The rules
| Rule | Town of Cary | Penalty (residential) |
|---|---|---|
| Watering days | Even addresses Wed, Fri, Sun; odd addresses Tue, Thu, Sat; none on Monday | Notice, then $100, $250, $500 |
| Always allowed | Hand watering (hose, watering can) and drip irrigation, any day | — |
| Exempt water | Reclaimed, well or pond water | — |
| New grass | 45-day exemption after registering | — |
| Rain sensor | Required on every automatic system, set at 1/4 inch, since August 1997 | Notice, then $100 the first day, up to $1,000 a day after the third |
| Sensor permit | Not required | — |
| New automatic system | Irrigation permit through the plan review portal; must meet design standards | — |
| Installer | Licensed irrigation contractor if the system costs $2,500 or more | — |
| Backflow preventer | Tested every year | — |
The watering rules are on the Alternate Day Watering page and the sensor rule on the Rain Sensor Ordinance page (Section 36-84). The permit, licensing and backflow rules are on the Town's Irrigation page, which also says hose and sprinkler water carries both water and sewer charges "unless the water comes through a separate irrigation meter." A well or pond system also needs a permit from Wake County or Chatham County.
What it means for hiring an irrigation contractor
- License. At $8,778 for the usual job, almost every new system is over $2,500, so the installer needs a North Carolina Irrigation Contractors' Licensing Board license. Ask for the number and look it up with the board before you sign.
- Permit. Ask who files the Town irrigation permit and get the number. The Town's page says nothing about owner permits, so do not assume you can file it yourself.
- Program the controller. Have the installer set the controller to your address's three days and confirm the rain sensor is wired and set at a quarter inch before the final payment. A controller left on a daily program is a fine waiting to happen.
- The meter. Ask for a price on a separate irrigation meter. The Town says water through one avoids sewer charges; how much that saves depends on your use and the Town's rates, which the irrigation page does not list.
- Backflow. The annual backflow test is the owner's job after installation. Ask whether the contractor offers the test and what it charges.
Compare Cary irrigation contractors by permit record →
What 198 Cary irrigation permits show
| Measure | Cary irrigation |
|---|---|
| Permits on homes, October 2023 to September 2026 | 198 |
| Firms | 46 |
| Usual filed value | $8,778 |
| Middle half of firms' usual job (20 firms) | $7,500 to $10,863 |
| Busiest firms, last 12 months | Systemize, LLC (8), Conserva Irrigation, Inc. (6), Water Works Unlimited, Inc. (5) |
| Share held by the five busiest | 48.0% |
| Usual days from issue to final | 42 |
| Finished (permits a year or more old) | 64.9% |
| Busiest / quietest month | July (164) / January (30) |
The price band is narrow: the middle half of firms' usual job ran $7,500 to $10,863, so a quote far outside it deserves a line-by-line explanation (zones, heads, a separate meter, drip beds). Demand is seasonal, with July running at 164 against an average month of 100 and January at 30; installers are least busy in winter, ahead of the spring rush.
Check it in five minutes
- Find your watering days: odd address Tue, Thu, Sat; even address Wed, Fri, Sun.
- Look up the installer's last Cary permits as in Cary building permit search and check they reached final.
- Compare the quote with Cary irrigation costs and the installers on our Cary irrigation list.
Related
Licenses: Cary contractor license lookup and checking a North Carolina contractor. Other jobs: Cary home improvement costs. Counts by year: Cary permit statistics.
What this does not tell you
Our file covers Town of Cary irrigation permits, so it shows permitted systems. It does not show rain sensor add-ons (which the Town says need no permit) or annual backflow tests. It does not show citations under the watering ordinances or which systems have a separate meter.
How we know this
The watering, rain sensor, permit and licensing rules are from the Town of Cary's Alternate Day Watering, Rain Sensor Ordinance and Irrigation pages, read 23 October 2026. Permit counts and values are Town of Cary irrigation permits on homes, October 2023 to September 2026; the finished share uses permits a year or more old.
Numbers come from Town of Cary building permit applications (issued permits only), data through October 16, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- What days can I water in Cary, NC?
Even-numbered addresses on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday; odd-numbered addresses on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Nobody waters on Monday. Hand watering and drip irrigation are allowed any day, and the rule is year-round.
- Does my sprinkler system need a rain sensor in Cary?
Yes. Since August 1997 the Town has required a rain sensor set at a quarter inch on every automatic irrigation system, and systems installed earlier need one too. No permit is needed to add a sensor.
- What is the fine for watering on the wrong day in Cary?
A first violation gets an oral or written notice. After that, residential customers face civil penalties of $100 for the first citation, $250 for the second and $500 for the third (Town of Cary). Missing rain sensors carry separate penalties of $100 for the first day, rising to $1,000 a day after the third.
- Do I need a permit to install a sprinkler system in Cary?
Yes, for an automatic system. The Town says it must meet the irrigation design standards and be permitted through the plan review portal, and a system costing $2,500 or more must be installed by a licensed irrigation contractor under North Carolina law.
- Can I water new sod every day in Cary?
Yes, after registering. The Town offers a 45-day exemption from the alternate-day rule for establishing new grass, and for seasonal reseeding.
Build your own list
Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.
Related guides
- Do I need a permit for a lawn sprinkler system? The rule in 9 departments, and how many get filed
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- Sprinkler system installation cost in 2026: what irrigation permits were filed at in 4 cities
- Do I need an ADU permit in Los Angeles? Plan check, the 60-day rule, and 13,265 permits
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For one city
- Alternate Day Watering — Town of Cary (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Rain Sensor Ordinance — Town of Cary (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Irrigation — Town of Cary Water Conservation (accessed 2026-10-23)