Worcester County, MD Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Subtitle NR 2:II, Water Conservation, was added 5-7-2002 by Bill No. 02-3. Under § NR 2-201(g) it applies throughout the County except within incorporated municipalities, so Ocean City, Berlin, Snow Hill and Pocomoke City sit outside it. A resolution can cover separate geographic areas or sanitary service areas, with different requirements for lack of supply, lack of production capability and overuse.

Section NR 2-201 does not print a fixed watering schedule. A water supply emergency is a condition, determined by resolution of the County Commissioners, in which water supplies could be or could become insufficient for current or projected needs. Outside use means applying water to any area or object outside a building or structure, including watering plant materials and washing structures, motor vehicles and watercraft.

At Stage I (§ NR 2-201(h)), the County department that administers the subtitle reports a likely emergency and the Commissioners can issue a water shortage warning by resolution. Mandatory measures can be declared, and voluntary measures are encouraged through a targeted public information program. The listed limits cover watering of lawns, grass, shrubbery, trees, flower and vegetable gardens except by hand-held hose, container, or drip irrigation system, filling or topping off pools, washing vehicles, washing driveways and sidewalks, and serving water in a restaurant other than upon request.

At Stage II (§ NR 2-201(i) and (j)), the Commissioners declare the emergency and impose restrictions or moratoria, which can include postponing landscaping, suspending County laws requiring completion of landscaping, limited hours for commercial car washes, suspending building permits and suspending connections to water systems.

Resolutions do not apply to agriculture (including nurseries), garden centers, fire fighting, or essential outside activities for the public benefit (§ NR 2-201(c)). The designated department can grant a waiver on an approved application where a resolution imposes a significant financial burden, actual hardship or dangerous impact on an individual to a greater extent than on the public at-large, and an applicant aggrieved by the decision can appeal to the County Commissioners (§ NR 2-201(d)).