Water restrictions in Cornelius, NC — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Cornelius is served by Charlotte Water, which activated Mandatory Low Inflow Protocol Stage 2 effective May 15, 2026, limiting irrigation to two assigned days per week from 10 p.m.-4 a.m. with a $100-per-violation penalty.
Charlotte Water's Catawba-Wateree Low Inflow Protocol (LIP) governs Cornelius outdoor water use. Under Stage 2, customers may irrigate only two days per week between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. on days assigned by the last digit of their street address. Odd addresses water Tuesday/Saturday; even addresses Wednesday/Sunday. Residential pools may only be topped off on Thursday/Sunday during the same hours. Vehicle washing at home, charity car washes, decorative fountains without aquatic life, and non-essential power washing are prohibited.
Stage 2 violations carry a $100 fine per occurrence under Charlotte Water enforcement; repeat or commercial violations can escalate to higher fines and service-fee surcharges.
Cornelius, NC
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Cornelius, NC
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Cornelius, NC
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Cornelius, NC
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