Haverhill, MA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

The Director or Deputy Director of Public Works may declare a State of Water Supply Conservation under § 250-25 whenever water shortage threatens the City's supply. Enforcement escalates through four trigger levels tied to Kenoza Lake's supply capacity: a 5% drop triggers a Watch (voluntary notice), 10% a Warning (voluntary conservation), 20% an Emergency (mandatory compliance), and 35% a Critical stage (mandatory plus added measures). Under § 250-26, the declaration can impose restricted watering days, an hourly watering window, or an outright ban on nonessential outdoor water use, and Subsection D specifically bans automatic sprinkler and irrigation-system use outright once triggered.

Nonessential use is defined broadly, covering anything not needed for health, safety, food or fiber production, livestock, or a business's core function, such as golf course tee and green irrigation or nursery stock maintenance. Section 250-26.1 carves out exceptions, including harvested stormwater irrigation, agriculture, hand-held hose or drip watering of gardens and flowers, and City-approved irrigation of newly seeded or resodded lawns during May and September. Public notice must run in a local newspaper or comparable outlet within 48 hours of any declaration under § 250-27, and MassDEP must also receive the required notification form. The restriction lifts only when the Director or Deputy Director terminates the declaration under § 250-28.