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

# Castlegar watering restrictions

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Castlegar, water restrictions run June 15 to September 15 each year. Sprinkling is banned from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., and the City may also limit watering to odd addresses on odd dates and even on even. The ticket is $50.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Castlegar, https://www.castlegar.ca)  
**Cost:** $50 ticket for failing to comply with water restrictions; $10 for a Water Use Exemption Permit.  
**How long:** Restrictions apply June 15 to September 15; the City may also restrict use at any time of water shortage.  
**Where:**
- In person: City Hall (exemption permit applications), 460 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar, BC V1N 1G7
- Phone: City Hall, 250-365-7227

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** June 15 to September 15 each year. The City may also restrict or prohibit irrigation, yard and garden watering, car washing and private pool filling whenever there is a water shortage. No current stage is stated.
  - Source: [Water Regulations and Rates Bylaw 1357, consolidated to December 2025, Water Regulations and Rates Bylaw 1357, Schedule H s. 1 and s. 4.15](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Consolidated-1357-Water-Regulations-and-Rates-Bylaw-3.pdf)
  - Official wording: "During the period from June 15 to September 15 of each year use of water for irrigation or" … "sprinkling will be prohibited:" … "restrict or prohibit irrigation, yard and garden watering, car washing and private pool filling to reduce water usage."
  - Source: [Water Restrictions, City page: Water Restrictions](https://castlegar.ca/services/utilities-infrastructure/water/water-restrictions/)
  - Official wording: "June 15 to September 15"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** June 15 to September 15: sprinkling is banned 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. (Schedule H s. 1). The City also limits watering to odd addresses on odd dates and even on even, at its discretion (s. 2); its page shows this as the summer rule. Timer systems: 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., alternating days.
  - Source: [Water Regulations and Rates Bylaw 1357, consolidated to December 2025, Bylaw 1357, Schedule H ss. 1-2](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Consolidated-1357-Water-Regulations-and-Rates-Bylaw-3.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(a) between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., and" … "(b) between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m." … "numbered days of the month." … "with a water regulating" … "system shall be permitted to water between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. on an" … "alternating day basis." … "Notwithstanding Paragraph 1, of Schedule “H”, the City may, whenever in its discretion the public interest so requires, suspend or limit the use of water from the City water system, or may further regulate the hours of use, or may further prescribe the manner in which such water may be used."
  - Source: [Water Restrictions, City page: Water Restrictions](https://castlegar.ca/services/utilities-infrastructure/water/water-restrictions/)
  - Official wording: "Water Sprinkling & Car Washing Restricted to Every 2nd Day" … "Residents at odd number addresses (ending in 1, 3, 5, 7 OR 9) water on odd number calendar days" … "Morning 5:00 am to 11:00 am" … "Evening 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm" … "Overnight 11:00 pm to 5:00 am"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** Commercial nursery operations, public works activities and repair work, and water parks are exempt from the sprinkling-hours ban. Hand watering, drip irrigation and food gardens are not mentioned.
  - Source: [Water Regulations and Rates Bylaw 1357, consolidated to December 2025, Bylaw 1357, Schedule H s. 6](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Consolidated-1357-Water-Regulations-and-Rates-Bylaw-3.pdf)
  - Official wording: "exempt from Paragraph 1, of Schedule “H”: commercial" … "nursery operations, public works activities and repair work, and water parks."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** Yes. A Water Use Exemption Permit ($10) may be issued for watering a new residential lawn or landscaping installation or construction. The sprinkling hours must still be followed. Apply in person at City Hall.
  - Source: [Apply for a Water Use Exemption Permit, City page: Apply for a Water Use Exemption Permit](https://castlegar.ca/services/utilities-infrastructure/water/apply-for-a-water-use-exemption-permit/)
  - Official wording: "watering a new residential lawn or landscaping installation or construction" … "Approved Water Use Exemption Permits are subject to a $10 fee and hours for sprinkling during active water restrictions must continue to be adhered to." … "Applications can be submitted in person at:"
  - Source: [Water Regulations and Rates Bylaw 1357, consolidated to December 2025, Bylaw 1357, Schedule E and Schedule H s. 4](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Consolidated-1357-Water-Regulations-and-Rates-Bylaw-3.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Exemption permit: $ 10.00" … "(a) New residential lawn or landscaping installation or construction."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket: $50 for failure to comply with water restrictions (s. 4.16).
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179, consolidated to June 2026, Schedule B-8 (Water Regulations and Rates Bylaw)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "4.16 Failure to comply with water restrictions $50"
  - Source: [Water Restrictions, City page: Water Restrictions](https://castlegar.ca/services/utilities-infrastructure/water/water-restrictions/)
  - Official wording: "$50 fine Levied for Non-Compliance."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Water Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1357 (Schedule H, Water Restrictions)
  - Source: [Water Regulations and Rates Bylaw 1357, consolidated to December 2025, Bylaw 1357, Schedule H](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Consolidated-1357-Water-Regulations-and-Rates-Bylaw-3.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Schedule “H” to the Waterworks Regulation and Rates Bylaw No. 1357, 2021"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

[Water Regulations and Rates Bylaw 1357](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Consolidated-1357-Water-Regulations-and-Rates-Bylaw-3.pdf) (Schedule H) sets water restrictions in the City of Castlegar from June 15 to September 15 each year. The City may also restrict or prohibit irrigation, yard and garden watering, car washing and private pool filling whenever there is a water shortage. No current stage is posted in the sources read; check the City's [Water Restrictions page](https://castlegar.ca/services/utilities-infrastructure/water/water-restrictions/).

## Steps

1. Do not sprinkle from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. or from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
2. The City may also limit watering to odd-numbered addresses on odd dates and even-numbered addresses on even dates (Schedule H section 2, at the City's discretion). Its page shows this as the summer rule.
3. Timer systems run from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., on alternating days. Car washing is allowed on your regular watering day.

## Good to know

- Commercial nursery operations, public works activities and repair work, and water parks are exempt from the sprinkling-hours ban. Hand watering, drip irrigation and food gardens are not mentioned.
- A Water Use Exemption Permit ($10) may be issued for watering a new residential lawn or landscaping, or for installation or construction. You must still follow the sprinkling hours. Apply in person at City Hall. Permits may also be issued for dust control or cleaning at metered commercial or multi-family sites, and for work under a building or development permit; a permit can be revoked at any time.
- The ticket is $50 for failing to comply (Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179).

## What you'll need

- Completed Water Use Exemption Permit form

## Official forms and pages

- [Water Restrictions page](https://castlegar.ca/services/utilities-infrastructure/water/water-restrictions/)
- [Water Use Exemption Permit (fillable PDF)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Water-Use-Exemption-Permit-FILLABLE.pdf)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/water-restrictions.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/water-restrictions.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/water-restrictions.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/water-restrictions.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/water-restrictions.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Water Restrictions, City of Castlegar](https://castlegar.ca/services/utilities-infrastructure/water/water-restrictions/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Apply for a Water Use Exemption Permit, City of Castlegar](https://castlegar.ca/services/utilities-infrastructure/water/apply-for-a-water-use-exemption-permit/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Water Regulations and Rates Bylaw 1357, consolidated to December 2025 (PDF)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Consolidated-1357-Water-Regulations-and-Rates-Bylaw-3.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179, consolidated to June 2026 (PDF)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf) (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 Castlegar. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/water-restrictions/_