Durham, NC Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Article VI, Division 2 of the Durham City Code gives the city manager authority, on the water director's report under Section 70-564, to declare a water shortage and impose the restriction stages set out in Section 70-566. ; large users (over 100,000 gallons a day) must attempt a 15 percent consumption cut. Stage 2 layers on top of Stage 1: spray irrigation of landscapes with city water is prohibited outright, city water may not be used to wash vehicles except at a compliant commercial car wash, and washing exterior building surfaces, decks, sidewalks, driveways or parking lots with city water is banned; the consumption-reduction target rises to 30 percent.

Stage 3 bans nearly all outdoor irrigation except watering of containerized nursery stock, bans any other outdoor use of city water except emergency or public-health uses, and pushes the large-user reduction goal to 50 percent. Stage 4, a declared water supply emergency, prohibits all outdoor water use, bars adding water to fountains, pools or ponds, and lets the city manager order additional restrictions or curtail service to designated users to protect fire protection, hospitals and other essential needs. Section 70-565 requires large users, botanical sites, recreational fields and golf courses to keep an on-file water conservation plan geared to each stage's reduction target. Section 70-568 makes every stage applicable to all system users, including those outside city limits, until the city manager or council lifts it.