Durham County, NC Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Durham County, NC, 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
- University Lake at 346 ft (36 in below full)
- Stage II watering window
- Sat or Sun, 6-9 a.m. only
- Declared by
- Board of Commissioners chairman, proclamation
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under Sec. 1-6
- Applies to
- OWASA-served area of county only
- Stage III limit
- No lawn sprinkling at all
Summary
Durham County bans or limits lawn and garden watering once University Lake, the reservoir behind the county's Orange Water and Sewer Authority service area, drops to preset levels. At Stage II (346 feet, 36 inches below full) it becomes unlawful to water lawns, shrubs or gardens except a single two-hour window on Saturday or Sunday morning. Violators face a misdemeanor charge.
(2)If the water level of University Lake declines to the level of 346 feet above mean sea level (36 inches below full), a stage II water shortage warning may be declared in effect... It shall be unlawful to use water from the public water system supplied by the Orange Water and Sewer Authority for the following purposes:a.To water lawns, grass, shrubbery, trees, flower, and vegetable gardens except as follows: Customers located to the south of the centerline of NC 54 West, Main Street in Carrboro, Franklin Street, and US 15-501 Boulevard may water lawns, grass, shrubbery, trees, flower and vegetable gardens on Saturday morning between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Customers located on the south of the centerline of NC 54 West, Main Street in Carrboro, Franklin Street, and US 15-501 Boulevard may water lawns, grass, shrubbery, trees, flower and vegetable gardens on Sunday morning between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
Full Breakdown
Sections 26-56 through 26-59 of the Durham County Code apply only to county residents, businesses and institutions served, permanently or temporarily, by the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA), the utility that also serves Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Section 26-57 lets the chairman of the board of commissioners declare a water shortage by public proclamation whenever OWASA's reserve supply falls too low to protect health and safety, and Section 26-58 makes it unlawful to keep using water for a banned purpose once that proclamation issues.
Section 26-59 ties five escalating stages to the level of University Lake. Stage I begins voluntarily at 347 feet above sea level (24 inches below full) with recommended conservation steps such as four-minute showers and delaying new landscape work. , depending on which side of the NC 54 West/Franklin Street/US 15-501 corridor a customer sits. Stage II also bars filling new pools, non-recycling air conditioner cooling water, vehicle washing, hosing down pavement, ornamental fountains, unrequested restaurant drinking water and non-emergency use of fire hydrants. m.
Saturday only. Stage IV (343 feet) forbids essentially all outdoor water use, and Stage V (341 feet) triggers formal rationing. A customer who also draws water from a private well or other source must post a sign, furnished by OWASA, disclosing that supplemental source.
Violations & Fines
Any violation of Sections 26-56 through 26-59 is a misdemeanor, punishable upon conviction under Section 1-6 of the county code. Because OWASA administers the day-to-day restrictions, enforcement typically follows OWASA's own notice process for the county customers it serves, with the county's proclamation and ordinance supplying the underlying legal authority once the chairman has declared a stage in effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the watering-day rule apply everywhere in Durham County?
What are the allowed watering hours once a Stage II shortage is declared?
Who decides when a stage takes effect?
What happens if I ignore the restriction and water anyway?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Durham County
How Durham County compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Durham County to another location·View the North Carolina landscaping rules overview
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