Landscaping Watering Restrictions.
North Las Vegas Municipal Code § 13.08.050
in effect13.08.050 - Landscaping Watering Restrictions.
A. As a water conservation measure, from May 1 until August 31 of each calendar year from the hours of 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., it is unlawful for any customer of a public water system to use water within the water service area of the City for the purpose of irrigation, regardless of method, of turf, gardens, trees, grass, shrubbery, or other vegetation, except as otherwise provided in Section 13.08.050.C. of this chapter.
B. Except as otherwise provided in Section 13.08.050.C., Section 13.08.050.D.2., Section 13.08.050.E.3. and Section 13.08.050.F.2. of this chapter it is unlawful to use water within the City's water service area to spray irrigate turf, gardens, trees, grass, shrubbery, or other vegetation except in accordance with Table 13.08.050A and with the watering schedule the City may assign to each watering group pursuant to Section 13.08.050.B.1. of this chapter.
Table 13.08.050A
Water Conservation Watering Schedule for Spray Irrigation
Months | Watering Days
Winter | (November—February) | Once per week*
Spring | (March—April) | Three days per week*
Summer | (May—August) | Any day except Sunday
Fall | (September—October) | Three days per week*
*Days will be specified for each watering group by the City.
1. For the purpose of managing the water distribution system, the City may designate watering groups for the areas serviced by the City's water system and may assign to each watering group specific watering days and/or schedules. The City shall provide all affected known water customers in each watering group with reasonable prior notification of assigned watering days and/or schedules. The City reserves the right to change or amend watering groups and/or watering days or schedules as deemed necessary with reasonable prior notice. A determination of the watering group in which each water customer is located will be based upon such water customer's address or location. For the purpose of water conservation the City may be divided into as many as seven watering groups.
2. When assigned watering schedules are in effect, it shall be unlawful to spray irrigate turf, gardens, trees, grass, shrubbery, or other vegetation, except in compliance with the days, dates and times assigned to each watering group. Watering days will be defined as starting at 12:01 a.m. and ending at 12:00 a.m. midnight and no irrigation overlap will be allowed.
C. Exemptions from landscaping watering restrictions of Section 13.08.050.A. and Section 13.08.050.B. of this chapter:
1. Hand watering using a container or positive shut-off nozzle for the purpose of preserving lawn or shrubbery so vegetation does not die.
2. Irrigation of new lawns or as necessitated by the re-seeding of an existing lawn, for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of planting or installation with prior notification of the Utilities Department Customer Service section. Time of day restrictions still apply.
3. Drip and/or bubbler irrigation systems, provided that they are not run more frequently than permitted for spray irrigation pursuant to Table 13.08.050A.
4. Irrigation by licensed commercial gardens or plant nurseries.
5. Supervised operation of irrigation systems for the purpose of testing and repair during daylight hours.
6. Municipal operations or procedures that are necessary to protect the health, safety and well-being of the public.
7. Commercial and residential properties that utilize smart controllers per Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) guidelines.
8. The City reserves the right to change or amend groups as deemed necessary with due notice.
D. Provisions Related to Community Use Recreational Turf Areas and Parks.
1. Community use recreational turf areas and parks are required to comply with the landscaping watering restrictions of Section 13.08.050.A. of this chapter.
2. Parks and community use recreational turf areas may request an alternative watering schedule in lieu of the mandatory landscaping watering restrictions of Section 13.08.050.B. of this chapter, by submitting to the Director or designee an alternative watering schedule that meets the following requirements:
a. During the months of March, April, September and October, a watering schedule for each area may not exceed seven days out of fourteen (14) days.
b. During the months of November, December, January and February, a watering schedule for each area may not exceed two days out of seven days.
3. The alternative watering schedule shall be submitted to the Director or designee for review and approval. The City may approve the alternative watering schedule if it protects the health, safety and well-being of the City's water supply.
4. Each approved alternative watering schedule must be posted at the community use recreational turf area or park to which it pertains.
5. It is prohibited to commence irrigation prior to 9:00 p.m. on the day prior to each watering day designated on the alternative watering schedule.
E. Schools and Government Facilities.
1. Schools and government facilities are required to comply with the landscaping watering restrictions of Section 13.08.050.A. and Section 13.08.050.B. of this chapter, except as otherwise provided in Section 13.08.050.E.3. of this chapter.
2. Schools and governmental facilities with greater than five acres of turf and/or grass must conduct an annual self-assessment of water conservation potential and submit a plan that minimizes outdoor water use to the Director or designee for review and approval by the City. Schools and governmental facilities must also submit an annual report of water use reductions to the Director or designee for review and approval by the City.
