Jersey City, NJ Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

City Code Chapter 337, § 337-14 lets the Mayor issue an executive order declaring a water emergency whenever the Jersey City Administration Department adopts water use restrictions and notifies the state Board of Public Utilities and DEP, or whenever the Mayor is otherwise satisfied an emergency exists. The order identifies the affected part of the city, which can be the entire municipality, and picks one of two restriction levels: a complete ban on outside water usage, including watering lawns and plants, filling pools and washing vehicles, or an alternate-day schedule where even house or box numbers water on even days and odd numbers on odd days, with all outside watering banned on the 31st day of any month.

The Mayor can also impose any other reasonable restriction tied to the emergency. Orders take effect immediately on issuance and lapse automatically at the end of the specified period, capped at 90 days unless extended or repealed; the Mayor must end the order early if the emergency is abated. Restrictions apply to residents and tenants except where a bona fide health emergency exists, and to non-exempt businesses. Because the rule is triggered only by a declared emergency rather than standing citywide, homeowners and landscapers should check for an active executive order before assuming irrigation is unrestricted, since the restriction level and the affected zone are set individually in each order.