---
title: Central Saanich watering restrictions
question: "Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Central Saanich?"
place: Central Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/central-saanich
category: Water, sewer, roads and snow
owner: regional
owner_body: Capital Regional District
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/water-restrictions/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/water-restrictions.json"
---

# Central Saanich watering restrictions

**Question:** Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Central Saanich?

**Short answer:** Yes. From May 1 to September 30 each year, the Capital Regional District's Stage 1 rules apply to customers of the Regional Water Supply System. Odd street numbers may water lawns Thursdays and Sundays; even numbers Wednesdays and Saturdays.

**Who handles it:** Regional district (Capital Regional District, https://www.crd.ca)  
**Cost:** A 2020 CRD ticket schedule lists $200 for watering a lawn outside the Stage 1 days and times. Court fine $100 to $10,000. Confirm with the CRD.  
**How long:** Stage 1 runs every year from May 1 to September 30. Higher stages start 48 hours after notice.  
**Where:**
- Online: CRD watering schedule, https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Stage 1 of the CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099 applies every year from May 1 to September 30 to customers of the Regional Water Supply System. The CRD can start Stage 2 or 3 at any time; higher stages start 48 hours after notice. The District's Municipal Engineer may also order restrictions.
  - Source: [Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District, Water Conservation Bylaw](https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule)
  - Official wording: "is in effect May 1 through September 30 every year." … "take effect 48 hours after the notice for that stage"
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Regional Bylaws](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/programs-services/bylaw-enforcement)
  - Official wording: "Some bylaws affecting Central Saanich residents are enforced by the CRD, including:"
  - Source: [Waterworks Regulation and Fee Bylaw No. 2063, s. 20](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2023-05/2063_-_waterworks_regulation_bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The Municipal Engineer may from time to time, for the conservation of water, order restrictions"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Lawn watering, May 1 to Sept 30. Odd street numbers: Thursdays and Sundays. Even numbers: Wednesdays and Saturdays. Any method: 4 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m. Timed or automatic irrigation: 12:01 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m.
  - Source: [Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District, Lawn Watering](https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule)
  - Official wording: "Thursdays & Sundays" … "Wednesdays & Saturdays" … "12:01-10 am or 7-10 pm"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** Stage 1: hand watering (container or hose with automatic shut-off nozzle) and micro or drip irrigation any day, any time. Trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables by sprinkler: any day, 4 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m. Vehicles and boats: container or shut-off nozzle. Pools, hot tubs and ponds may be filled in Stage 1.
  - Source: [Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District, Established trees; Vehicle and Boat Washing; Pools](https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule)
  - Official wording: "Hand Watering & Micro/Drip Irrigation" … "A person may wash their vehicle or boat anytime using a handheld container" … "You may use water to fill wading pools, swimming pools, hot tubs, or garden pond"
  - Source: [CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099, Schedule A, s. 1(1)(b)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016)
  - Official wording: "water trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables on any day with a Sprinkler other than during the prescribed hours for Stage 1 lawn watering"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** No permit is needed for new sod or newly seeded lawns. Water them 4 to 10 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.: new sod on installation and for 21 days; seeded lawns until established or 49 days, whichever is less.
  - Source: [Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District, New Sod and/or Newly Seeded Lawns](https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule)
  - Official wording: "A permit is not required to install new sod and/or newly seeded lawns." … "during the first 21 days after installation"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** CRD ticket: $200 for watering a lawn outside the Stage 1 days and times (Stage 2 $250, Stage 3 $400) or using water contrary to a restriction. Court fine $100 to $10,000, per day (Bylaw 4099 s. 10).
  - Source: [CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw, Schedule 26, Schedule 26 (Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1857-consolidated-capital-regional-district-ticket-information-authorization-bylaw-1990b)
  - Official wording: "Stage 1 – water lawn contrary to odd-numbered Sch. A 1.(1)(a)(ii) $200.00" … "Water contrary to restriction 7.(4) $200.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Capital Regional District Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099
  - Source: [Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District, Water Conservation Bylaw](https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule)
  - Official wording: "Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The watering rules are the Capital Regional District's [Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099](<https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016>). Stage 1 applies every year from May 1 to September 30 to customers of the Regional Water Supply System. The CRD can start Stage 2 or 3 at any time, and higher stages start 48 hours after notice. The District's Municipal Engineer may also order restrictions under its Waterworks Regulation and Fee Bylaw No. 2063.

## Steps

1. Check that your property is on the regional system. The District's pages do not say whether every property is.
2. Water your lawn by street number. Odd numbers: Thursdays and Sundays. Even numbers: Wednesdays and Saturdays.
3. Use any method between 4 and 10 a.m. or 7 and 10 p.m. Timed or automatic irrigation may run from 12:01 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m.
4. Check the CRD watering schedule page for the current stage.

## Good to know

- Stage 1 exemptions: hand watering (container or hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle) and micro or drip irrigation, any day, any time.
- Trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables by sprinkler: any day, 4 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m.
- Vehicles and boats: wash with a container or shut-off nozzle. Pools, hot tubs and ponds may be filled in Stage 1.
- New sod and newly seeded lawns need no permit. Water them 4 to 10 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.: new sod on installation and for 21 days; seeded lawns until established or 49 days, whichever is less.
- Farms and nurseries are exempt from the bylaw.
- Fines: the CRD ticket schedule lists $200 for watering a lawn outside the Stage 1 days and times (Stage 2 $250, Stage 3 $400). A court fine is $100 to $10,000 per day. Confirm with the CRD.

## Official forms and pages

- [CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099 (PDF)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/water-restrictions.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/water-restrictions.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/water-restrictions.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/water-restrictions.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/water-restrictions.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule) (read 2026-11-06)
- [CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099 (PDF)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016) (read 2026-11-06)
- [CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw, Schedule 26 (PDF)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1857-consolidated-capital-regional-district-ticket-information-authorization-bylaw-1990b) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Waterworks Regulation and Fee Bylaw No. 2063 (PDF)](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2023-05/2063_-_waterworks_regulation_bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, District of Central Saanich](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/programs-services/bylaw-enforcement) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Capital Regional District. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/water-restrictions/_