Old Bridge, NJ Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Chapter 519, Water Shortage Emergency, was adopted by the Township Council under Ord. No. C-152 (Sec. 4-9 of the 1973 Revised General Ordinances) to protect Old Bridge Township's water supply during a shortage. Under § 519-2, the Mayor is empowered, from time to time and at his discretion, to determine whether the municipal water supply holds an adequate amount of water for the health, safety and welfare of residents. If the Mayor determines the supply is insufficient, § 519-3 lets him declare an emergency and, at his discretion, prohibit water use for sprinkling lawns, gardens, trees or shrubs, filling private swimming pools, washing motor vehicles, or any other use he deems nonessential.

The chapter does not set a fixed watering schedule or specific banned days in advance; the restriction only takes effect once the Mayor formally invokes it, and the Code requires that due notice of such prohibitions be given to Township residents. Because Chapter 519 contains no penalty section of its own, enforcement of a declared water-use ban falls back on the Township's general penalty ordinance, Code § 1-3: for any Code violation without a specific fine attached, the maximum penalty on conviction is a fine of up to $1,250, imprisonment for up to 90 days, a period of community service of up to 90 days, or a combination of these.

Under § 1-4, each day a prohibited use of water continues after an emergency is declared counts as a separate violation, so noncompliance can compound quickly during a multi-day shortage. Because the ban is discretionary and event-driven rather than permanent, residents should watch for a formal Township declaration rather than assume set watering days apply year-round.