Wake County, NC Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Wake County, NC, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Provider (most)
- Raleigh Public Utilities
- Stage triggers
- Falls Lake / demand
- Stage 2
- Odd/even mandatory
- Year-round
- Early/late only
- Wells
- Unregulated
Summary
Wake County water customers in unincorporated areas served by City of Raleigh Public Utilities follow Raleigh's Water Conservation Ordinance (Code Ch. 8). Odd/even day watering may be triggered during droughts. Each Wake municipality has its own conservation tier rules.
Water only between midnight and 10 a.m. Odd-numbered addresses: Tuesdays; even-numbered addresses: Wednesdays. Handheld hoses and drip irrigation: Allowed anytime. Restaurants will serve tap water only upon request. Hotels, motels, and B&Bs will ask guests staying more than one night to reuse towels and bedsheets. Residents who are caught violating the restrictions will be given a warning. After the first infraction, violators will receive civil penalties for subsequent violations. Properties using irrigation well systems are specifically exempt from these rules.
Full Breakdown
Most of unincorporated Wake County is served by City of Raleigh Public Utilities or one of the Wake Towns' systems. Raleigh's water conservation tiers (Code §8-2073) trigger at four levels based on Falls Lake water levels and demand: Stage 1 (voluntary), Stage 2 (mandatory odd/even outdoor watering), Stage 3 (more restrictions), Stage 4 (essential uses only). Year-round, irrigation is generally limited to early-morning or evening hours. Customers on private wells are unregulated by the county but may face NC DWR rules for high-capacity wells. Each Wake town with its own water system (Cary, Apex, Holly Springs) operates parallel conservation tiers.
Violations & Fines
Stage 2+ violations: citation under Raleigh §8-2073, typical $200-1,000 per violation. Repeat: water-service suspension possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the current Raleigh restrictions?
Does this apply if I have a private well?
Can I irrigate from a rain barrel during restrictions?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wake County
How Wake County compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Wake County to another location·View the North Carolina landscaping rules overview
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