Raleigh, NC Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Raleigh Water enforces tiered water use restrictions under City Code Chapter 8, Article B, adopted in compliance with North Carolina General Statute Sec 143-355 and the state's Water Shortage Response Plan. Year-round under normal conditions (Stage 0), irrigation of lawns, gardens, and athletic fields is permitted only on odd-numbered calendar days for odd-numbered addresses and even-numbered days for even addresses. Watering is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. regardless of address to reduce evaporation. Hand watering with a shutoff nozzle, drip irrigation, and new sod establishment for 60 days after installation are exempt. Stage 1 (Voluntary Conservation) is declared when Falls Lake reaches 9 feet below full pool and asks customers to reduce use by 10 percent. Stage 2 (Mandatory Restrictions), triggered at 12 feet below full pool, limits outdoor irrigation to twice weekly and adds a drought surcharge of $2 per 1,000 gallons over baseline. Stage 3 bans all outdoor irrigation, car washing at home, and ornamental fountain operation. Stage 4 imposes emergency restrictions including indoor use cutbacks. Raleigh Water serves roughly 600,000 customers across Wake County, Garner, Rolesville, Wendell, Knightdale, Zebulon, and Wake Forest under a regional merger agreement. Enforcement officers patrol during declared stages and issue warnings on first offense, $250 fines for second, $500 for third, and water shutoff for persistent violations. Rain sensors on new automatic irrigation systems are required under UDO Sec 7.2.4.