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

# Chilliwack watering restrictions

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

**Short answer:** Yes. The City of Chilliwack automatically enters Stage 1 watering restrictions each year from May 1 to October 15. In Stage 1, even addresses may sprinkle lawns Wednesday and Saturday, odd addresses Thursday and Sunday, between 5 and 8 a.m. or 7 and 10 p.m.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Chilliwack, https://www.chilliwack.com)  
**Cost:** A Water Restriction Exemption Certificate for a new lawn costs $50. A ticket for breaking the restrictions is $100.  
**How long:** Stage 1 applies May 1 to October 15 each year; stricter stages apply only if the City activates them and can change at any time. A new-lawn certificate lasts three weeks in Stage 1 and two weeks in Stage 2.  
**Where:**
- Email: Engineering Department (exemptions and violations), engineeringinfo@chilliwack.com
- Phone: Engineering Department, 604-793-2907

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Stage 1 applies automatically every year from May 1 to October 15. Stages 2, 3 and 4 apply only if activated at the discretion of the Director of Engineering, based on the aquifer water level, and can change at any time. The current stage is not stated in the text (checked November 5, 2026, outside the season).
  - Source: [Summer Watering Restrictions, City page](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=1038)
  - Official wording: "Outdoor watering restrictions are in effect May 1 to October 15 each year."
  - Source: [Water Conservation Stage Triggers, Stage triggers](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=3156)
  - Official wording: "Annually from May 1 - October 15, the City automatically enters Stage 1."
  - Source: [Stage 2 plan](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=7220)
  - Official wording: "In effect if activated: at the discretion of the Director of Engineering"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Stage 1: even street addresses Wednesday and Saturday, odd addresses Thursday and Sunday, only 5 to 8 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m. Apartments, townhouses and stratas follow the complex address. Stage 2: even addresses Wednesday only, odd addresses Thursday only, 5 to 8 a.m. only. Stages 3 and 4: lawn sprinkling with treated drinking water prohibited.
  - Source: [Summer Watering Restrictions, City page](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=1038)
  - Official wording: "Even addresses - Wednesday & Saturday" … "Odd addresses - Thursday & Sunday" … "Watering can only occur between 5 - 8 am or 7 - 10 pm on these days." … "Apartments, townhouses, and stratas follow complex addresses, not individual unit numbers."
  - Source: [Stage 2 plan](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=7220)
  - Official wording: "Even street addresses – Wednesday" … "Odd street addresses – Thursday" … "5 - 8am only"
  - Source: [Stage 3 Lawn Sprinkling plan](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=7274)
  - Official wording: "All forms of lawn watering using treated drinking water are prohibited."
  - Source: [Stage 4 Lawn Sprinkling plan](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=7462)
  - Official wording: "All forms of lawn watering using treated drinking water are prohibited."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05
- **Allowed at any time:** Stage 1: gardens, flowers, shrubs and trees may be watered any time of day with a hand-held container, a hose with a spring-loaded shutoff nozzle, a soaker hose or drip irrigation; pools, spas, garden ponds, fountains and golf courses are unrestricted. Stage 2: gardens, flowers, shrubs and trees by hand-held container, hose with a shut off device or soaker hose; pools, spas and garden ponds unrestricted; non-recirculating fountains prohibited. Stage 3: same garden watering as Stage 2, but filling or topping up pools, spas and garden ponds and all fountain use are prohibited. Stage 4: garden watering is prohibited (at the discretion of the City). The plans do not name food gardens separately.
  - Source: [Summer Watering Restrictions, City page FAQ](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=1038)
  - Official wording: "Stage 1 restrictions allow watering any time of the day using handheld containers, a hose with a spring-loaded shutoff nozzle, a soaker hose or drip irrigation."
  - Source: [Stage 1 Lawn Sprinkling plan, Stage 1 plan](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=8072)
  - Official wording: "Any time of day, watering using a hand-held"
  - Source: [Stage 2 plan](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=7220)
  - Official wording: "Watering using a hand-held container,"
  - Source: [Stage 3 Lawn Sprinkling plan, Stage 3 plan; Stage 4 plan water-7462](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=7274)
  - Official wording: "Watering using a hand-held container," … "All filling or topping up of pools, spas, or garden"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05
- **New lawns:** New unestablished lawns (new sod or seed) need a Water Restriction Exemption Certificate (fee $50). In Stage 1 it allows watering any day between 5 to 8 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m. (three-week permit); in Stage 2, 5 to 8 a.m. only (two-week permit). No new permits in Stages 3 and 4. Apply by email to engineeringinfo@chilliwack.com with the sod or seed receipt, a photo, name, address and phone.
  - Source: [Summer Watering Restrictions, City page](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=1038)
  - Official wording: "New unestablished lawns require a Water Restriction Exemption Certificate." … "During Stage 2 water restrictions, watering new lawns is allowed only between 5 - 8 am." … "Receipt (for new sod or seed)"
  - Source: [Stage 1 Lawn Sprinkling plan, Stage 1 plan](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=8072)
  - Official wording: "Three-week permit required for daily watering"
  - Source: [Stage 2 plan](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=7220)
  - Official wording: "Two-week permit required for daily watering"
  - Source: [Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 2004, No. 2995, Schedule B item 6](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=1180)
  - Official wording: "WATER RESTRICTION EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE FEE: $ 50.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05
- **Fine:** $100 (early payment $90, late payment $110), for 'Disobey Water Use Restriction', under Schedule A of the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2018, No. 4573. Watering outside a certificate's times may also lead to its revocation.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule A, Schedule A, Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 2995](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=2436)
  - Official wording: "Disobey Water Use Restriction" … "57(2) 100.00 90.00 110.00"
  - Source: [Summer Watering Restrictions, City page FAQ](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=1038)
  - Official wording: "Watering outside of these times may result in the revocation of the certificate and a fine."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05
- **Bylaw:** Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 2004, No. 2995 (s. 61(2)); the stages are set out in the City's Water Conservation Plan stage documents
  - Source: [Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 2004, No. 2995, s. 61(2)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=1180)
  - Official wording: "no person may use water to irrigate a lawn or garden, or to wash a vehicle or"
  - Source: [Water Conservation Stage Triggers, Stage triggers](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=3156)
  - Official wording: "There are 4 stages to the City of Chilliwack's water conservation plan."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05

