Alpharetta Water Restrictions 2026
Fulton County · Georgia
Published:
Restrictions Active - Year-Round + EPD Level 1 - April 2026
3
Days/Week
Before 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
Written warning first; $100–$500 escalating per local ordinance
Max Fine
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| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Odd addresses | Monday & Wednesday & Friday |
| Even addresses | Tuesday & Thursday & Saturday |
Allowed Watering Hours
Georgia Water Stewardship Act of 2010 baseline (year-round, statewide): outdoor irrigation is prohibited 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (6-hour blackout). Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is permitted any day, any time. Drip irrigation and soaker hoses are permitted any day during the allowed hours. Odd-numbered addresses water Mon/Wed/Fri before 10 AM or after 4 PM; even-numbered addresses water Tue/Thu/Sat. New sod or seed installations qualify for a 21-day establishment variance. EPD Level 1 (active April 27, 2026) imposes a public information campaign but does not add restrictions beyond the year-round baseline; Level 2 escalation would limit watering to 2 days/week and ban residential vehicle washing + pressure washing.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Hand watering with a shut-off hose is permitted any day, any time.
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
Written warning first; $100–$500 escalating per local ordinance
First offence: written warning. Repeat offences: $100–$500 fines depending on the municipality. Local water departments and code enforcement issue warnings and citations under the Water Stewardship Act baseline.
Citations begin Year-round (Water Stewardship Act 2010); EPD Level 1 declared April 27, 2026🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Georgia HOA law (OCGA 44-3-235) limits HOA authority to enforce rules that conflict with state law. The Water Stewardship Act of 2010 plus any EPD drought declaration are state law, HOAs cannot fine homeowners for brown or dormant lawns caused by compliance with these restrictions. Document compliance with your city's watering schedule if your HOA contests a dormant lawn.
If your homeowners association sends a violation notice for a dormant or brown lawn during the current restriction period, respond in writing citing the applicable law and include a copy of the current restriction order from Fulton County Water Resources. Most HOAs will rescind the notice once they are made aware of the legal protections in place. If the issue persists, contact your county’s code enforcement division for assistance.
Why These Restrictions Exist
Alpharetta, GA follows the Georgia Water Stewardship Act of 2010 baseline year-round and is now under the Georgia EPD's statewide Drought Response Level 1 declaration of April 27, 2026, the first formal drought declaration since 2012.
Year-round Water Stewardship Act rules
- Outdoor irrigation: prohibited 10 AM – 4 PM (6-hour blackout)
- Odd-numbered addresses water Mon/Wed/Fri before 10 AM or after 4 PM
- Even-numbered addresses water Tue/Thu/Sat
- Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle: any day, any time
- Drip irrigation and soaker hoses: any day during allowed hours
- 21-day establishment variance for new sod and seed
- Fines: written warning first; $100–$500 repeat
EPD Level 1 (April 27, 2026) requires a public information campaign at all Georgia public water systems but adds no new mandatory restrictions beyond the Water Stewardship Act baseline. Public water systems CANNOT impose stricter restrictions without an EPD variance. Level 2 escalation would trigger mandatory 2 days/week + bans on residential vehicle washing and pressure washing.
Alpharetta is a tech-corridor north Fulton County city served by Fulton County Water Resources. The Avalon mixed-use development and the GA-400 / Northpoint Parkway commercial corridor are major commercial water users, under EPD Level 2 escalation, vehicle washing bans would significantly affect these businesses. At Level 1 (current), only the year-round Water Stewardship Act baseline applies. Alpharetta participates in Fulton County's turf-replacement rebate programs.
Georgia HOA law (OCGA 44-3-235) prohibits HOAs from fining homeowners for brown or dormant lawns caused by compliance with state water restrictions. Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River, the primary regional supply for the Atlanta metro, are showing strain from below-average winter 2025–2026 rainfall. Monitor Fulton County Water Resources (serves Alpharetta) (https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/inside-fulton-county/fulton-county-departments/public-works) for stage updates and the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District (northgeorgiawater.org) for regional coordination.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Alpharetta area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Alpharetta Water Restrictions
10 tips tailored for Alpharetta homeowners during Year-Round + EPD Level 1 - April 2026 restrictions.
Alpharetta sits in the Atlanta metro and is dominated by Bermuda, Zoysia, and Tall Fescue lawns. Bermuda and Zoysia tolerate 4–6 weeks of drought dormancy by going semi-dormant, let browning happen rather than stress-watering on off days.
Programme your controller for before 10 AM or after 4 PM on your assigned days (odd Mon/Wed/Fri, even Tue/Thu/Sat). The 10 AM – 4 PM blackout is enforced year-round, regardless of EPD drought level.
Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is unrestricted at every drought level, prioritise mature trees and high-value shrubs over turf.
Cycle-and-soak (5 min run, 30 min rest, repeat) is essential on Atlanta's red clay soils to prevent runoff during the brief allowed cycles.
Mow Bermuda at 2.5–3 inches and Tall Fescue at 3.5–4 inches through summer to shade soil and reduce evapotranspiration.
Tall Fescue lawns naturally go semi-dormant in Atlanta summer heat, the 10 AM–4 PM blackout actually aligns well with Tall Fescue's biology, allowing deep root penetration during cooler hours.
Skip nitrogen fertiliser June–September, it forces growth the lawn cannot support during peak heat with restricted watering.
Drip irrigation and soaker hoses for vegetable beds and ornamentals are permitted any day outside the 10 AM–4 PM blackout, use them to keep food crops productive.
Apply for Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District turf-rebate programs through your local utility, Atlanta-Fulton-DeKalb-Cobb residents qualify for $0.50–$2 per sq ft conversions.
Monitor https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/inside-fulton-county/fulton-county-departments/public-works weekly. If EPD escalates to Level 2, all Georgia public water systems must enforce mandatory 2 days/week + bans on residential vehicle washing and pressure washing.
Alpharetta Water Restriction FAQs
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