---
title: Abbotsford watering restrictions
question: "Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?"
place: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/abbotsford
category: Water, sewer, roads and snow
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Abbotsford
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/water-restrictions/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/water-restrictions.json"
---

# Abbotsford watering restrictions

**Question:** Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?

**Short answer:** Yes. In Abbotsford, Stage 1 water restrictions apply every year from May 1 to September 30, with lawn watering on set days: even-numbered addresses Saturday, odd-numbered Sunday. The General Manager can bring in a stricter stage at any time of year. Check ourwatermatters.ca for the current stage.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Abbotsford, https://www.abbotsford.ca)  
**Cost:** Fine: $500 bylaw notice ($450 if paid within 14 days) or $1,000 municipal ticket ($500 if paid in full by the 30th day). Sprinkling permit for a new lawn: $50 in May, June and September; $100 in July and August; none October to April.  
**How long:** Stage 1 applies every year from May 1 to September 30. A stage stays in effect until it is ended.  
**Where:**
- Online: Current stage and rules (Our Water Matters), https://www.ourwatermatters.ca/conservation/water-restrictions

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Stage 1 applies every year from May 1 to September 30. The General Manager, by resolution, can change those dates or bring in a stricter stage (Stage 2, 3 or 4) at any time of year, and a stage stays in effect until it is ended. The current stage is not stated in the bylaw.
  - Source: [Waterworks Regulations Bylaw, 2017 (No. 2665-2017), consolidated to December 9, 2025, s. 32(2)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/ja11cikbj)
  - Official wording: "year from May 1 to September 30 inclusive, except as provided under subsection (b);" … "Terminate or bring into effect a more restrictive Stage at any time of year for any" … "Amend the effective period of time for any Stage, or" … "A Stage will remain in effect until it is terminated under this Bylaw, or until the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Stage 1, residential lawns: even-numbered civic addresses on Saturdays and odd-numbered addresses on Sundays; automatic systems 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., hand watering 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Stage 2 and higher: no lawn watering. Commercial and institutional lawns have their own days (Mondays and Tuesdays).
  - Source: [Waterworks Regulations Bylaw, 2017 (No. 2665-2017), consolidated to December 9, 2025, Schedule B, s. 3, 4, 5](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/ja11cikbj)
  - Official wording: "Water a Lawn, except for properties zoned for residential use:" … "when applying Automatic Watering on Saturdays between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.;" … "when applying Manual Watering on Saturdays between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.;" … "when applying Automatic Watering on Sundays between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.;" … "when applying Manual Watering on Sundays between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.;" … "when Stage 2 Restrictions are in force, no Person shall:" … "when applying Automatic Watering on Mondays between the hours of 4:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** Stages 1 and 2: trees, shrubs, decorative gardens and planters by hand watering, soaker hose or drip/micro-spray, and edible plants; automatic watering of those plants on residential properties from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. any day. Stage 3: hand or drip watering of trees, shrubs and gardens. Stage 4: no watering of lawns, gardens or edible plants.
  - Source: [Waterworks Regulations Bylaw, 2017 (No. 2665-2017), consolidated to December 9, 2025, Schedule B, s. 2, 9, 10, 15](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/ja11cikbj)
  - Official wording: "trees, shrubs, decorative gardens and planters if carried out by Manual Watering, or by" … "Soaker Hose or Drip/Micro Spray Irrigation;" … "applying Automatic Watering on properties zoned for residential between the hours of" … "if watering is carried out using Drip /Micro spray Irrigation;" … "When Stage 4 Restrictions are in force, no Person shall:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** A person who has installed a new lawn (sod, turf or seed) or new landscaping can apply to the General Manager for a sprinkling permit allowing watering at the set times. Fee: $50 in May, June and September; $100 in July and August; none October to April. No new permits in Stage 2; holders may not water the new lawn in Stage 3 or 4.
  - Source: [Waterworks Regulations Bylaw, 2017 (No. 2665-2017), consolidated to December 9, 2025, s. 32(9)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/ja11cikbj)
  - Official wording: "A Person who has installed a new Lawn, either by placing sod or turf or by seeding," … "shall not be allowed to water the new Lawn or landscaping during Stage 3 Restrictions and" … "Lawn Sprinkling Permit" means a permit issued to allow manual or automatic lawn watering for"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2006, Schedule I, Schedule I, s. 14](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1532)
  - Official wording: "14. SPRINKLING PERMIT" … "(a) October to April .................................................................................... No Charge" … "(b) May, June and September ..........................................................................$50.00" … "(c) July and August.........................................................................................$100.00"
  - Source: [Water Restrictions, Our Water Matters, Stage 2 Restrictions](https://www.ourwatermatters.ca/conservation/water-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "No lawn watering permits will be issued but existing permits will be honoured until they expire"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: $500 ($50 discount if paid within 14 days of delivery, so $450). Municipal ticket: $1,000 ($500 discount if paid in full by the 30th day after service, so $500). The City may also shut off water service until the offence is fixed and a reconnection fee is paid.
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw, 2020 (No. 3017), s. 6(a), 6(b), 17, 18, 28](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2020bylaw3017)
  - Official wording: "$500 for a bylaw contravention dealt with by bylaw notice;" … "$1 000 for a bylaw contravention dealt with by municipal ticket;" … "is discounted by $50 if the penalty is paid in full within 14 days of the delivery of the bylaw notice." … "is $500 if not paid within 30 days following the date the penalty becomes due and payable." … "is discounted by $500 if the penalty is paid in full by the 30th day from the date on which the ticket is served." … "The Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2007 and Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw, 2007 are"
  - Source: [Waterworks Regulations Bylaw, 2017 (No. 2665-2017), consolidated to December 9, 2025, s. 32(5)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/ja11cikbj)
  - Official wording: "commits an offence under this Bylaw is subject to enforcement and penalties in" … "accordance with the Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw." … "In addition, the City may cause Service"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Waterworks Regulations Bylaw, 2017 (Bylaw No. 2665-2017), s. 32 and Schedule B
  - Source: [Waterworks Regulations Bylaw, 2017 (No. 2665-2017), consolidated to December 9, 2025, title](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/ja11cikbj)
  - Official wording: "Waterworks Regulations Bylaw, 2017" … "Bylaw No. 2665-2017"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under s. 32 and Schedule B of the [Waterworks Regulations Bylaw](<https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/ja11cikbj>), Stage 1 applies every year from May 1 to September 30. The General Manager, by resolution, can change those dates or bring in a stricter stage (Stage 2, 3 or 4) at any time of year, and a stage stays in effect until it is ended. The bylaw does not state the current stage. Check ourwatermatters.ca.

