Raleigh Water Restrictions 2026
Wake · North Carolina
Published: April 20, 2026Updated:
Restrictions Active - Stage 1 - Mandatory Water Conservation Restrictions
1
Day/Week
In-ground sprinklers: Midnight to 10:00 a.m. on your assigned day (odd Tuesday, even Wednesday)
Allowed Hours
Education first, then warning, then civil penalties
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
Enter the last digit of your street address:
View full address schedule table
| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Odd addresses | Tuesday |
| Even addresses | Wednesday |
Allowed Watering Hours
Raleigh Water has been under Stage 1 mandatory restrictions since April 20, 2026. Spray irrigation is limited to one day per week: odd-numbered addresses on Tuesday, even-numbered addresses on Wednesday. In-ground sprinklers may run only between midnight and 10 a.m. on the assigned day; hose-end sprinklers may run 6 to 10 a.m. or 6 to 10 p.m. on the same day. Drip irrigation, soaker hoses and handheld hoses with a shut-off nozzle are permitted any time, any day. Landscape irrigation should not exceed one-half inch per week. There is no watering exemption for landscaping installed after April 20, 2026; landscaping installed before that date may qualify for a 10-day establishment variance with proof. Properties watering from a separate irrigation well are not restricted. On July 7, 2026 the City Council approved flexibility for the City Manager to escalate to Stage 2 early; this did not activate Stage 2, and Raleigh remains under Stage 1. Report concerns at 919-996-3245 or Water.Conservation@raleighnc.gov.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any time, any day (handheld hose with shut-off nozzle, watering can or bucket).
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
Education first, then warning, then civil penalties
Enforcement is education first, then a written warning, then civil penalties for continued noncompliance. Raleigh Water monitors usage and responds to reports. Contact 919-996-3245 or Water.Conservation@raleighnc.gov.
Citations begin April 20, 2026🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
NC law (G.S. 143-355.2) prohibits HOAs from fining residents for dormant or brown lawns during active mandatory drought restrictions. HOAs cannot require increased water use.
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 Raleigh Water'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
Raleigh's water supply comes from Falls Lake Reservoir, at about 62 percent of capacity in mid-July 2026, several feet below its level a year earlier after the seventh-driest June on record. North Carolina is in its driest year since systematic records began in 1895; as of July 9, 2026 NC DEQ reports all 100 counties in drought, nine in exceptional (D4) drought including Durham and Orange, the first time every county has been in drought at once.
On July 7, 2026 the Raleigh City Council approved an ordinance giving the City Manager flexibility to move to Stage 2 early, without waiting for Falls Lake to fall to 45 percent, and on to Stage 3 if usage does not fall. This did not activate Stage 2: Raleigh remains under Stage 1. Stage 2 would mean no spray irrigation and disconnection of irrigation-only service. The NOAA Climate Prediction Center outlook keeps drought likely through at least the end of September; meteorologists quoted by WRAL say the state needs on the order of 10 to 15 inches of rain, potentially from a tropical system, to meaningfully end it.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Raleigh area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Raleigh Water Restrictions
6 tips tailored for Raleigh homeowners during Stage 1 - Mandatory Water Conservation Restrictions restrictions.
Odd addresses water Tuesday only, even addresses Wednesday only. In-ground sprinklers midnight to 10 a.m.; hose-end sprinklers 6 to 10 a.m. or 6 to 10 p.m.
Drip irrigation, soaker hoses and a handheld hose with a shut-off nozzle are allowed any time, any day, so target trees and high-value shrubs by hand.
Tall Fescue is the dominant Raleigh grass; it handles summer dormancy well and recovers with autumn rain, so let it go brown rather than stress-watering.
If you water from a separate irrigation well, you are not restricted, but voluntary conservation still helps the region.
Landscaping installed after April 20, 2026 gets no watering exemption; confirm any variance for earlier installs with Raleigh Water.
Check raleighnc.gov for the current stage and Falls Lake level, updated regularly.
Raleigh Water Restriction FAQs
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