down sidewalks and driveways, running ornamental fountains, drawing from fire hydrants for anything but firefighting, serving drinking water in restaurants except on request, and running water-cooled air conditioning without conserving equipment; it also requires commercial lodging establishments to adopt and post a linen-change policy limiting fresh towels and sheets to guest request, change of occupancy, or every three days. If conditions worsen, § 31-125(b) escalates to a drought emergency stage once the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority certifies one in writing, banning all outdoor watering and pool filling outright.

Restrictions take legal effect once published in a newspaper of general circulation or broadcast on radio or television serving the city (§ 31-125(c)), and stay in force until Council (warning stage) or the RWSA's Executive Director (emergency stage) certifies the emergency has ended (§ 31-125(d)).