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

# Campbell River watering restrictions

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In Campbell River the City Manager can declare Stage 1, 2 or 3 outdoor watering restrictions at any time. If none is declared by May 1, Stage 1 takes effect that day. At Stage 1, homes may sprinkle 5 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.: even house numbers Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, odd numbers Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Campbell River, https://www.campbellriver.ca)  
**Cost:** Municipal ticket: $75 for water use contrary to restrictions; $100 for unnecessary or wasteful use of water.  
**How long:** The City says lawn watering rules apply May 1 to September 30, with Stage 1 by default. The City Manager can declare a stage at any time.  
**Where:**
- Online: Water Alerts and Restrictions (current stage), https://www.campbellriver.ca/city-services/water/water-alerts-restrictions
- Phone: Water Hotline (temporary watering permits), 250-203-2316

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** The City Manager may declare Stage 1, 2 or 3 outdoor watering restrictions at any time. If none is declared by May 1, Stage 1 takes effect automatically that day. The City says lawn watering rules apply May 1 to September 30, with Stage 1 by default.
  - Source: [Water Regulations Bylaw No. 3216, 2006 (consolidated), s. 62](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3216-water-regulations-bylaw-consolidated-4007-2026pdf)
  - Official wording: "If the City Manager has not declared an outdoor water use restriction by" … "May 1 of any year, stage 1 restrictions come into force and take effect on"
  - Source: [Water Alerts and Restrictions, Lawn Watering Restrictions](https://www.campbellriver.ca/city-services/water/water-alerts-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "Lawn watering regulations are in effect May 1 to September 30."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Sprinklers or automatic irrigation on homes. Stage 1: 5 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.; even house numbers Monday, Wednesday, Saturday; odd numbers Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday. Stage 2: same hours; even numbers Monday only, odd numbers Thursday only. Stage 3: none. Non-residential has its own earlier hours.
  - Source: [Water Regulations Bylaw No. 3216, 2006 (consolidated), Sch. A](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3216-water-regulations-bylaw-consolidated-4007-2026pdf)
  - Official wording: "No Customer shall use a Sprinkler or Automated Irrigation System to water any" … "except 5 a.m. to" … "on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday for even numbered addresses; and" … "on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday for odd numbered addresses." … "on Monday for even numbered addresses; and" … "on Thursday for odd numbered addresses." … "No customer shall use a Sprinkler or Automated Irrigation System to water a" … "lawn, garden, tree or shrub on a Residential property at any time"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** Hand watering, or a hose with a spring-loaded shut-off nozzle, of gardens, trees and shrubs is allowed at any time in every stage (not lawns in Stage 3). Rainwater, grey water and recycled water are not restricted. Playing fields, nurseries, farms and community gardens have exemptions.
  - Source: [Water Regulations Bylaw No. 3216, 2006 (consolidated), Sch. A, s. 65](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3216-water-regulations-bylaw-consolidated-4007-2026pdf)
  - Official wording: "a Customer may use a hand watering and/or spring loaded type nozzles" … "No Customer shall Hand Water any lawn." … "Watering restrictions under this bylaw do not apply to the use of rainwater, Gray"
  - Source: [Water Alerts and Restrictions, Lawn Watering Restrictions](https://www.campbellriver.ca/city-services/water/water-alerts-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "is allowed at any time during the day in all watering restriction stages."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** Permit for new sod (21 days) or new seed (45 days) to be watered outside the usual days, 5 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. any day. Permits are issued only during Stage 1, stay valid in Stage 2, and do not allow watering in Stage 3. Phone 250-203-2316.
  - Source: [Water Regulations Bylaw No. 3216, 2006 (consolidated), s. 63](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3216-water-regulations-bylaw-consolidated-4007-2026pdf)
  - Official wording: "Permits may only be issued during Stage 1" … "new sod within 21 days of planting; and" … "and may not water during stage 3."
  - Source: [Water Alerts and Restrictions, Temporary Water Permits](https://www.campbellriver.ca/city-services/water/water-alerts-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "Contact the City at 250-203-2316 for more information."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket: $75 for water use contrary to restrictions (s. 61); $100 for unnecessary or wasteful use of water.
  - Source: [Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw No. 3322, 2007 (consolidated to Bylaw 4003, 2025), Sch. 30](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3322-ticketing-bylaw-offences-consolidated-bylaw-4003-2025pdf)
  - Official wording: "Water use contrary to restrictions" … "Unnecessary or wasteful use of water"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Water Regulations Bylaw No. 3216, 2006 (Part 11 and Schedule A)
  - Source: [Water Regulations Bylaw No. 3216, 2006 (consolidated), Part 11](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3216-water-regulations-bylaw-consolidated-4007-2026pdf)
  - Official wording: "Amd Bylaw 3562 Oct/14 61-67 PART 11- WATERING RESTRICTIONS 61. When an outdoor water use restriction is in effect, no customer shall use or" … "PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA BYLAW NO. 3216, 2006 A BYLAW OF THE CITY OF CAMPBELL RIVER TO AUTHORIZE REGULATIONS"
  - Source: [Water Regulations Bylaw No. 3216, 2006 (consolidated), title](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3216-water-regulations-bylaw-consolidated-4007-2026pdf)
  - Official wording: "BYLAW NO. 3216, 2006"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Water Regulations Bylaw](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3216-water-regulations-bylaw-consolidated-4007-2026pdf) (Part 11 and Schedule A) lets the City Manager declare Stage 1, 2 or 3 outdoor watering restrictions in Campbell River at any time. If none is declared by May 1, Stage 1 takes effect automatically that day. The City says its lawn watering rules apply May 1 to September 30. The City page does not state the current stage.

## Steps

1. Check the current stage on the City's Water Alerts and Restrictions page.
2. Sprinklers or automatic irrigation on homes: Stage 1, 5 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m., even house numbers Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, odd numbers Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Stage 2, same hours, even numbers Monday only, odd numbers Thursday only. Stage 3, none.
3. Non-residential properties have earlier hours: 1 to 8 a.m. at Stage 1 and 1 to 5 a.m. at Stage 2. Properties count as non-residential if watering of common areas is controlled by a central system or strata.
4. For new sod or seed, get a temporary permit by phone from 250-203-2316.

## Good to know

- Hand watering, or a hose with a spring-loaded shut-off nozzle, of gardens, trees and shrubs is allowed at any time in every stage (not lawns in Stage 3). Rainwater, grey water and recycled water are not restricted. Playing fields, nurseries, farms and community gardens have exemptions.
- A new-lawn permit covers new sod for 21 days or new seed for 45 days, with watering 5 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. any day. Permits are issued only during Stage 1, stay valid in Stage 2, and do not allow watering in Stage 3.

## Official forms and pages

- [Water Alerts and Restrictions page](https://www.campbellriver.ca/city-services/water/water-alerts-restrictions)
- [Water Regulations Bylaw 3216, 2006 (PDF)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3216-water-regulations-bylaw-consolidated-4007-2026pdf)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/water-restrictions.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/water-restrictions.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/water-restrictions.md)
- [Powell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/water-restrictions.md)
- [Sayward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/water-restrictions.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Water Regulations Bylaw No. 3216, 2006 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3216-water-regulations-bylaw-consolidated-4007-2026pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Water Alerts and Restrictions, City of Campbell River](https://www.campbellriver.ca/city-services/water/water-alerts-restrictions) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw No. 3322, 2007 (consolidated to Bylaw 4003, 2025) (PDF)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3322-ticketing-bylaw-offences-consolidated-bylaw-4003-2025pdf) (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 Campbell River. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/water-restrictions/_