Water Use Rules in Washington (2026)
25 rules on the books across Washington, 18 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Turf Replacement Rebates
Rebate programs paying residents to replace turf with drought-tolerant landscaping, including per-square-foot incentives and approved plant lists.
Lynnwood
Some RestrictionsNew landscaping in Lynnwood cannot rely mainly on a thirsty lawn: the Unified Development Code's xeriscaping standard…
Read full rule →Marysville
Some RestrictionsMarysville caps turf and other high-water landscaping at 40 percent of a commercial or multifamily project's landscaped…
Read full rule →Pasco
Light RestrictionsPasco lets property owners reduce turf through xeriscaping under PMC 25.180.030 and .080, but does not mandate turf…
Read full rule →Spokane County
Light RestrictionsSpokane County's default landscaping rule requires an automatic irrigation system on every required planting area, but…
Read full rule →Recycled Water Rules
Where purple-pipe recycled water is required for irrigation, dual-plumbing requirements for new construction, and cross-connection-control rules.
Yakima
Significant RestrictionsYakima prohibits irrigating with graywater or reclaimed water inside Wellhead Protection Zones 1 and 2, the…
Read full rule →Kennewick
Some RestrictionsWithin Kennewick's critical aquifer recharge areas, reclaimed water reuse projects must follow the City's Ecology- and…
Read full rule →King County
Some RestrictionsKing County's wastewater utility must actively pursue reclaimed water reuse and keeps exclusive ownership of all…
Read full rule →Pasco
Some RestrictionsIn Pasco's aquifer recharge areas, reclaimed water reuse projects must follow the adopted water and sewer comprehensive…
Read full rule →Pierce County
Some RestrictionsPierce County's Water Utility, created by PCC 7.10.010, exists in part "to establish reclaimed water services to…
Read full rule →Thurston County
Some RestrictionsThurston County allows irrigation with Class A reclaimed water at agronomic rates across all critical aquifer recharge…
Read full rule →Yakima County
Some RestrictionsYakima County regulates reclaimed water reuse for surface percolation or direct groundwater recharge under its Critical…
Read full rule →Leak Reporting Duty
Property owner's duty to report and repair water leaks within a set window once notified, plus how utilities issue leak-adjustment credits and impose penalties.
Auburn
Some RestrictionsAuburn inspectors can enter any building served by city water to look for leaky pipes or fixtures wasting water, and…
Read full rule →Everett
Some RestrictionsEverett property owners must keep piping and fixtures on their side of the meter leak-free, and must fix a leak once…
Read full rule →Kennewick
Some RestrictionsKennewick customers must repair leaking private service lines at their own expense once notified, or the Water…
Read full rule →Kent
Some RestrictionsKent property owners who discover a water leak can apply to the finance director for a bill credit under KCC 7.02.240…
Read full rule →Kirkland
Some RestrictionsKirkland customers must repair any defective or leaking pipe or plumbing fixture themselves under KMC 15.16.030. The…
Read full rule →Lynnwood
Some RestrictionsLynnwood property owners who discover a plumbing leak must report it and apply for a billing adjustment within 60 days…
Read full rule →Marysville
Some RestrictionsMarysville water customers get 48 hours from discovering a leak, or from city notice of one, to fix it before it's a…
Read full rule →Pierce County
Some RestrictionsIf a leak in your water service pipe inflated your Pierce County sewer bill, PCC 13.13.055(H) lets you request a…
Read full rule →Port Townsend
Some RestrictionsPort Townsend lets customers apply in writing for a bill credit after fixing a hidden service-line leak, capped at $500.
Read full rule →Renton
Some RestrictionsRenton grants only one water billing adjustment per service connection every five years for a leak on the customer's…
Read full rule →Seattle
Some RestrictionsSeattle property owners and lessees must keep service pipes and connections in good repair and protected from freezing…
Read full rule →Yakima
Some RestrictionsYakima Municipal Code makes property owners responsible for all leaks on privately owned water service lines and mains…
Read full rule →Yakima County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Yakima County, customers on the county water system must repair leaks on their side of the meter as…
Read full rule →Puyallup
Light RestrictionsPuyallup Municipal Code § 14.01.140 lets a customer who fixes a leak apply in writing for a billing credit, with repair…
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