Forsyth County, GA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Forsyth County, GA, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Daily window
- 4 p.m. to 10 a.m.
- Authority
- O.C.G.A. §12-5-7 (2010)
- Drought schedule
- Two days/week, odd-even
- Water source
- Lake Lanier, Chattahoochee
- Exempt
- Drip, handwatering, food gardens
Summary
Under Georgia's Water Stewardship Act, Forsyth County allows daily landscape irrigation only between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. year-round. Drawing on Lake Lanier, the county tightens to two-day-a-week odd/even schedules when Georgia EPD declares a drought.
Irrigation of personal food gardens; Irrigation of new and replanted plant, seed, or turf in landscapes, golf courses, or sports turf fields during installation and for a period of 30 days immediately following the date of installation; Drip irrigation or irrigation using soaker hoses; Handwatering with a hose with automatic cutoff or handheld container; Use of water withdrawn from private water wells or surface water.
Full Breakdown
Outdoor watering across Forsyth County follows the permanent statewide rule from the 2010 Water Stewardship Act (O.C.G.A. §12-5-7): landscape irrigation is allowed any day but only between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m., skipping the midday evaporation window. Hand-watering with an automatic cutoff, drip and soaker hoses, food gardens, newly installed turf for 30 days, and private wells are exempt at any hour. Because the county draws its water from Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee, it is drought-sensitive, and when Georgia EPD declares a Level 2 response the schedule tightens to two assigned days a week by odd or even address. Forsyth County Water and Sewer enforces it.
Violations & Fines
Watering outside the allowed window or a declared drought schedule brings warnings, then escalating fines and possible service action under Forsyth County Water and Sewer rules. There is no direct state penalty on the homeowner.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I water my lawn in Forsyth County?
Do the rules change in a drought?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Forsyth County
How Forsyth County compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Forsyth County to another location·View the Georgia landscaping rules overview
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