If you have a medical condition or a disability, you can apply for an exemption.

Exemption application form

Hard surface includes any courtyard, decking, footpath, driveway or other external area, with a concrete, asphalt, brick, tile, bitumen, timber or similar impervious surface.

Residential: Exemption application form

Commercial: Exemption application form

In some circumstances, you can apply for an exemption to the permanent water use rules or water restrictions.

Exemption application form

When you install or sow new grass you can apply for an exemption which allows you to water it outside of the hours allowed in the Permanent Water Use Rules for up to 28 days. 

This exemption only applies to ‘warm season grass’ (Couch, Buffalo and Kikuyu) which is best suited to Melbourne’s climate and is water efficient.

Exemption application form

A public or private garden that has significant botanic, environmental or historic qualities is considered a ‘Garden of significance’. 

You can apply for an exemption to the Permanent Water-Use Rules to ensure your garden can be watered appropriately.

Exemption application form

You can apply for a general exemption to the permanent water use rules

Residential: Exemption application form

Non-residential: Exemption application form

Unless granted an exemption, you are not allowed to fill up a residential pool or spa during water restrictions or outside of the set times outlined under the permanent water use rules.

A residential pool or spa means a privately used swimming pool or spa. The pool or spa may be inside or outside.

The Water Use Plan application shows how you will save water each year. The amount of water you save should be the same as the amount of water you need to fill or top up your pool or spa. Your water savings will balance out the water you need to fill or top up your pool or spa.

Exemption application form

Unless granted an exemption, you are not allowed to fill up a commercial or public pool or spa during water restrictions or outside of the set times outlined under the permanent water use rules.

A commercial or public pool or spa is an indoor or outdoor pool or spa that is either:

1. for public use and operated by (or on behalf of) a public statutory body
2. for limited public use and operated by (or on behalf of) a school or educational facility, or
3. for limited public use for physical rehabilitation and operated by (or on behalf of) a public statutory body or a private company.

Exemption application form

Unless granted an exemption, when watering playing surfaces you must follow permanent water use rules and any additional rules that are in place during water restrictions.  

For your playing surface to be considered for an exemption, you must complete a Water Use Plan application. The plan must outline how you plan on reducing the amount of water you are using across your facility.

A playing surface is any outdoor area that is used for organised sport or recreation. A playing surface means:

(a) any of the following at a sporting or recreational facility:

• a turf wicket for competition cricket
• a turf practice wicket for cricket but only if an alternative practice wicket that does not require watering (such as a synthetic wicket) is not available
• a lawn or other type of running track (whether for use by humans or animals)
• a lawn, en tous cas, or other type of tennis court other than a concrete, bitumen or asphalt tennis court
• a baseball or softball diamond, including the infield and any en tout cas running area
• a hockey or lacrosse pitch
• a green for lawn bowls or croquet or similar sport
• the penalty areas of a soccer pitch
• a golfing tee or green (but not fairways or approaches), or

(b) a soft-fall area at a child-care facility or public playground.

Exemption application form

Unless granted an exemption, a tennis club must follow the permanent water use rules and any additional rules that are in place during water restrictions.  

For your tennis club to be considered for an exemption, you must complete a Water Use Plan application. The plan must outline how you plan on reducing the amount of water you are using across your tennis club.

This plan is intended to be used by owners and managers of tennis clubs.

Exemption application form

Unless granted an exemption, the watering of a public garden or lawn during must follow the permanent water use rules and any additional rules that are in place during water restrictions.

A public garden area could be a:

(a)  garden area at any park, reserve or other outdoor area, used or available for public recreation or amenity, or

(b)  garden area at any cemetery, crematorium, central road area or roundabout under the management or control of a public statutory body, or

(c)  trees located in a nature strip,

but does not include any:

• residential or commercial garden area
• playing surface
• nature strip (other than the trees located in the nature strip).

This Water Use Plan application does not cover watering a garden of significance.

Exemption application form

Unless granted an exemption, a commercial car wash must follow the permanent water use rules and any additional rules that are in place during water restrictions.

A commercial car wash is any commercial facility used for washing any type of vehicle. A vehicle includes a car, van, truck, boat, tram or train, aircraft and any other vehicle, however it is propelled or moved.

Exemption application form

Unless an exemption is granted, using water for dust suppression must follow the permanent water use rules and any additional rules that are in place during water restrictions.

Under water restrictions, using water to suppress dust is only allowed if you have a Water Use Plan.

Exemption application form

Unless granted an exemption, a nursery or market garden must follow the permanent water use rules and any additional rules that are in place during water restrictions.

A nursery or market garden is any area that is used primarily to propagate, cultivate or harvest fruit, vegetables, vines or other plants (including seed stock, turf and flowers) for sale, distribution, or any Council use.

Exemption application form

Unless granted an exemption, a residential pond or lake must follow the permanent water use rules and any additional rules that are in place during water restrictions.

For your residential pond or lake to be considered for an exemption, you must complete a Water Use Plan application.

A residential pond or lake includes any collection of water (indoors or outdoors) for ornamental or urban drainage retention purposes, but does not include a fountain or water feature or a tank that is used to house fish or other aquatic life.

Exemption application form

Unless granted an exemption, a pond, lake, dam or tank must follow the permanent water use rules and any additional rules that are in place during water restrictions.

A pond or lake includes any collection of water for ornamental or urban drainage retention purposes. It does not include a fountain, water feature or tank that is used to house fish or other aquatic life.

A dam or tank is used for the storing and transporting of supplied drinking water.

Exemption application form