Raleigh, NC Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- reuse water utilization permit (§8-2183)
- Mandatory hookup
- new non-potable uses, if available (§8-2185)
- Prohibited
- drinking, pools/spas, raw potable use (§8-2186)
- Buffer
- 100 ft from wells, 25 ft from surface waters
- Signage
- REUSE WATER: DO NOT DRINK required
- Penalty
- $250-$1,500 per violation per day (§8-2198)
Summary
Any Raleigh property that connects to the city's reuse (reclaimed) water system must first obtain a reuse water utilization permit under City Code § 8-2183: it is unlawful to connect to or use reuse water without one, and a new application is required for initial installation, any change of use, or change of ownership.
Sec. 8-2183. - RECLAIMED WATER PERMIT. All reuse water users shall obtain a utilization permit prior to the commencement of reuse water use. Users shall make application for initial installation, use, change of use and change of property ownership. It shall be unlawful for any person to connect to or use reuse water without first obtaining a reuse water utilization permit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 69).
Full Breakdown
Article F of Raleigh's Water and Sewer chapter (§§ 8-2180 - 8-2198) governs the City's reuse (reclaimed) water system, separate from its potable supply. §§ 8-2189-8-2192 require 'REUSE WATER: DO NOT DRINK' signage, color-coded piping, and lockable below-grade hose bibbs so the non-potable system can't be mistaken for drinking water.
Violations & Fines
§ 8-2198 sets a graduated civil penalty: $250 per day for a first-time, non-willful violation with no public-health risk; $500 per day if it's a repeat or poses a risk; $1,000 per day for a repeat violation that also poses a risk; and up to $1,500 for any willful violation. Working without a required permit separately draws $100-$500 escalating fees, and a fifth violation in five years can suspend a contractor's right to work on the system for 12 months; unlawful alteration or construction is also a misdemeanor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use reuse water to fill my swimming pool?
Is landscape irrigation with reuse water optional?
How close to a well can a reuse irrigation system spray?
What if I connect to reuse water without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Raleigh
Compare Raleigh to another location·View the North Carolina water use rules overview
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Recycled Water Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wake County handle recycled water rules.