Murfreesboro, TN Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Murfreesboro, TN, 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
- Mayor- or Council-declared water shortage emergency
- Banned use
- Lawn, garden, tree & shrub watering
- Normal times
- No standing watering-day schedule
- Enforcement
- Written notice, then possible disconnection
- Reconnect fee
- $50 plus compliance statement
Summary
Murfreesboro doesn't restrict lawn watering day-to-day, but once the Mayor or City Council declares a water shortage emergency, watering lawns, gardens, trees, and shrubs becomes a banned 'nonessential use' under the water conservation ordinance.
(B)Nonessential use category 1. The following uses are declared to be nonessential uses, category 1:(1)Washing sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts, patios or other exterior paved areas, except by the City for the public safety.(2)Filling or refilling a swimming pool.(3)Noncommercial washing of privately owned motor vehicles, trailers and boats.(4)Any use of water from a fire hydrant except for fighting fires, or use by the City.(5)Watering of lawns, gardens, landscaped areas, trees, shrubs or other plants.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 18 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 33's water-conservation article lets the Mayor declare a shortage emergency when reservoir levels drop past set trigger points: for example, the Walter Hill Reservoir falling more than two feet below the dam crest. Once declared, 'nonessential use category 1,' which explicitly includes watering lawns, gardens, landscaped areas, trees, shrubs, or other plants, is prohibited City-wide alongside pool filling, vehicle washing, and sidewalk washing. The City Council can independently declare or extend the ban. There's no routine odd/even-day or time-of-day watering schedule outside an active emergency.
Violations & Fines
A violator gets a written notice to correct the violation; failing to comply can lead to water service disconnection, a $50 reconnection fee, and a signed compliance statement (§ 33-108).
Frequently Asked Questions
What days can I water my lawn in Murfreesboro?
What happens if I water my lawn during a declared shortage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Murfreesboro
How Murfreesboro compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Murfreesboro to another location·View the Tennessee landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.