Ocean Isle Beach Water Restrictions 2026

Your watering day in Ocean Isle Beach depends on your property location. . You are limited to 0 days per week during the current Stage 3 Water Shortage Warning - Total Irrigation Ban (Mandatory) restrictions.

Under the current restrictions, sprinkler irrigation in Ocean Isle Beach is only allowed during the following hours: ALL automated outdoor irrigation is prohibited; there are no watering days, Hand watering of food gardens and existing landscaping: hand-held hose or container, 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. only. Ocean Isle Beach is a Brunswick County Public Utilities wholesale customer, so the county's Stage 3 order applies; verify any town additions on the Town of Ocean Isle Beach site. Brunswick County declared a Stage 3 Water Shortage Warning, mandatory, on July 10, 2026, in force until further notice. ALL automated outdoor irrigation is prohibited: there are no watering days. Hand watering of food gardens under a quarter acre and of existing landscaping is allowed only from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., using a hand-held container, hand-held hose, or drip irrigation with an automatic shutoff. Also prohibited: filling pools or hot tubs, washing vehicles at home, and power washing buildings or paved surfaces. Restaurants serve water only on request. Exemptions include commercial car washes and dealerships, medical pool use with a doctor's prescription, wastewater effluent spray systems, and vehicles that must be washed to stay operational; commercial power washing may be allowed at the Public Utilities Director's discretion. Irrigation contractors and licensed inspectors may run a system up to five minutes for testing, with dated documentation given to the owner. Watering outside these hours, even on your scheduled day, is a violation and may result in a citation.

Brunswick County enforces Stage 3 with escalating penalties added to your next utility bill, reaching up to $5,000 for repeat violations. Confirm the full escalation ladder on the county's own page. Enforcement covers all Brunswick County Public Utilities customers, including wholesale customers, residents, businesses and new developments. The Brunswick County Public Utilities and local Brunswick County enforcement officers conduct patrols and respond to complaints. Keep your irrigation timer set to your assigned day and hours to avoid citations.

A limited new-landscape exemption exists, but it requires pre-approval IN HAND before you irrigate. The installation must have been initiated before the June 26, 2026 Extreme Drought Advisory, under a written warranty, watered at the minimum rate necessary on installation day and for 28 days after. You must email date-stamped photo documentation to utilityadmin@brunswickcountync.gov AND receive an approval email back, and have that approval in your possession, before any irrigation. Without the approval email you can be fined even for new sod.

The current Stage 3 Water Shortage Warning - Total Irrigation Ban (Mandatory) restrictions in Ocean Isle Beach are effective from July 10, 2026 Until further notice. However, the restrictions may be extended if drought conditions persist or eased if significant rainfall improves water supply levels. Monitor the Brunswick County Public Utilities website for updates.