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

# Burnaby watering restrictions

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In Burnaby, Stage 1 watering restrictions apply every year from May 1 to October 15 unless the Greater Vancouver Water District Commissioner declares a higher stage. In Stage 1, residential lawns may be watered one morning a week: Saturday for even-numbered addresses, Sunday for odd.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice (amount if paid within 15 days in brackets): Stage 1 $150 ($100); Stage 2 $250 ($200); Stage 3 $350 ($300); Stage 4 $500 ($450). New-lawn Watering Permit: $67 in the fee bylaw ($65 with taxes on the City's page); free for nematode chafer treatment.  
**How long:** A Watering Permit lasts 21 days, with one extension to 42 days.  
**Where:**
- Online: Report lawn watering violations, https://www.burnaby.ca/form/report-lawn-watering-violations
- Phone: Water Conservation Officers, 604-293-6528
- Online: Apply for a lawn watering exemption permit (My Permits Portal), https://mypermits.burnaby.ca/
- Email: Water restrictions questions, waterrestrictions@burnaby.ca

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Stage 1 restrictions are in force every year from May 1 to October 15, unless the Greater Vancouver Water District Commissioner activates a higher stage (Stage 2, 3 or 4) at any time, effective on the declared date.
  - Source: [Burnaby Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 1953 (No. 3325), consolidated, Schedule B, Schedule B, ss. 1.1, 2.1, 2.2](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/3325CC.pdf)
  - Official wording: "“Stage 1 Restrictions Period” means May 1 until October 15 of each year," … "Stage 1 Restrictions are in force during the Stage 1 Restrictions Period, unless the" … "The GVWD Commissioner may, at any time, activate and deactivate Stage 2"
  - Source: [Watering Restrictions, Watering Restrictions page](https://www.burnaby.ca/services-and-payments/water-and-sewers/watering-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "Metro Vancouver regional watering restrictions are in effect from May 1 to October 15."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Stage 1, residential: lawns may be watered only on Saturdays for even-numbered civic addresses and Sundays for odd-numbered addresses; automatic systems 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., manual (hand-held) watering 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Non-residential and mixed-use: Mondays (even) and Tuesdays (odd), automatic 4 a.m. to 6 a.m., manual 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Stage 2 and higher: lawn watering is prohibited.
  - Source: [Burnaby Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 1953 (No. 3325), consolidated, Schedule B, Schedule B, ss. 6.1, 7.1](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/3325CC.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Even-numbered civic addresses: restricted to Saturdays" … "Odd-numbered civic addresses: restricted to Sundays" … "- automatic watering from 5 am to 7 am" … "- manual watering from 6 am to 9 am" … "RESIDENTIAL Watering Lawns Prohibited"
  - Source: [Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver, Stage 1](https://metrovancouver.org/services/water/water-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "- Residential lawn watering allowed: Even-numbered addresses: Saturdays Odd-numbered addresses: Sundays Automatic watering: 5:00 am - 7:00 am" … "Residential lawn watering allowed: Even-numbered addresses: Saturdays Odd-numbered addresses: Sundays Automatic watering: 5:00 am - 7:00 am Manual watering: 6:00 am - 9:00 am"
  - Source: [Watering Restrictions, Stage 1](https://www.burnaby.ca/services-and-payments/water-and-sewers/watering-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "Watering lawns is permitted 1 morning per week. Automatic watering is permitted from 5 am to 7 am. Manual watering is permitted from 6 am to 9 am."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** Stage 1: trees, shrubs and flowers (not edible plants) may be watered any day at any time by hand-held hose, soaker hose, water container or drip irrigation; by sprinkler only 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. (4 a.m. to 9 a.m. non-residential). Vegetable gardens can be watered at any time (City page). Hoses must have an automatic shut-off device, and water may not run off onto driveways or gutters. Rainwater, grey water and recycled water are not covered.
  - Source: [Burnaby Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 1953 (No. 3325), consolidated, Schedule B, Schedule B, ss. 5.1, 6.1](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/3325CC.pdf)
  - Official wording: "all hoses shall have an automatic shut-off device;" … "Permitted on any day at any time if using a handheld" … "Restricted to 5 am to 9 am on any day if using a sprinkler"
  - Source: [Watering Restrictions, Stage 1](https://www.burnaby.ca/services-and-payments/water-and-sewers/watering-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "Vegetable gardens can be watered any time." … "Hoses must have an automatic shut-off nozzle."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** A Watering Permit lets new lawns and chafer-beetle-treated lawns be watered outside restricted times. It lasts 21 days, with one extension to 42 days, and is not issued or extended in Stage 2, 3 or 4. Fee $67 per the fee bylaw (City page says $65 with taxes); free for nematode chafer treatment. Apply on the City's online portal. (Sources differ: see the sources)
  - Source: [Burnaby Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 1953 (No. 3325), consolidated, Schedule B, Schedule B, ss. 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/3325CC.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a person who has installed a new Lawn, either by placing sod or turf or by seeding" … "21 days after the date of issuance, unless the Watering Permit has been extended" … "shall not issue or extend a Watering Permit when" … "post the Watering Permit in a location within the property that is easily visible"
  - Source: [Watering Restrictions, Lawn watering exemption permits](https://www.burnaby.ca/services-and-payments/water-and-sewers/watering-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "You must pay the $65 fee (includes taxes) before we can issue a permit." … "The permit is free when it's for treating European chafer beetles." … "waterrestrictions@burnaby.ca"
  - Source: [Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw 14485, Schedule C14, Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw, Schedule C14](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/14485CC.pdf)
  - Official wording: "o At Property Line $410.00 o At Main $4,100.00 ▪ Watering Permit $67.00 *Refer to Complex Area Location Table Complex Area Location Table"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice, for not complying with the restriction stage in force: Stage 1 $150 ($100 if paid within 15 days); Stage 2 $250 ($200); Stage 3 $350 ($300); Stage 4 $500 ($450). Related: hose without automatic shut-off $200 ($160); running a hose or tap unnecessarily $200 ($160); breaking a Watering Permit $100 ($80).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 12657, Schedule A, Schedule A, Waterworks Regulation Bylaw, Schedule B](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/12657CC.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Not complying with Stage 1 Restriction 150 100 NO" … "Not complying with Stage 2 Restriction 250 200 NO" … "Not complying with Stage 3 Restriction 350 300 NO" … "Not complying with Stage 4 Restriction 500 450 NO" … "Running hose or tap unnecessarily 200 160 NO"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Burnaby Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 1953 (Bylaw No. 3325), Schedule B (Water Shortage Restrictions).
  - Source: [Burnaby Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 1953 (No. 3325), consolidated, Schedule B, title](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/3325CC.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Burnaby Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 1953"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Waterworks Regulation Bylaw](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/3325CC.pdf), Schedule B, sets Stage 1 restrictions every year from May 1 to October 15. The Greater Vancouver Water District Commissioner can activate Stage 2, 3 or 4 at any time. To see the current stage, check metrovancouver.org/lawns or the City's Watering Restrictions page. In Stage 2 and higher, lawn watering is prohibited.

