High Point, NC Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in High Point, 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
- Citation
- High Point Code § 8-2-40(b)
- Trigger
- Declared water shortage alert
- Phase one
- Voluntary odd/even day watering
- Season
- April 15 through September 15
- Phase two penalty
- $100 to $600 per violation
Summary
High Point only restricts lawn watering to odd or even calendar days, based on address, once the city formally declares a water shortage alert, a voluntary first step that becomes mandatory, with civil penalties, if the shortage worsens.
All city water accounts and water users (residential, commercial, industrial and institutional) are requested to limit noncommercial outdoor water use such as lawn watering, sprinkler systems, pool filling and car washing to odd or even calendar days, depending on the last digit in their address:
Example
2011 E. Kivett (odd) would water on July 31 (odd). And would not water on August 2.
This odd/even plan would start on April 15 and end on September 15, and therefore would be effective immediately.
(2)Phase two—Mandatory conservation. If the water shortage emergency continues and voluntary conservation measures prove inadequate, mandatory conservation will be implemented in accordance with the water shortage management policy. The policy will be enforced by the following:a.Affecting the residential water rates whereby consumption above 15 units will be billed at double the normal rate.b.Prohibiting outdoor irrigation with treated water except for handheld hose end nozzle and drip irrigation.c.The director of public services will be empowered to negotiate with all industrial and commercial accounts to ensure that all reasonable conservation measures are implemented. Failure to implement such measures is grounds to terminate services.d.Noncompliance with any provision of the water shortage management policy, or this section will subject the violator to a civil penalty as follows:
Meters 1" and smaller Meters 1½" and greater 1st offense $100.00 $200.00
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 9 | Development Ordinance: Supplement 14).
Full Breakdown
Under § 8-2-40(b), High Point's odd/even watering rule only switches on once the director of public services and city council declare a water shortage alert triggered by peak demand exceeding treatment plant capacity. During that alert, residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional customers are asked to limit noncommercial outdoor water use, lawn watering, sprinklers, pool filling, car washing, to odd or even calendar days matching the last digit of their street address, running April 15 through September 15. If the shortage persists, the city escalates to mandatory phase-two conservation: outdoor irrigation is banned except by handheld hose or drip line, backed by civil penalties.
Violations & Fines
Once mandatory phase-two conservation is declared, unauthorized outdoor irrigation draws a civil penalty of $100 (or $200 for meters 1½ inches and larger), doubling for each repeat offense up to $300/$600, with every violating day counted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does High Point always restrict lawn watering to odd/even days?
What is the penalty for watering on the wrong day during a shortage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in High Point
How High Point compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare High Point to another location·View the North Carolina landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.