Paulding County, GA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Paulding County, GA, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Daily window
- 4 p.m. to 10 a.m.
- Authority
- O.C.G.A. §12-5-7 (2010)
- Drought schedule
- Two days/week, odd-even
- District
- Metro North Georgia Water
- Exempt
- Drip, handwatering, food gardens
Summary
Under Georgia's Water Stewardship Act, Paulding County allows landscape watering any day but only between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. As a Metro North Georgia Water District member, the county tightens to a two-day odd/even schedule when Georgia EPD declares a drought.
Irrigation of personal food gardens; Irrigation of new and replanted plant, seed, or turf in landscapes, golf courses, or sports turf fields during installation and for a period of 30 days immediately following the date of installation; Drip irrigation or irrigation using soaker hoses; Handwatering with a hose with automatic cutoff or handheld container; Use of water withdrawn from private water wells or surface water.
Full Breakdown
Outdoor watering across Paulding follows the permanent 2010 Water Stewardship Act rule (O.C.G.A. §12-5-7): irrigation is allowed any day but only between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m., skipping the midday evaporation window. Hand-watering with an automatic cutoff, drip and soaker hoses, food gardens, newly installed turf for 30 days, and private wells are exempt at any hour. Paulding sits inside the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District, so when Georgia EPD declares a Level 2 drought the schedule drops to two assigned days a week by odd or even address. The Paulding County Water System (770-222-6850) enforces locally.
Violations & Fines
Watering outside the allowed window or a declared drought schedule brings warnings, then escalating fines and possible service action under Paulding County Water System rules. There is no direct state penalty on the homeowner.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I water my lawn in Paulding County?
Do the rules change in a drought?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Paulding County
How Paulding County compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Paulding County to another location·View the Georgia landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.