Fishers, IN Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Fishers, IN, 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-declared water warning or emergency
- Lawn watering
- Banned except handheld new-sod care
- Vegetable gardens
- Every other day, hand-held hose
- Golf courses
- Greens Mon, fairways Thu only
- Penalty
- $500 for 2nd/3rd offense
Summary
Fishers bans sprinkler and irrigation watering of lawns during a Mayor-declared water warning or emergency, allowing only hand-held, shut-off-nozzle watering of new sod, with golf courses limited to fixed weekly watering days.
(A) During a water warning or a water emergency, it shall be unlawful for a water user to cause, permit, allow, do or engage in any of the following actions: (1) Sprinkling, watering or irrigating of grass, except sod or new seedling grass installed during the year in which a ban is instituted... (B) it shall be unlawful during a water emergency for a water user to cause, permit, allow, do or engage in any outdoor watering; provided, however, that vegetable gardens may be watered every other day by container or hand-held hose equipped with shut-off nozzle.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinance No. 051826E, passed 5-18-26; and Resolution No. R051826C, passed 5-18-26; and State legislation current through Indiana Legislative Service, 2026 Acts, Pamphlet #1).
Full Breakdown
Under Fishers City Code Chapter 52, once the Mayor declares a water warning or emergency due to low Citizens Water/Indiana American reservoir levels, it becomes unlawful to sprinkle, water, or irrigate grass except new sod or seedling grass watered by a handheld, shut-off-nozzle hose. During a full emergency the ban extends to all outdoor watering, though vegetable gardens may still be hand-watered every other day. Car washing, pressure-washing pavement, filling pools, and non-emergency hydrant use are also banned. The Mayor may exempt golf courses, limited to watering tee boxes and greens every other day from Monday and fairways once weekly on Thursday.
Violations & Fines
First violation: warning only. Second offense in a 12-month period: $500. Third and later offenses: $500 each, with unresolved repeat violations referable to the Hamilton County Prosecutor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a standing weekly watering schedule for Fishers lawns?
Can I still water a newly seeded lawn during a water warning?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fishers
How Fishers compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Fishers to another location·View the Indiana landscaping rules overview
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