Water restrictions in Richmond, VA — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Richmond draws water from the James River and generally has adequate supply. During drought watches or warnings declared by Virginia DEQ or the city, voluntary and mandatory restrictions may apply. Richmond Department of Public Utilities activates drought response plans including outdoor watering schedules when needed.
Richmond has no permanent year-round outdoor watering schedule. The Richmond Department of Public Utilities implements drought response measures only when triggered by low James River flows or reservoir conditions. Restrictions typically limit outdoor irrigation to specific days based on address and time of day, and may prohibit washing sidewalks, filling pools, and non-essential uses. Commercial agricultural and public health uses are usually exempt.
Violations during mandatory restrictions can result in warnings, then fines starting at 100 dollars and escalating with repeat offenses.
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See how Richmond's water restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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