3. Exemption from the requirements of Section 13.08.050.B. of this chapter for schools.
a. Schools may apply to the Director or designee for approval of an alternative watering schedule in lieu of the mandatory landscaping watering restrictions of Section 13.08.050.B. of this chapter, by submitting a water conservation plan (WCP), which includes the following:
Water usage reduction statement;
Sites covered by the WCP;
Central control system standards;
Metered usage;
Documentation of conservation efforts establishing baseline;
Irrigation system efficiency and turf and/or grass reduction efforts;
Employee training on conservation methods;
Annual water usage reports;
Identification of additions to or reductions in landscaping;
Efforts to provide public education on conservation;
Demonstration of need, based on public usability of the facility; and
Demonstration that the alternative schedule of the WCP uses less water than the landscaping watering restrictions of Section 13.08.050.B. of this chapter.
b. The City may approve the WCP if it protects the health, safety and well-being of the City's water supply.
c. It is prohibited to commence irrigation prior to 9:00 p.m. on the day prior to each watering day designated in the WCP.
F. Golf Courses.
1. Golf courses shall be required to comply with the restrictions of Section 13.08.050.A. of this chapter.
2. Golf courses shall have water budgeting policies in lieu of the landscaping watering restrictions of Section 13.08.050.B. of this chapter. Golf courses using City supplied water shall be on a water budget. The City will determine the amount of the initial water budget by determining the irrigated acreage of each golf course within the City's water service area, using the 2002 data submitted by the golf courses pursuant to Section 13.08.050.F.7. of this chapter. For this purpose, irrigated acreage will include, without limitation, lakes and ponds serving in whole or in part as a golf course irrigation reservoir.
a. In the event a golf course customer contests the calculated irrigated acreage as determined by the City, the golf course may provide calculations supported by other methods acceptable to the City. Alternative measurements would need to be determined by an independent consultant not affiliated with the golf course. In any case, however, the City shall make the final determination of irrigated acreage.
3. The AFY per irrigated acre water budget for golf courses will be 6.3 AFY (including potable, raw, and reclaimed water) per irrigated acre as determined by the City pursuant to Section 13.08.050.F.2. of this chapter. Effective January 1, 2024, the AFY per irrigated acre water budget for golf courses will be 4.0 AFY (including potable, raw, and reclaimed water) per irrigated acre.
4. The initial water budget will be determined upon the date of adoption of this chapter and the irrigated acreage. The initial water budget will be in effect at the beginning of the first calendar month following the adoption of this chapter. At the end of twelve (12) months, the water budget will be established for the remainder of the calendar year based on the irrigated acreage at that time, with the water budget being prorated accordingly for the remainder of the calendar year. Subsequent water budgets will be established by the City at the beginning of each calendar year with respect to the irrigated acreage.
5. Water used in excess of the water budget will be assessed an annual surcharge in accordance with Table 13.08.050.
Table 13.08.050
Water Conservation Annual Surcharge
Percentage of budget | 101 to 120 percent | 121 to 140 percent | Over 140 percent
Surcharge to apply to water use in excess of budget | 2.0 times the highest rate paid for water within budget | 5.0 times the highest rate paid for water within budget | 9.0 times the highest rate paid for water within budget
6. Within ninety (90) days following the adoption of this chapter, each golf course shall be required to submit its own water use reduction plan containing at least the following elements:
By February of each year, each golf course shall submit follow-up reports including the same data to the Director or designee, so performance can be evaluated and surcharges assessed.
a. A physical description of the course, including detailed descriptions of all irrigated areas;
b. An itemized accounting of the prior calendar year water use;
c. A review of spray irrigation efficiency; and
d. A description of key water use reduction strategies and timelines for implementing those strategies.
7. In addition to or in lieu of any provisions of this chapter, the department reserves the right to assign specific water budgets to customers for any specified period of time and prorate the amount of water at its discretion.
8. The City will not serve, and a person shall not use potable, non-potable, reclaimed, or raw water provided by the City for a golf course that was not in existence and receiving service from the City as of October 10, 2022.
(Ord. 2136 § 5, 2005: Ord. 1805 § 1 (part), 2003) (Ord. No. 2499, § 7, 5-20-2009; Ord. No. 2540, § 1, 5-19-2010; Ord. No. 2806, §§ 1, 2, 4-5-2017; Ord. No. 3147, § 1, 10-5-2022; Ord. No. 3173, § 1, 5-17-2023)
Source: City of North Las Vegas, Nevada, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nv/north_las_vegas/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT13PUSE_CH13.08WACO_13.08.050LAWAREFetched: 11/1/2026