Water restrictions in Detroit, MI — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) does not impose mandatory odd/even or time-of-day outdoor watering restrictions citywide. Conservation is encouraged through voluntary tips; supply comes from the Great Lakes Water Authority via Lake Huron.
Detroit is served by the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) drawing from Lake Huron and the Detroit River, and has no codified mandatory outdoor irrigation schedule or sprinkler ban in Detroit City Code. DWSD publishes voluntary conservation tips encouraging residents to water early or late and to use buckets rather than running hoses, but these are recommendations rather than enforceable rules. Suburban Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb communities may maintain their own sprinkler schedules; those do not extend into Detroit. DWSD does enforce stormwater management requirements and impervious-cover charges through its Drainage Charge program. During regional water emergencies, GLWA can issue conservation advisories that DWSD passes through to customers.
Because no mandatory outdoor watering ordinance is on the books, there are no routine city citations for sprinkler use. Owners can still face enforcement for wasting water, illegal hydrant use, or stormwater violations under separate DWSD rules.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Wayne County.
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