---
title: Courtenay watering restrictions
question: "Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?"
place: Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/courtenay
category: Water, sewer, roads and snow
owner: regional
owner_body: Comox Valley Regional District
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/water-restrictions/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/water-restrictions.json"
---

# Courtenay watering restrictions

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In the City of Courtenay, watering is governed by the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) Water Conservation Bylaw 129. Stage 1 starts May 1 and Stage 2 July 1 each year; higher stages start when river flow drops. The stage changes, so check the City's alert page or the CVRD page before you water.

**Who handles it:** Regional district (Comox Valley Regional District, https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca)  
**Cost:** New lawn permit: $30 under the bylaw (the City's permit page does not state a fee). Bylaw notices run from $75 to $500 depending on the stage.  
**Where:**
- Online: CVRD current water restrictions, https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/services/water/current-water-restrictions
- Online: Watering restrictions, City of Courtenay, https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws/watering-restrictions
- Email: Lawn sprinkling permit, finance@courtenay.ca (Or City Hall, 830 Cliffe Avenue, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Email: Bylaw Enforcement, bylaw@courtenay.ca

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Stage 1 starts May 1 and Stage 2 July 1 each year. Stage 3 applies when Puntledge River flow drops below 11.3 m³/s, Stage 4 below 5.7 m³/s. Stage 5 (emergency) can be brought in at any time. The Comox Valley Regional District's operational officers can change stages or dates.
  - Source: [Comox Valley Water Conservation Bylaw 2010 (CVRD Bylaw No. 129), s. 5](https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/media/17121)
  - Official wording: "Stage 1 and the water use restrictions for Stage 1 prescribed in Schedule A are in effect May 1 of the year" … "Stage 2 and the water use restrictions for Stage 2 prescribed in Schedule A are in effect July 1st of the year" … "are in effect when the flow within the Puntledge River is reduced below 11.3 cubic meters per second as measured at Gauge 8" … "may be brought into effect at any time by written determination of the operational officers"
  - Source: [Comox Valley Water System, Comox Valley Regional District, Water Restrictions](https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/services/water/comox-lake-water-system)
  - Official wording: "Stage 4: if flow is reduced below 5.7 cubic metres per second"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Stage 1: even addresses Tue, Thu, Sat; odd addresses Wed, Fri, Sun; 5-8 a.m. and 7-10 p.m. Stage 2: even addresses Tue and Sat; odd addresses Wed and Sun; 6-7:30 a.m. and 8-9:30 p.m. Stages 3 and up: no lawn watering.
  - Source: [Comox Valley Water Conservation Bylaw 2010 (CVRD Bylaw No. 129), Sched. A, Stage 1 and 2](https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/media/17121)
  - Official wording: "and 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays." … "Odd numbered-addresses may only water between the hours of 5:00 am and 8:00 am and 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays." … "and 8:00 pm and 9:30 pm on Tuesdays and Saturdays." … "Odd numbered-addresses may only water between the hours of 6:00 am and 7:30 am and 8:00 pm and 9:30 pm on Wednesdays and Sundays."
  - Source: [Stage 3 Water Restrictions, Comox Valley Regional District](https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/services/water/current-water-restrictions/stage-3-water-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "STAGE 3 RESTRICTIONS - NO LAWN WATERING IS PERMITTED"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** Trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables may be watered any day, any time with drip or micro-irrigation, a hand-held container, or a hand-held hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle (Stages 1 to 3). Stage 4: same methods but only as much as needed to keep plants alive.
  - Source: [Comox Valley Water Conservation Bylaw 2010 (CVRD Bylaw No. 129), Sched. A, Stages 1-4](https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/media/17121)
  - Official wording: "Any day at any time if using micro-irrigation or drip-irrigation system, hand held container or a hand held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle." … "Provided residents work to minimize water use and use water only to the extent" … "reasonably necessary to keep their plants alive."