## How it works

Chilliwack's water conservation plan has four stages, set under the [Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 2004, No. 2995](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=1180) (s. 61(2)). Stage 1 starts automatically every year on May 1 and runs to October 15. Stages 2, 3 and 4 apply only if the Director of Engineering activates them, based on the water level in the Sardis-Vedder Aquifer, and stages can change at any time and in any order. Check the current stage at chilliwack.com/waterrestrictions. The restrictions apply only to users of City water, not private wells.

## Good to know

- Stage 1 lawn sprinkling: even addresses Wednesday and Saturday, odd addresses Thursday and Sunday, only 5 to 8 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m. Apartments, townhouses and stratas follow the complex address, not the unit number.
- Stage 2: even addresses Wednesday only, odd addresses Thursday only, 5 to 8 a.m. only.
- Stages 3 and 4: sprinkling lawns with treated drinking water is prohibited.
- Gardens, flowers, shrubs and trees: in Stage 1, water any time with a hand-held container, a hose with a spring-loaded shutoff nozzle, a soaker hose or drip irrigation. Stage 2 and 3 allow a hand-held container, a hose with a shut-off device or a soaker hose. Stage 4 prohibits garden watering at the City's discretion. The plans do not name food gardens separately.
- Pools, spas and garden ponds: unrestricted in Stages 1 and 2; filling or topping up is prohibited in Stage 3. Fountains are unrestricted in Stage 1, non-recirculating fountains are prohibited in Stage 2, and all fountains are prohibited in Stage 3.
- A new, unestablished lawn (new sod or seed) needs a Water Restriction Exemption Certificate ($50). It allows watering between 5 and 8 a.m. or 7 and 10 p.m. any day for three weeks in Stage 1, or 5 to 8 a.m. for two weeks in Stage 2. No new certificates are issued in Stages 3 and 4. Email engineeringinfo@chilliwack.com with the sod or seed receipt, a photo, your name, address and phone number.
- Washing vehicles, boats and hard surfaces in Stage 1 is allowed only by handheld container or a hose with a spring-loaded nozzle.
- Breaking a watering restriction is a $100 ticket (early payment $90, late payment $110).
- Report violations to the Engineering Department at 604-793-2907 or engineeringinfo@chilliwack.com, with the address, time, date and device used.

## Official forms and pages

- [Summer Watering Restrictions](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=1038)
- [Water Conservation Stage Triggers](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=3156)
- [Stage 1 Lawn Sprinkling plan (PDF)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=8072)
- [Stage 2 plan (PDF)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=7220)
- [Stage 3 Lawn Sprinkling plan (PDF)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=7274)
- [Stage 4 Lawn Sprinkling plan (PDF)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=7462)
- [Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 2004, No. 2995 (PDF)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=1180)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Harrison Hot Springs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs/water-restrictions.md)
- [Kent](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/water-restrictions.md)
- [Abbotsford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/water-restrictions.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/water-restrictions.md)
- [Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/water-restrictions.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Summer Watering Restrictions, City of Chilliwack](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=1038) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Water Conservation Stage Triggers, City of Chilliwack](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=3156) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Stage 1 Lawn Sprinkling plan (PDF), City of Chilliwack](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=8072) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Stage 2 plan (PDF), City of Chilliwack](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=7220) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Stage 3 Lawn Sprinkling plan (PDF), City of Chilliwack](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=7274) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Stage 4 Lawn Sprinkling plan (PDF), City of Chilliwack](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=7462) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 2004, No. 2995 (PDF)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=1180) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule A (PDF)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=2436) (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 Chilliwack. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/water-restrictions/_