Virginia Beach, VA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Virginia Beach Public Utilities (VBPU) provides water service to approximately 450,000 residents through raw water from Lake Gaston transmitted via the Lake Gaston Pipeline to treatment at the City of Norfolk's Moores Bridges plant. Unlike some Virginia localities, Virginia Beach does not impose a fixed year-round odd/even irrigation schedule during normal supply conditions. Instead, restrictions are activated by Virginia DEQ drought declarations or by local supply emergencies under Virginia Beach City Code Chapter 37 (Water Supply). During a drought watch, the city typically requests voluntary conservation. At drought warning, mandatory restrictions are enacted: lawn irrigation may be limited to two days per week based on address parity and restricted to early-morning or evening hours to reduce evaporation. At drought emergency, all non-essential outdoor water use can be banned, including car washing at home, filling pools, and power washing. Vegetable gardens, new sod establishment with a permit, and hand watering with a shutoff nozzle are commonly exempt. Enforcement is by VBPU and Code Enforcement; civil penalties typically escalate from warnings through fines of up to $250 per violation. Rain sensors are required on new automatic irrigation systems under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.