Ridgewood, NJ Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Village of Ridgewood Code §§ 269-43 through 269-50, Chapter 269 Article IV, govern irrigation and water emergencies for the Department of Water Supply of the Village of Ridgewood, which also serves parts of Wyckoff Township and the Boroughs of Glen Rock and Midland Park. Under § 269-48, the year-round schedule limits conventional irrigation systems or devices on nongovernmental properties to Tuesday and Saturday for odd-numbered addresses and Wednesday and Sunday for even-numbered addresses; governmental properties may irrigate only Monday and Friday. Hand-held hoses and drip or micro-irrigation systems are exempt from the day schedule and allowed any day.

m. Every automatic system must carry a working rain sensor that interrupts the irrigation cycle once a quarter inch of rain has fallen. The Village Manager, in consultation with the Director of Ridgewood Water, may declare Stage III (pending/critical) or Stage IV (critical) drought emergencies under § 269-45; Stage III limits all properties to hand-held-hose watering on the same odd/even day pattern with no irrigation at all on Monday, Thursday or Friday, while Stage IV bans irrigation outright except by permitted hand-held hose. Car washing, house washing and pool filling are also barred during Stage III and IV under § 269-48(C).

Limited exceptions, such as new sod establishment within 21 days of planting or smart-controller-permitted irrigation, require a Ridgewood Water permit and are automatically denied to customers more than 120 days delinquent on their bill.