Baltimore Water Restrictions 2026
Baltimore City · Maryland
Published:
Restrictions Active - Stage 1 Water Conservation Advisory - Voluntary
3
Days/Week
Before 9:00 AM
Allowed Hours
Voluntary stage, no current fines
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
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| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| No mandatory schedule, voluntary odd/even guidance | Morning or evening outside 9 AM – 5 PM |
Allowed Watering Hours
Baltimore City DPW requests voluntary 15% reduction versus prior year baseline. No mandatory day-of-week restrictions at Stage 1.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any time.
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
Voluntary stage, no current fines
At Stage 1 Advisory, Baltimore issues education letters rather than citations. If Loch Raven Reservoir drops below 65%, Stage 2 activates and brings mandatory restrictions with fines starting at $100 per violation.
Citations begin October 2025🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Maryland Code §11B-111.3 prohibits HOAs from enforcing lawn appearance standards that would conflict with utility-declared water restrictions. Baltimore's Stage 1 Advisory is voluntary, but the legal protection activates if Stage 2 is declared.
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 Baltimore City Department of Public Works's current restriction order. 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
Baltimore sources drinking water from Loch Raven, Prettyboy, and Liberty reservoirs fed by Susquehanna watershed tributaries. Loch Raven stands at 71% of capacity, Prettyboy at 68%, both below the seasonal 85% target. The 2025-2026 snowpack in the Maryland mountain watersheds (Savage River) measured 58% of normal, threatening summer reservoir recharge. Baltimore DPW issued the Stage 1 Advisory in October 2025 and has maintained it through spring 2026.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Baltimore area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Baltimore Water Restrictions
11 tips tailored for Baltimore homeowners during Stage 1 Water Conservation Advisory - Voluntary restrictions.
Tall fescue dominates Baltimore lawns and handles 2 days/week watering even under Stage 2, water deeply (1 inch) each cycle.
Mow to 3.5–4 inches in summer and leave clippings.
Use a smart controller with Mid-Atlantic ET preset; Baltimore DPW rebates cover $50 on WaterSense units.
Replace parkway strips with Chesapeake Bay natives: Switchgrass, Black-Eyed Susan, Little Bluestem.
Drip-irrigate vegetable beds and fruit trees.
Fix leaks within 48 hours.
Convert overhead spray to rotary nozzles, saves 30%.
Skip cycles after any 0.25"+ rainfall event.
Harvest rainwater, Baltimore's 44" annual rainfall refills 500-gallon cisterns 10+ times/year.
Group plants by hydrozone.
Track monthly use at publicworks.baltimorecity.gov 'My Account', Stage 1 targets voluntary 15% reduction.
Baltimore Water Restriction FAQs
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