Burnaby watering restrictions

Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?

Burnaby, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

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.Burnaby Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 1953 (No. 3325), consolidated, Schedule B, Schedule B, ss. 1.1, 2.1, 2.2; Watering Restrictions, Watering Restrictions page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 Metro Vancouver regional watering restrictions are in effect from May 1 to October 15.
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.Burnaby Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 1953 (No. 3325), consolidated, Schedule B, Schedule B, ss. 6.1, 7.1; Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver, Stage 1; Watering Restrictions, Stage 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 - 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 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.
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.Burnaby Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 1953 (No. 3325), consolidated, Schedule B, Schedule B, ss. 5.1, 6.1; Watering Restrictions, Stage 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 Vegetable gardens can be watered any time. Hoses must have an automatic shut-off nozzle.
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 below.Burnaby Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 1953 (No. 3325), consolidated, Schedule B, Schedule B, ss. 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5; Watering Restrictions, Lawn watering exemption permits; Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw 14485, Schedule C14, Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw, Schedule C14 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 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 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
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).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 12657, Schedule A, Schedule A, Waterworks Regulation Bylaw, Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
Bylaw	Burnaby Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 1953 (Bylaw No. 3325), Schedule B (Water Shortage Restrictions).Burnaby Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 1953 (No. 3325), consolidated, Schedule B, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Burnaby Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 1953

How it works

The Waterworks Regulation Bylaw, 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

The same question in other places

New Westminster · Richmond · Port Moody · Belcarra · Vancouver · Coquitlam

Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Watering Restrictions, City of Burnaby (read 2026-11-05)
Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver (read 2026-11-05)
Burnaby Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 1953 (No. 3325), consolidated, Schedule B (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw 14485, Schedule C14 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 12657, Schedule A (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)

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