Raleigh drought update: City Council approves faster path to Stage 2

Raleigh City Council approved an ordinance on July 7 that gives the City Manager more flexibility to escalate water restrictions if drought-era usage stays too high. The important bottom line for residents: Raleigh is still under Stage 1 right now, and the ordinance does not activate Stage 2 yet.

What the July 7 ordinance changes

City officials say the approved ordinance would let Raleigh move more quickly into Stage 2 if water use remains above the City’s targets during the ongoing severe drought.

• The ordinance would allow the City to disconnect irrigation-only service if Stage 2 is implemented.
• If water use still doesn’t drop enough, the City would also be able to move toward Stage 3.

What Raleigh residents can do now under Stage 1

Under Raleigh’s Stage 1 rules, only certain outdoor watering is allowed:

• In-ground irrigation systems (auto and non-auto): odd addresses water Tuesdays and even addresses water Wednesdays, with watering times of midnight to 10 a.m.
• Hand-held watering
• Bucket watering
• Drip irrigation
• Athletic field irrigation
• Swimming pools
• Car washing

Stage 1 also prohibits new landscape establishment permits.

What could change if the City moves into Stage 2

Stage 2 is where many households see the biggest shift. According to the City’s stage guide, Stage 2 would tighten restrictions by making these items prohibited:

• In-ground irrigation systems (auto and non-auto)
• Hose-end sprinklers
• New landscape establishment permits

At the same time, the City’s Stage 2 guide allows more limited options, including hand-held, bucket, and drip irrigation, plus athletic field irrigation.

Why Raleigh is preparing to escalate

Raleigh’s primary drinking water source is Falls Lake. The City reports the water supply pool is at 62% remaining and says water-use restrictions are triggered based on factors including Falls Lake water supply levels.

What residents and businesses should do today

• Keep following Stage 1 exactly—odd/even watering days and the midnight–10 a.m. time window.
• If you have an automatic irrigation controller or a sprinkler system that’s currently programmed outside the allowed window, adjust it now to reduce the chance of violations.
• If you manage a rental property or HOA landscaping, align tenant/contractor schedules with the current Stage 1 rules.
• Watch for City alerts if usage remains high—this ordinance would enable faster escalation, and that could include changes that affect irrigation-only service if Stage 2 is implemented.

For now, Stage 1 is the rule. The July 7 ordinance is about how quickly the City can move toward stricter restrictions if drought conditions keep pressure on the water supply.

Sources

• City of Raleigh — Council approved ordinance to escalate water restrictions (July 7, 2026 update)
• WRAL — Raleigh considers more water restrictions, limits on lawn watering (July 7-8, 2026 updates)