Lake County, IL Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Lake County, IL, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Watering day rule
- Odd/even address matches odd/even date
- Daily ban window
- 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
- Restricted season
- May 15 through September 15
- Exempt
- New lawns under 3 months, hand cans
- Enforcement
- Public Works Director; fines, disconnection
Summary
Lake County's public water system bans outdoor watering from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day from May 15 through September 15, and limits lawn and garden watering to odd or even days matching the property's address.
(a) The use of water from the county water supply system for landscape irrigation ... and all outside water use including washing cars and vehicles and filling pools is prohibited between the hours 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., from May 15 through September 15 of each year. New lawns (less than three months old) and hand held water cans shall be exempted from this provision. (b) Customers with even-numbered addresses shall be limited to watering ... only on even-numbered days. Occupants with odd-numbered addresses shall be limited to ... only on odd-numbered days.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-15: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 26-0618, passed 6-9-2026 | State legislation current through ILCS Pamphlet 2025 #5).
Full Breakdown
Customers of Lake County's Public Works water system may not irrigate lawns, gardens, shrubs or vehicles, or fill pools, between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. daily from May 15 through September 15. Outside that window, even-numbered addresses may water only on even-numbered days and odd-numbered addresses only on odd-numbered days, based on the billing address. New lawns under three months old and hand-held watering cans are exempt. The Public Works Director can also declare a chronic water shortage and impose tighter or total outdoor watering bans.
Violations & Fines
Violations bring a fine under the county's Administrative Adjudication Ordinance, escalating from a warning to a notice of violation; the Director may also disconnect water service or seek injunctive relief.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply everywhere in Lake County?
Can I water my lawn at noon in July?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
How Lake County compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Lake County to another location·View the Illinois landscaping rules overview
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