Georgetown, KY Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Section 40-430 is an emergency measure, not a fixed schedule. Subsection (a) recites that an emergency exists which threatens the water supply for the city as a result of the extended drought conditions the area was suffering, and it waives the requirement of second reading and publication to give the ordinance effect. Subsection (b) then authorizes the city water and sewer board of commissioners, upon the finding of specific facts supporting the existence of an emergency, and by a two-thirds majority, to declare an emergency and impose mandatory restrictions reasonably calculated to conserve the water supply.

The restrictions the board can impose are not limited to the printed list. That list covers a prohibition of or limitation on the sprinkling of lawns, shrubs, trees or other plants of an ornamental nature; a prohibition of or limitation on the washing of vehicles, except at places of business that are in the business of washing vehicles; a prohibition of or limitation on the use of swimming pools; a limitation on the use of water by commercial enterprises; and any other reasonable measure that will promote the conservation of water. Sprinkling of lawns is therefore the first item on the list, but the section itself sets no days of the week, hours or gallon amounts. Whatever specific terms apply are listed in the board's written notice to customers.

Notice and timing are fixed by subsection (c). After declaring an emergency, the water board must notify each of its customers in writing that an emergency has been declared. The notice must list each restriction the board has imposed and the date on which the restrictions take effect, and that date must be not less than three days after the date of the notice. Under subsection (d), the declaration and restrictions continue until the board lifts them or the section otherwise provides.

Council oversight follows in subsection (e). The declaration, the findings supporting it and other pertinent information are delivered to the office of the mayor, and not later than the next regularly scheduled city council meeting the council must consider the declaration and determine its sufficiency under the section. Absent a finding of sufficiency, the declaration is lifted. The history note shows the text came from Ord. No. 88-018, adopted June 27, 1988, and the editor's note records that the ordinance did not specifically amend the Code, so it appears as section 40-430 at the editor's discretion.