York Water Restrictions 2026
York County · South Carolina
Published: Updated:
Restrictions Active - Phase 2 Drought Response - Effective May 6, 2026
20%
Reduction target
Mandatory restrictions on non-essential water use; voluntary household target ~300 gallons per day
Allowed Hours
Enforcement under City of York Phase 2 Drought Response Plan ordinance
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
This city assigns watering days by property location, not by address digit. Find your assigned days in the table below.
Watering schedule by property location
| Property Location | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| All addresses | No address-day mandate; mandatory restrictions on non-essential outdoor water use |
Allowed Watering Hours
The City of York Phase 2 Drought Response Plan (effective May 6, 2026) imposes mandatory restrictions on non-essential water use and targets a 20 per cent overall reduction. The plan does not impose a fixed address-day schedule like the CW-DMAG Stage 2 LIP framework; instead, it asks households to keep total daily indoor + outdoor use to roughly 300 gallons per day on a voluntary basis. Lawn and landscape irrigation by automatic sprinkler is restricted to off-peak hours under the non-essential category. Hand watering of food crops and trees with a shut-off nozzle is permitted. Verify your provider before applying these rules: City of York Utilities serves residents inside city limits, while York County Utilities operates the county system that serves county-wide residents outside the city and is on a separate Stage 2 LIP framework via CW-DMAG.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Hand watering of trees, shrubs, and food crops with a shut-off nozzle is permitted any time. Lawn turf is non-essential under Phase 2 and should not be irrigated by automatic sprinkler during peak hours..
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
Enforcement under City of York Phase 2 Drought Response Plan ordinance
City of York Utilities Director Matt Kennedy announced Phase 2 Drought Response on May 6, 2026 in coordination with the CW-DMAG May 1 Stage 2 LIP declaration. The 20 per cent reduction target is the operational benchmark; enforcement begins with notification and may escalate to fines for sustained non-compliance.
Citations begin May 6, 2026🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
SC HOA law limits HOA authority to require actions conflicting with state or local drought emergency orders. City of York Phase 2 supersedes HOA covenants requiring lawn watering. Document the city declaration if your HOA challenges a brown 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 City of York Utilities Department'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
The City of York (population ~8,500), in York County, SC, enacted its Phase 2 Drought Response Plan effective May 6, 2026 - five days after the regional CW-DMAG Stage 2 LIP declaration on May 1. Utilities Director Matt Kennedy announced the Phase 2 activation, citing both regional Catawba-Wateree basin conditions (D4 Exceptional drought in surrounding counties, reservoir chain coordination) and York's local supply position. The Phase 2 framework imposes mandatory restrictions on non-essential water use and targets a 20 per cent reduction in city-wide demand.
The City of York operates a distinct utility from York County Utilities. City of York Utilities Department serves residents and businesses inside city limits; York County Utilities serves the broader unincorporated county and follows a separate Stage 2 LIP schedule via the regional CW-DMAG framework (odd Tue/Sat, even Wed/Sun, 6 PM to 6 AM only). Verify your provider on your water bill before setting a controller: properties in the City of York that are billed by York County Utilities follow the county schedule, not the city Phase 2 framework.
The voluntary 300-gallon-per-day household target is a rough benchmark for total indoor + outdoor water use. For comparison, the typical US household uses 300-400 gallons per day; the City of York Phase 2 target is at the low end of normal use, requiring conscious reduction by most households. Outdoor irrigation is the highest-leverage area for reduction since indoor use is largely inelastic.
York is at the northwest edge of York County, roughly 30 miles southwest of Charlotte. The city's water supply draws partly from local reservoirs and partly from regional Catawba-Wateree allocations. Adjacent cities Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Tega Cay (all on different York County utilities) follow the CW-DMAG Stage 2 LIP framework with the odd/even Tue/Sat schedule.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the York area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During York Water Restrictions
10 tips tailored for York homeowners during Phase 2 Drought Response - Effective May 6, 2026 restrictions.
City of York Phase 2 is mandatory but flexibility-based: target 300 gallons per day total household use rather than a fixed address-day schedule.
Identify your provider first: City of York Utilities (Phase 2 framework, this page) vs York County Utilities (CW-DMAG Stage 2 LIP schedule, separate framework).
Allow lawn turf to go fully dormant. Bermuda and Tall Fescue both survive 4-6 weeks dormant.
Hand watering of trees, shrubs, and food crops with a shut-off nozzle is permitted any time. Prioritise mature trees over ornamental beds.
Install a rain barrel: captured rainwater is unrestricted at every phase.
Indoor leverage: a single leaking toilet can waste 200 gallons per day. Audit your toilets and faucets to free up margin under the 300 gpd target.
Skip vehicle washing at home; use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
Convert ornamental turf to drought-tolerant Southeast natives or hardscape to permanently lower outdoor demand.
Mow at 3-3.5 inches and leave clippings on the lawn during summer.
Monitor yorksc.gov/utilities weekly. Phase 2 could escalate to Phase 3 if regional Catawba-Wateree conditions worsen through summer.
York Water Restriction FAQs
What days can I water my lawn in York?
What hours can I run my sprinklers in York?
What are the fines for water violations in York?
Can I install new sod or seed in York during restrictions?
When will water restrictions end in York?
City of York Utilities vs York County Utilities - which applies to me?
Is this York, SC, or York, PA / NE / ME?
How is the 300 gallon per day target enforced?
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