EXEMPTIONS.
Austin City Code § 6-4-14
in effect§ 6-4-14 - EXEMPTIONS.
(A) A person is not required to comply with Section 6-4-15 (Water Conservation Stage), Section 6-4-16 (Drought Response Stage One Regulations), Section 6-4-17 (Drought Response Stage Two Regulations), Section 6-4-18 (Drought Response Stage Three Regulations), Section 6-4-19 (Drought Response Stage Four Regulations), or Section 6-4-20 (Emergency Stage Five Regulations) when:
(1) using water is necessary to protect the health, safety, or welfare of the public;
(2) using reclaimed or alternative water that is not supplemented by or mixed with potable water supplied by Austin Water;
(3) using water is necessary:
(a) to make a lawful repair of a water distribution facility, flushing of utility lines or residential or commercial plumbing lines;
(b) to perform a governmental function, including a capital improvement construction project, but not including landscape irrigation;
(c) to meet express requirements of a federal, state, or local permit related to land development, including but not limited to roadway base preparation, dust control, maintenance of trees subject to preservation restrictions or requirements, concrete or asphalt work, or modification or construction of improvements, but not including landscape irrigation;
(d) to wash or sanitize to prevent public health or disease transmission risk associated with liquid, solid, or particulate residue in or on vehicles, containers, or equipment lawfully used to maintain, process, or transport food, perishables, garbage, liquid or solid waste, organic materials, or recyclables; or
(e) to conduct firefighting, fire prevention, or fire suppression related activities or operations due to actual risk to public or environmental health, safety, or welfare, life, or property associated with the presence of an uncontrolled fire on or approaching any person or property.
(B) A person is not required to comply with Section 6-4-19 (Drought Response Stage Four Regulations) when:
(1) using an automatic bubbler;
(2) using a hand-held hose or refillable watering vessel;
(3) using a drip irrigation system or a soaker hose, placed within the drip-line of the tree canopy;
(4) using a drip irrigation system or a soaker hose, for a vegetable garden;
(5) using water is necessary to test, repair, or install:
(a) a permanent or temporary landscape irrigation system and the person performing the irrigation work is present in the area of irrigation; or
(b) an ornamental fountain and the person testing, repairing, or installing the fountain is present;
(6) irrigating plant material at a commercial nursery; or
(7) irrigating immediately after the application of a commercial lawn treatment, such as fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides, by an applicator who possesses an appropriate license and complies with a request from the director to provide:
(a) receipts that document the application; and
(b) the applicator's credentials.
(C) A person is not required to comply with Section 6-4-15 (Water Conservation Stage), Section 6-4-16 (Drought Response Stage One Regulations), Section 6-4-17 (Drought Response Stage Two Regulations), or Section 6-4-18 (Drought Response Stage Three Regulations) when:
(1) using an automatic bubbler;
(2) using a hand-held hose or refillable watering vessel;
(3) using a drip irrigation system or a soaker hose, placed within the drip-line of the tree canopy;
(4) using a drip irrigation system or a soaker hose, for a vegetable garden;
(5) irrigating plant material at a commercial nursery;
(6) irrigating immediately after the application of a commercial lawn treatment such as fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides by an applicator who possesses an appropriate license and complies with a request from the director to provide:
(a) receipts that document the application; and
(b) the applicator's credentials; or
(7) using water is necessary to test, repair, or install:
(a) a permanent or temporary landscape irrigation system and the person performing the irrigation work is present in the area of irrigation; or
(b) an ornamental fountain and the person testing, repairing, or installing the fountain is present.
(D) A person is not required to comply with Section 6-4-15 (Water Conservation Stage) or Section 6-4-16 (Drought Response Stage One Regulations) when:
(1) watering is necessary to comply with federal, state, or local land development permits requiring the establishment of new landscaping if the watering occurs between the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m.; or
(2) irrigating areas documented on a City approved and released site plan as golf course fairways, greens, or tees.
(E) During Water Conservation Stage, Drought Stage One, and Drought Stage Two, a person may irrigate athletic fields used for organized sports practice, competition, or exhibition events if necessary to protect the health and safety of the players, staff, or officials present for the athletic event and necessary to occur at a time or day not in accordance with the watering schedule established in this chapter.
Source: Ord. 20120816-004; Ord. No. 20201210-007, Pts. 9, 17, 12-21-20; Ord. No. 20240502-006, § 9, 5-13-24; Ord. No. 20241121-006, Pt. 4, 12-2-24.
Source: City of Austin, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT6ENCOCO_CH6-4WACO_ART3DRCOPLCOST_S6-4-14EXFetched: 10/27/2026