## Stage 1 rules

- Residential lawns: Saturday for even-numbered civic addresses, Sunday for odd-numbered. Automatic systems 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.; hand-held watering 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Non-residential and mixed-use lawns: Monday (even) and Tuesday (odd). Automatic 4 a.m. to 6 a.m.; manual 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Trees, shrubs and flowers (not edible plants): any day, any time by hand-held hose, soaker hose, water container or drip irrigation; by sprinkler only 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. (4 a.m. to 9 a.m. non-residential).
- Vegetable gardens can be watered at any time, according to the City's and Metro Vancouver's pages.
- Hoses need an automatic shut-off device, and water may not run off onto driveways or gutters.

## Watering Permit for new lawns

A permit lets new lawns and chafer-beetle-treated lawns be watered outside restricted times. It lasts 21 days with one extension to 42 days, and is not issued or extended in Stage 2, 3 or 4. Apply on the City's online portal. The fee is $67 in the fee bylaw; the City's page says $65 with taxes. The bylaw figure is used here, so confirm when you apply. It is free for nematode chafer treatment.

## Good to know

- The City's page says only "1 morning per week"; the bylaw and Metro Vancouver give the days above.
- Other bylaw notices (amount if paid within 15 days in brackets): hose without automatic shut-off $200 ($160); running a hose or tap unnecessarily $200 ($160); breaking a Watering Permit $100 ($80). A court fine can reach $10,000.
- To report a violation, use the City's online form or call 604-293-6528.

## Official forms and pages

- [Watering Restrictions, City of Burnaby](https://www.burnaby.ca/services-and-payments/water-and-sewers/watering-restrictions)
- [Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver](https://metrovancouver.org/services/water/water-restrictions)
- [Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 3325 (consolidated PDF)](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/3325CC.pdf)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/water-restrictions.md)
- [Richmond](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/water-restrictions.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/water-restrictions.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/water-restrictions.md)
- [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/water-restrictions.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Watering Restrictions, City of Burnaby](https://www.burnaby.ca/services-and-payments/water-and-sewers/watering-restrictions) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver](https://metrovancouver.org/services/water/water-restrictions) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Burnaby Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 1953 (No. 3325), consolidated, Schedule B (PDF)](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/3325CC.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw 14485, Schedule C14 (PDF)](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/14485CC.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 12657, Schedule A (PDF)](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/12657CC.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

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