Lafayette, LA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Lafayette, LA, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Mandatory season
- May 1 – September 30 each year
- Odd addresses
- Tue/Thu/Sat, midnight–2:00 p.m.
- Even addresses
- Wed/Fri/Sun, midnight–2:00 p.m.
- First offense
- Written warning only
- Fifth+ offense
- $500.00 fine, name published
- Enforced by
- Lafayette Utilities System (LUS)
- Appeal window
- 15 days, Parking Adjudication Bureau
Summary
Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government runs a mandatory odd/even outdoor watering schedule every summer under Code of Ordinances § 94-302. From May 1 through September 30, odd-numbered addresses may water lawns and gardens only Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and even-numbered addresses only Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, both limited to midnight through 2:00 p.m., with all other watering in that window prohibited.
The following water conservation measures shall apply to all persons and/or properties situated within the city limits of the city and the unincorporated areas of the parish... (1)Mandatory water conservation restrictions shall be in effect from May 1 to September 30 of each year.(2)...a.Owners and occupiers of residences and businesses with odd numbered street addresses shall be permitted to water their lawns and gardens only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between midnight and 2:00 p.m.b.Owners and occupiers of residences and businesses with even-numbered street addresses shall be permitted to water their lawns and gardens only on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays between midnight and 2:00 p.m....c.Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and in subsection 6 of this section, watering of lawns and gardens of residences and businesses affected by this ordinance from May 1 to September 30 of each year shall be prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
Section 94-302 applies to everyone inside city limits plus unincorporated Lafayette Parish areas served by Lafayette Utilities System (LUS), including wholesale water-district customers. ; even-numbered addresses water Wednesday, Friday and Sunday in the same window; properties without a street address follow the odd-address schedule. Outside those windows, watering of lawns and gardens is prohibited during the mandatory period. LUS's director can also impose voluntary or mandatory conservation measures at any other time of year based on sound utility practice, and the city-parish president can trigger emergency restrictions under the Louisiana Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, La.
S. 29:721 et seq. Section 94-302(6) carves out several exceptions: hand watering with a shut-off nozzle and drip irrigation are exempt outright, as is watering of golf courses, athletic fields and public parks that don't rely on LUS potable water; commercial nurseries and car washes are also excepted. , but only after the property owner notifies LUS of the planting. Enforcement inspections are carried out by individuals designated by the LUS director under § 94-303(9), who can issue citations to responsible parties, owners, managers, or whoever receives the water bill.
Violations & Fines
Section 94-303 sets escalating civil fines: a first offense draws only a written warning, a second offense $50.00, a third $100.00 plus publication of the responsible party's name in the official journal, a fourth $200.00 plus publication, and a fifth or subsequent offense $500.00 plus publication. Prior offenses count for three years. Fines post to the customer's LUS utility bill if unpaid or unappealed after 15 days, and nonpayment can trigger utility disconnection; LCG may also seek injunctive relief.
Frequently Asked Questions
What days can I water my lawn in Lafayette?
Are hand watering or drip irrigation allowed anytime?
Can I water new sod outside the schedule?
What happens if I'm cited for watering on the wrong day?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lafayette
How Lafayette compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Lafayette to another location·View the Louisiana landscaping rules overview
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