Water restrictions in Oak Lawn, IL — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Oak Lawn operates its own water utility, distributing Lake Michigan water purchased from Chicago and reselling to several south suburbs. The village enforces odd/even address lawn sprinkling rules from May 15 to September 15, typically banning daytime watering.
Oak Lawn operates a municipal water system that draws Lake Michigan water from the City of Chicago and resells to residents and several neighboring communities. From May 15 through September 15 each year, Oak Lawn enforces outdoor watering restrictions following the Lake Michigan water allocation rules issued by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Under typical rules, properties with odd-numbered addresses water only on odd-numbered calendar days, and even-numbered addresses on even days. Watering during peak afternoon hours (typically noon to 6:00 PM) is prohibited. Hand-watering with a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle and drip irrigation are generally allowed. During severe drought, the village may impose stricter Stage 2 or emergency restrictions banning all outdoor watering. Contact the Oak Lawn Public Works Water Division at (708) 499-7850 for current restrictions.
First-time sprinkling violations typically receive warnings. Subsequent violations can result in fines from $75 to $250 per offense. Emergency drought restrictions carry higher penalties and can include water service disconnection for repeat violators.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Cook County.
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