Lawrence, KS Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Lawrence, KS, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Trigger
- City commission resolution declaring an emergency
- Voluntary curb
- Lawn/shrub/tree sprinkling, § 19-904
- Mandatory curb
- Water-class restrictions, § 19-905(b)
- First offense fine
- Minimum $100.00 plus up to 30 days jail
- Repeat offense fine
- Mandatory $200.00 plus up to 30 days jail
- Enforcing department
- Municipal Services and Operations
Summary
In the City of Lawrence, outdoor lawn and garden watering can be restricted only after the city commission declares a water watch, warning, or emergency by resolution. Once declared, the city manager may order mandatory cutbacks under City Code § 19-905, including limits on Class 1 outdoor watering uses defined in § 19-902.
Whenever the governing body of the city finds that a circumstance exists by reason of a shortage of water or inability to produce water needed for essential uses, it shall be empowered to declare by resolution that a water watch, warning, or emergency exists and that it will encourage voluntary conservation or impose mandatory restrictions on water use during the period of the crisis. ... (b)Restrictions on the uses of water in one or more classes of water use, wholly or in part.
Full Breakdown
City Code Chapter 19, Article IX sets Lawrence's water conservation scheme, and none of it switches on until the city commission acts. Under § 19-903(a), the governing body must first find a shortage or an inability to produce the water the city needs for essential uses, then declare, by resolution, a water watch, warning, or emergency; that resolution is what turns voluntary encouragement into a legal restriction, and it stays in force until the commission resolves that the crisis has ended. Once a watch or warning is declared, § 19-904 lets the city manager call for voluntary cutbacks on sprinkling lawns, shrubs and trees (golf courses included), washing cars, and running pools, fountains and evaporative air conditioners.
If that is not enough, § 19-905 arms the city manager with mandatory measures: suspending new water hookups except fire hydrants, rationing by formula or per-customer allotment, capping or banning water waste outright, and, most relevant to yard irrigation, restricting any of the four defined classes of water use in whole or in part. Class 1, defined at § 19-902, is exactly outdoor watering: gardens, lawns, trees, shrubs, parks, golf courses, playing fields, pools and vehicle washing. The governing body can also adopt emergency water rates under § 19-906, such as increasing-block or excess-demand surcharges, to price down water use during the crisis.
The Municipal Services and Operations department administers the program and can disconnect service outright for violations under § 19-908, but only after mailed notice and a chance to request a hearing before the governing body or its designated hearing officer.
Violations & Fines
Violating a declared water restriction is a municipal offense prosecuted in municipal court under City Code § 19-908, with each day of violation a separate offense. A first conviction carries a minimum $100.00 fine plus up to 30 days in jail; a second or later conviction carries a mandatory $200.00 fine plus up to 30 days in jail. Before service is disconnected, the consumer gets mailed notice and can request a hearing, and reconnection requires the fee set in the city fee schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lawrence have permanent watering days?
What outdoor water use gets restricted first?
What is the fine for violating a declared water restriction?
Can Lawrence shut off my water for violating a restriction?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lawrence
How Lawrence compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Lawrence to another location·View the Kansas landscaping rules overview
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