## Stage 1 schedule

- Residential lawns: even-numbered civic addresses on Saturdays and odd-numbered addresses on Sundays. Automatic systems 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.; hand watering 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Commercial and institutional lawns have their own days (Mondays and Tuesdays).
- A hose must have an automatic shut-off device at all times in Stages 1 to 4.

## Good to know

- **Stage 2 and higher:** no lawn watering.
- **Trees, shrubs, gardens and edible plants:** in Stages 1 and 2, hand watering, soaker hose or drip/micro-spray is allowed, as is automatic watering of those plants on residential properties from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. any day. In Stage 3, hand or drip watering of trees, shrubs and gardens only; Stage 3 also stops filling hot tubs and pools and planting new trees, shrubs or turf. In Stage 4, no watering of lawns, gardens or edible plants.
- **New lawns:** if you have installed a new lawn (sod, turf or seed) or new landscaping, you can apply to the General Manager for a sprinkling permit allowing watering at the set times. Fee: $50 in May, June and September; $100 in July and August; none October to April. No new permits in Stage 2; holders may not water the new lawn in Stage 3 or 4.
- **Fines:** no specific amount is listed, so the general penalty applies: a $500 bylaw notice ($450 if paid within 14 days of delivery) or a $1,000 municipal ticket ($500 if paid in full by the 30th day after service). The City may also shut off water service until the offence is fixed and a reconnection fee is paid.

## Official forms and pages

- [Waterworks Regulations Bylaw, 2017 (No. 2665-2017)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/ja11cikbj)

## Related questions

- [Abbotsford bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Abbotsford garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/garbage-collection.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/water-restrictions.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/water-restrictions.md)
- [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/water-restrictions.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/water-restrictions.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/water-restrictions.md)
- [Pitt Meadows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Waterworks Regulations Bylaw, 2017 (No. 2665-2017), consolidated to December 9, 2025](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/ja11cikbj) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Water Restrictions, Our Water Matters](https://www.ourwatermatters.ca/conservation/water-restrictions) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2006, Schedule I](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1532) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw, 2020 (No. 3017)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2020bylaw3017) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Abbotsford. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/water-restrictions/_