York County Water Restrictions 2026
York County · South Carolina
Published:
Restrictions Active - Stage 2 LIP Mandatory - In Effect Since May 15, 2026
2
Days/Week
6:00 PM – 6:00 AM (overnight only)
Allowed Hours
$100 first violation; escalating per local utility ordinance
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 & Saturday |
| Even addresses | Wednesday & Sunday |
Allowed Watering Hours
York County, SC Stage 2 LIP mandatory rules apply to Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and Tega Cay (the three covered cities) and to all other Catawba-Wateree-served properties in the county. Lawn/landscape irrigation is limited to 2 days per week, overnight only (6 PM–6 AM). Odd-numbered addresses water Tuesdays and Saturdays; even-numbered addresses water Wednesdays and Sundays. Pool top-off only Thursdays and Sundays during the same overnight window. No vehicle washing at home (commercial OK). Hand watering, drip irrigation, and soaker hoses remain permitted any time outside the 6 AM–6 PM blackout.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Hand watering with a shut-off hose, watering can, or bucket is permitted any day, any time outside the 6 AM–6 PM blackout window for landscape plants, trees, shrubs, and food crops..
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
$100 first violation; escalating per local utility ordinance
Mandatory Stage 2 LIP enforcement has been in effect since May 15, 2026 across all York County, SC cities served by Catawba-Wateree water. First-offence fines are $100 with escalating penalties for repeat violations. Each city utility responds to complaints and conducts neighbourhood patrols within its service area.
Citations begin May 15, 2026🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
South Carolina's HOA Reform Act (effective 2018) limits HOA authority to require actions conflicting with state or local drought emergency orders. CW-DMAG Stage 2 LIP supersedes HOA covenants requiring lawn watering outside the assigned schedule. Document the order if your HOA challenges a brown lawn during the 2026 restriction period.
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 Catawba-Wateree DMAG / Local Utilities'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
York County, South Carolina is in the Catawba-Wateree River basin and follows the regional Low Inflow Protocol (LIP) coordinated by the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group (CW-DMAG) with Duke Energy. On May 1, 2026, the CW-DMAG declared Stage 2 LIP, the first Stage 2 since 2009, and mandatory restrictions take effect Friday, May 15, 2026.
York County's three covered cities under Stage 2 LIP: • Rock Hill (Rock Hill Utilities, Deputy City Manager Jimmy Bagley chairs CW-DMAG) → /water-restrictions/south-carolina/rock-hill-sc • Fort Mill (Fort Mill Utilities) → /water-restrictions/south-carolina/fort-mill-sc • Tega Cay (Tega Cay Utilities) → /water-restrictions/south-carolina/tega-cay-sc
Stage 2 mandatory rules (apply across all York County, SC cities served by Catawba-Wateree water)
- Lawn/landscape irrigation: max 2 days/week
- Hours: 6 PM to 6 AM ONLY
- Odd addresses water Tue/Sat; even addresses Wed/Sun
- Pool top-off only Thu/Sun, 6 PM–6 AM (no full fills)
- No vehicle washing at home (commercial OK)
- No power washing for non-essential purposes
- No charity/fundraiser car washes
- Hand watering, drip, soaker hoses: still permitted
Lancaster County (SC) also follows the same protocol. Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Stanly, and Union Counties (NC) are in 'exceptional' D4 drought, first since 2008. Goal: 5–10% regional water use reduction.
Note: Searches for 'York County water restrictions' most often refer to York County, Pennsylvania (served by York Water Company), see our York, PA page for that information.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the York County area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During York County Water Restrictions
10 tips tailored for York County homeowners during Stage 2 LIP Mandatory - In Effect Since May 15, 2026 restrictions.
York County, SC sits in the Charlotte/Catawba transition zone, Bermuda, Zoysia, and Tall Fescue are all common. Bermuda and Zoysia handle 4–6 weeks of drought dormancy best.
Programme your controller now for Stage 2 LIP in effect since May 15: odd Tue/Sat, even Wed/Sun, 6 PM–6 AM only. Pad start times so cycles end before 6 AM.
Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is unrestricted at every stage, prioritise mature trees, established shrubs, and food crops over turf.
Tall Fescue lawns near Rock Hill and Fort Mill go semi-dormant in summer heat anyway, let browning happen rather than stress-watering on off days.
Cycle-and-soak (5 min run, 30 min rest, repeat) is required on Catawba piedmont clay soils to prevent runoff during the brief watering windows.
Pool top-ups are restricted to Thursdays and Sundays only, 6 PM–6 AM. Pool filling for newly constructed pools is prohibited without variance.
Vehicle washing at home is prohibited under Stage 2, use a commercial car wash that recycles water. Charity/fundraiser car washes are also banned.
Mow Bermuda at 2.5–3 inches and Tall Fescue at 3.5–4 inches through summer to shade soil and reduce evapotranspiration.
Skip nitrogen fertiliser June–September, it forces growth the lawn cannot support during restrictions.
Monitor cityofrockhill.com/utilities, fortmillsc.gov, tegacaysc.org, and duke-energy.com/Community/Lakes/Drought-Management-Advisory weekly. Stage updates posted 1st and 16th of each month.
York County Water Restriction FAQs
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What hours can I run my sprinklers in York County?
What are the fines for water violations in York County?
Can I install new sod or seed in York County during restrictions?
When will water restrictions end in York County?
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