Chicago Department of Water Management restricts lawn sprinkling under MCC 11-12-460 to evening and morning hours during summer, with full bans declared during water emergencies and odd-even schedules in suburban-style enforcement zones.
Chicago draws drinking water from Lake Michigan, but sprinkling rules still apply under MCC Ch. 11-12. Standard restrictions limit lawn sprinkling to between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. from May 15 through September 15 to reduce evaporation and pressure drops on the distribution system. The Department of Water Management may declare a water emergency limiting all non-essential outdoor use, banning car washing at home, fountain operation, and refilling of pools. Hand-held hose watering, drip irrigation, and use of recycled or rainwater are exempt. Suburban communities buying Chicago water through the Department of Water Management may impose additional odd-even address rules.
First violations draw warnings; subsequent offenses carry fines from $100 to $500 per day under MCC 11-12-590. Water emergency violations may rise to $1,000 per day with possible service shut-off for repeat commercial offenders.
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See how Chicago's lawn watering restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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