Concord, NC Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Concord Utilities runs irrigation under Sec. 62-165 of the Code of Ordinances, a staged system running from voluntary Level 0 through mandatory Levels I, II, III and IV. The city manager, after consulting the director of water resources, declares which level applies and sets the specific watering days. Under Level 0, only voluntary practices apply: reusing household water for watering, not letting faucets run, and using flow-restriction devices. Level I is voluntary too, targeting a 3-5 percent usage cut, and adds guidance like deferring new plantings and limiting car washing to two city-designated days a week.

only, on the days the city manager designates in the emergency declaration. Hand-held watering containers face no day restriction. Businesses whose stock in trade is live plants, including nurseries and retail garden centers, are exempt from the day-and-hour irrigation limit. Level II also prohibits washing down outside areas (except pressure-washing businesses) and residential car washing, and pool filling requires a permit from the director of water resources. window, bans recreational water use including pool filling, and halts hydrant flushing except for public health needs. Level IV, targeting a 20-30 percent cut, prohibits all outdoor water use for any purpose other than public safety, and requires non-residential customers and construction sites using 5,000 or more gallons a day to cut usage by the target percentage, with variances available for hospitals and nursing homes.