New Orleans, LA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Unlike most US cities, New Orleans rarely restricts lawn or landscape watering. The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) treats Mississippi River water at the Carrollton and Algiers plants, providing abundant supply. There is no permanent watering day schedule, no time-of-day rule, and no surcharge for irrigation use beyond standard volumetric water rates. Restrictions only apply during emergencies. During boil-water advisories (which have occurred during freezes in 2018, 2021, and 2022 due to power loss at pumping stations), residents are asked to limit non-essential outdoor use. The SWBNO may also issue conservation advisories during major water main breaks or saltwater wedge events when low Mississippi flow allows Gulf saltwater to migrate upstream toward intakes. The 2023 saltwater wedge prompted voluntary conservation requests in lower Plaquemines Parish but did not extend to Orleans Parish. Property owners should focus on proper irrigation timing for plant health rather than regulatory compliance, since New Orleans receives roughly 64 inches of annual rainfall, making heavy supplemental watering rarely necessary outside of summer dry spells. Stormwater management, not water conservation, is the dominant water policy concern locally.