Elizabeth, NJ Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Elizabeth, NJ, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Mayor's executive order declaring water emergency
- Restriction options
- Full outdoor ban or odd/even watering days
- Full ban day
- 31st of any month under emergency
- 2nd offense fine
- $500 or 10 days jail
- 3rd+ offense fine
- $1,000 or 30 days jail
- Order duration
- Up to 90 days, renewable
Summary
Elizabeth has no standing lawn-watering schedule; instead, the mayor can declare a water emergency by executive order and then impose either a complete ban on outdoor water use, including lawn watering, pool filling and car washing, or an odd/even house-number watering schedule that goes to a full ban on the 31st of any month, under Section 13.12.020.
Upon the mayor adopting an executive order declaring that a water emergency exists in the city in accordance with Section 13.12.010 of this chapter, all citizens shall be urged to observe voluntary indoor conservation measures and, any of the following water use restrictions shall be imposed and shall be applicable to all residents and tenants, except where a bona fide health emergency exists and to exempt businesses, as specified herein during the water emergency: A.The complete ban and prohibitions of outside water usage, including the watering of lawns and plants, the filling of pools and the washing of cars;B.Outside water usage on alternative days allowing outside water usage by persons or businesses having even house or box numbers on even days and those having odd house or box numbers on odd days with outside water usage being completely banned and prohibited on the 31st day of any month during the water emergency;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31).
Full Breakdown
12 (Water Emergencies) gives the mayor, not a standing city ordinance, the power to trigger outdoor watering restrictions. 020 applies. 020 lets the mayor choose between a complete ban on all outdoor water use, covering lawn and plant watering, pool filling and car washing, or an alternate-day schedule that lets even-numbered addresses water outdoors on even days and odd-numbered addresses on odd days, with outdoor use completely prohibited citywide on the 31st of any month the emergency continues. Businesses can be exempted and a bona fide health emergency is a built-in exception to any restriction imposed.
030, the restriction lapses automatically at the end of the time period the mayor's order specifies unless the mayor renews it, and the mayor must lift it early once satisfied the emergency has passed. 040.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of an active water use restriction draws a written warning under Section 13.12.040. Section 13.12.050 sets the fines for repeat violations: a second offense costs $500 or ten days' imprisonment, or both, and a third or later offense costs $1,000 or thirty days' imprisonment, or both, all enforced by the local authorized official empowered to write summonses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Elizabeth have permanent lawn-watering days?
What outdoor water restrictions can Elizabeth's mayor impose during a water emergency?
What's the penalty for violating a declared water emergency restriction in Elizabeth?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Elizabeth
How Elizabeth compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Elizabeth to another location·View the New Jersey landscaping rules overview
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