Maui County, HI Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Maui County, HI, 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
- Director declares shortage, mayor approves
- Restrictable uses
- Irrigation, lawns, vehicle washing, certain hours
- Governing sections
- §§ 14.06A.050, .060, .090
- Fine
- Up to $500 per violation
- Repeat-violation penalty
- Water meter removal, $100 reinstall fee
- Agricultural grace period
- 180 days after shortage published
Summary
When the Department of Water Supply declares a water shortage, Maui County Code section 14.06A.060(B) lets the director prohibit irrigation, lawn watering, and vehicle washing, restrict water use to certain hours or days, and bar temporary construction meters. Violating any shortage restriction carries a fine of up to $500 per violation under section 14.06A.090(A), plus possible water meter removal for repeat offenses.
A.In declaring a water shortage, the director shall designate the appropriate stage of the water shortage as follows:1.Stage 1. A stage 1 water shortage shall exist if the director determines that anticipated water demand in an area is projected to exceed available water supply by 1 to 16 percent. ... 3.Stage 3. A stage 3 water shortage shall exist if the director determines that anticipated water demand in an area is projected to exceed available water supply by 31 percent or more. ... B.When a water shortage is declared, the director may apply schedules, restrictions, or measures as follows:1.Prohibit water usage during certain hours or days of the week.2.Prohibit the use of water for irrigation, lawns, personal washing of vehicles, or other nonessential activities.3.Prohibit the use of temporary construction meters.4.Institute water shortage water rates as set forth in the annual budget. ... A.Any consumer violating the schedules, restrictions, or measures established by the director pursuant to this chapter may be charged with a violation and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine of not more than $500 for each violation.
Full Breakdown
050 whenever supply becomes inadequate in an area because of drought, infrastructure failure, or another qualifying event. 060(A) sets three severity stages tied to how far projected demand outpaces supply: Stage 1 covers a 1-to-16-percent shortfall, and Stage 3 applies once demand is projected to exceed supply by 31 percent or more. 060(B) authorizes the director to prohibit water use during certain hours or days of the week, to prohibit irrigation, lawn watering, personal vehicle washing, or other nonessential uses outright, to bar temporary construction meters, and to institute water shortage rates set in the annual budget.
070. 080 requires the department only to request, not mandate, reduced use from agricultural consumers for the first 180 days after the shortage is published, after which they are treated like every other consumer. 100.
Violations & Fines
A consumer who violates a declared water shortage restriction, such as watering a lawn on a prohibited day or irrigating outside permitted hours, can be charged and fined up to $500 for each violation under section 14.06A.090(A). A second violation lets the director physically remove the consumer's water meter under section 14.06A.090(B), subject to appeal to the Board of Water Supply, and reinstallation then costs a $100 fee plus the water system development fee under section 14.06A.090(C).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Maui County restrict my irrigation or lawn watering?
What's the fine for violating a Maui County water shortage restriction?
Do farmers face the same watering restrictions during a shortage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maui County
How Maui County compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Maui County to another location·View the Hawaii landscaping rules overview
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