Evanston, IL Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Evanston, IL, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Restricted season
- May 15 - September 15
- Watering days
- Odd/even by street address
- No-water hours
- 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. daily
- New sod exception
- 90 days after planting
- Gardens
- Exempt from the schedule
Summary
Evanston limits lawn irrigation to odd-numbered addresses on odd calendar dates and even addresses on even dates from May 15 through September 15, with no watering citywide between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
During May 15 through September 15 of each year, lawn irrigation with water supplied from the City waterworks system is permitted for odd-numbered addresses on odd-numbered dates and for even-numbered addresses on even-numbered dates. During May 15 through September 15, no lawn irrigation is permitted between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on any day of the week at any address in the City. Gardens are exempt from these limits. Lawn irrigation during September 16 through May 14 of each year is not subject to these limits.(B)An exception to the lawn irrigation limits applies for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days after new sod is laid or new lawn seed is sown.(C)Any person, firm or corporation violating the provisions of this Section shall be fined as provided in Section 7-12-17 of this Chapter.(D)In the event of an emergency water shortage the City Manager or his/her agent or designee shall have the power to temporarily ban all nonessential water use for as long as the emergency water shortage shall exist. (Ord. No. 2-O-08; Ord. No. 8-O-12, (50-O-11(exh. B, § 7-12-14-2)), 1-23-2012; Ord. No. 23-O-16, § 1, 3-28-2016)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 21).
Full Breakdown
Section 7-12-14-2(A) sets Evanston's seasonal lawn-watering schedule: from May 15 through September 15, odd-numbered addresses may irrigate only on odd-numbered calendar dates and even-numbered addresses only on even dates, and irrigation is barred citywide between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. every day in that window. Gardens are exempt from the schedule. Subsection (B) grants a 90-day exception after new sod is laid or grass seed is sown. Violators are fined under Section 7-12-17, and Subsection (D) lets the City Manager ban all nonessential water use during a declared emergency shortage.
Violations & Fines
Violations are fined per the rate schedule in Section 7-12-17 of the Water Chapter; during a declared emergency shortage, the City Manager can order all nonessential water use stopped under Subsection (D).
Frequently Asked Questions
What days can I water my lawn in Evanston?
Is new sod exempt from Evanston's watering schedule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Evanston
How Evanston compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Evanston to another location·View the Illinois landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle water restrictions.