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Residential and commercial gardens and lawns

Hand watering

You can water residential or commercial gardens at any time, on any day, using a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle.

Residential or commercial lawns cannot be watered at any time.

Watering systems

You can water gardens using a watering system (manual, automatic, spray or dripper) only on alternate days between 6 am to 8 am and 6 pm to 8 pm.

Alternate days mean people may use their watering systems on an odds and evens, date-based approach:

  • Even and no-numbered properties may water on even dates, for example, the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and so on.
  • Odd-numbered properties may water on odd dates, for example, the 1st, 3rd, 5th and so on.
  • All properties may water on the 31st of any month or the 29 February.

Public gardens, lawns and playing surfaces

Hand watering

You can water public gardens and playing surfaces at any time, on any day, using a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle.

Public lawn areas cannot be watered at any time.

Watering systems

Public gardens and playing surfaces can also use a watering system only on alternate days between 6 am to 8 am and 6 pm to 8 pm or water in accordance with an approved Water Use Plan.

Fountains and water features

Water cannot be used to fill or top up a fountain or water feature at any time.

Hosing down hard surfaces

You cannot hose down hard surfaces, including driveways, paths, concrete, tiles, timber decking and other paved areas, except where cleaning is required due to an accident, fire, health hazard, safety hazard or other emergency.

You can use a high-pressure cleaning unit, or if such a unit is unavailable, a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or a bucket during construction or renovation.

Vehicle washing

You can wash your car, boat or other vehicle at home using a high-pressure cleaning unit, a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or a bucket or watering can at any time, any day of the week.

The vehicle may also be washed at a commercial car wash.

Sporting grounds

Councils and schools can water sports grounds and gardens in accordance with the times under Stage 2 restrictions or submit a Water Use Plan to water outside of the prescribed hours efficiently.

Pools, spas and water toys

Filling

A new pool or spa of up to 2,000 litres can be filled with a hand-held hose, bucket, watering can, or an automatic water top-up device. However, a new or existing pool or spa of greater than 2,000 litres can only be filled in accordance with a Water Use Plan.

Topping up

A new or existing pool or spa of any size can be topped up only on alternate days between 6 am to 8 am and 6 pm to 8 pm using a hand-held hose, bucket or watering can or by using an automatic water top-up device at any time.

Pools and spas can also be topped up at any time in accordance with an approved Water Use Plan.

A mobile spa can only be filled or topped up in accordance with a Water Use Plan.

Water toys

A water toy connected to a hose cannot be used at any time.

Exemptions

Each Victorian urban water corporation can grant exemptions to water restrictions in special circumstances.

For information regarding the circumstances under which an exemption may be granted and how to apply, please get in touch with your local water corporation.

Page last updated: 08/09/23