Hoover, AL Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Hoover, AL, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Standing restriction
- None absent a declared emergency
- Trigger
- Mayor declares water emergency
- Stage source
- Local water authority's drought plan
- Max penalty
- $200 fine, 30 days jail/day
Summary
Hoover has no standing watering schedule: restrictions only take effect once the mayor declares a water emergency, following the stage set by the affected water authority's drought plan.
Except as otherwise provided in this article and upon the declaration of a water emergency by the mayor as set forth in section 11-162, the use and withdrawal of water by any person in the city shall thereafter be restricted as set forth herein. Water restrictions imposed on persons and property within the city shall be limited to those persons and properties serviced by local water authorities predicting water shortages and/or placing restrictions on water usage. The prohibited water uses shall be classified by stage of drought and set forth in the most recently adopted drought management plan adopted by the board of the affected local water authority.
(Ord. No. 01-1848, 12-3-01; Ord. No. 07-2148, § II, 6-18-07; Ord. No. 16-2315, § I, 10-24-16)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 11-163 doesn't fix watering days year-round. It only restricts water use, including irrigation, once the mayor declares a water service emergency under Sec. 11-162 and publishes the declaration for three consecutive days in a local newspaper. Which stage applies then depends on the most recently adopted drought management plan of the water authority serving the property: the code defines water as supplied by the Birmingham Water Works and Sewer Board. Violating an active declaration carries up to a $200 fine and 30 days in jail per day of violation.
Violations & Fines
Up to a $200 fine plus court costs, or up to 30 days in jail, for each day a declared water emergency restriction is violated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there fixed lawn-watering days in Hoover?
Which utility's drought plan applies?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hoover
How Hoover compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Hoover to another location·View the Alabama landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jefferson County handle water restrictions.