Gwinnett County, GA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Sec. 106-59 sits inside the Gwinnett County Water Conservation and Drought Restriction Ordinance (Sec. 106-54), which applies to every person and jurisdiction that receives potable or reuse water from the county, drought or no drought. The definitions section, Sec. 106-56, defines "water waste" as "the excessive expenditure or application of water from the county water system that results in water flowing down any gutter, street, storm drain, or adjacent property," and Sec. 106-59 translates that into three concrete triggers: a trail of flowing water reaching more than 50 feet off the property, irrigation that continues for more than 20 minutes during precipitation, and a failure to repair a controllable leak.

Enforcement runs through the county's Department of Water Resources under Sec. 00 for any single day, with unpaid balances adding a ten percent penalty after 30 days plus ten percent monthly interest. A water user can dispute a fine by paying it in full and filing a written appeal within 14 days, triggering an administrative hearing, with a refund if the appeal succeeds. Beyond administrative fines, Sec. 00 fines plus up to ten days to serve or 20 days of a work-alternative program by the third citation. Sec. 00 restoration fee to turn service back on.