Westchester County, NY Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Westchester County, NY, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Trigger
- County Executive drought declaration
- Daily window
- 4 hrs, 5-9am & 7-9pm
- Schedule
- odd/even by address number
- First offense fine
- up to $100
Summary
Once the County Executive declares a drought emergency, lawns may be watered only 4 hours a day in early-morning or evening windows, on odd or even days matching your street address.
Watering of lawns will be prohibited if there has been 0.1 inches or more of precipitation within the previous 24 hours. Watering of lawns at other times will be restricted to a total maximum of four hours per day between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. only. Persons or businesses located at even-numbered addresses may water lawns on even-numbered days only.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 47).
Full Breakdown
Under Westchester County Code § 693.11, once the County Executive declares a 'drought' emergency, lawn watering is capped at four hours a day between 5-9 a.m. and 7-9 p.m., is barred entirely within 24 hours of 0.1 inches of rain, and follows an odd/even schedule tied to street address number. Newly seeded lawns get a six-week daily exemption if mulched. These restrictions only take effect after the County Executive formally declares an emergency and publishes notice: they are not a standing, year-round rule.
Violations & Fines
Violating watering restrictions during a declared drought emergency is a fineable offense: up to $100 for a first offense, rising to $1,000 for a third, plus up to 15 days' imprisonment for repeat violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lawn watering restricted year-round in Westchester County?
Can I water a newly seeded lawn during a drought emergency?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westchester County
How Westchester County compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·New York rules heatmap·Compare Westchester County to another location·View the New York landscaping rules overview
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