  - Source: [Stage 3 Water Restrictions, Comox Valley Regional District, During Stage 3](https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/services/water/current-water-restrictions/stage-3-water-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "Water trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables on any day at any time if watering is done using micro-irrigation or drip-irrigation, a hand-held container, or a hand-held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** A new lawn permit is available in Stages 1 and 2 only ($30 under the bylaw). New sod: 21 days. New seed: until growth is established or 49 days, whichever is less (the Stage 1 table says 45 days). Permit allows sprinkling outside permitted days but within permitted hours. None in Stage 3 or 4. Apply at City Hall or finance@courtenay.ca. (Sources differ: The City permit page does not state the fee. The hours on the City page (Stage 1 5-8 a.m. and 7-10 p.m.; Stage 2 6-7:30 a.m. and 8-9:30 p.m.) match the sprinkling schedule.)
  - Source: [Comox Valley Water Conservation Bylaw 2010 (CVRD Bylaw No. 129), Sched. B, s. 2-4](https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/media/17121)
  - Official wording: "or the municipality of a fee in the amount of $30.00." … "New sod may be watered for 21 days after installation and newly seeded lawn may be watered until growth is established or for 49 days after installation, whichever is less" … "Permits will not be issued or be valid during Stage 3 or 4 restrictions." … "21 days, seed within 45" … "21 days, seed within 49" … "fee in the amount of $30.00."
  - Source: [Lawn sprinkling permit](https://www.courtenay.ca/city-hall/permits-and-licensing/lawn-sprinkling-permit)
  - Official wording: "you can apply for a lawn sprinkling permit to water outside the standard watering schedule during Stage 1 and Stage 2 water restrictions." … "Permits are not issued or valid during Stage 3 or Stage 4 water restrictions."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice for using water contrary to the restrictions: Stage 1 $75, Stage 2 $150, Stage 3 $225, Stage 4 $500 (about 25% less if paid within 14 days: $56.25, $112.50, $168.75, $375). Wasting water: $50 to $200 by stage.
  - Source: [CVRD Bylaw Adjudication Ticketing Bylaw No. 679 (consolidated May 26, 2026), Schedule 19, Bylaw No. 129](https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/sites/default/files/2026-05/679%20Bylaw%20Adjudication%20Ticketing%20System%20CONSOLIDATED%2020260526.pdf)
  - Official wording: "3 (5), Sch A St. 1 $56.25 $75.00" … "3 (5), Sch A St. 2 $112.50 $150.00" … "3 (5), Sch A St. 3 $168.75 $225.00" … "3 (5), Sch A St. 4 $375.00 $500.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Comox Valley Water Conservation Bylaw 2010 (Comox Valley Regional District Bylaw No. 129), amended to Bylaw No. 933 (Aug 11, 2026)
  - Source: [Comox Valley Water Conservation Bylaw 2010 (CVRD Bylaw No. 129), s. 17](https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/media/17121)
  - Official wording: "Comox Valley Water Conservation Bylaw 2010"
  - Source: [Comox Valley Water Conservation Bylaw 2010 (CVRD Bylaw No. 129), s. 2](https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/media/17121)
  - Official wording: "The restrictions and regulations in this bylaw are applicable in each municipality"
  - Source: [Watering restrictions](https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws/watering-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "Watering restrictions in the Comox Valley Water System — including watering schedules and permitted and prohibited watering activities — are managed by the Comox Valley Regional District."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The CVRD manages watering restrictions for the Comox Valley Water System, which includes Courtenay, under its [Water Conservation Bylaw 129](https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/media/17121). The City's Watering restrictions page points to the CVRD. Stage 1 starts May 1 and Stage 2 July 1 each year. Stage 3 applies when Puntledge River flow drops below 11.3 cubic metres per second, and Stage 4 below 5.7. Stage 5 (emergency) can be brought in at any time. CVRD officers can change stages or dates, so check the City alert page or the CVRD current restrictions page for today's stage.

## Lawn sprinkling schedule

- Stage 1: even addresses Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday; odd addresses Wednesday, Friday, Sunday; 5 to 8 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.
- Stage 2: even addresses Tuesday and Saturday; odd addresses Wednesday and Sunday; 6 to 7:30 a.m. and 8 to 9:30 p.m.
- Stage 3 and up: no lawn watering.
- Strata properties with a single civic address use unit numbers.

## Good to know

- Trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables may be watered any day, any time with drip or micro-irrigation, a hand-held container, or a hand-held hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle (Stages 1 to 3). In Stage 4, the same methods only as much as needed to keep plants alive. Stage 5 prohibits all watering except for human and animal consumption, hygiene, safety and firefighting.
- New lawn permit: available in Stages 1 and 2 only, $30 under the bylaw (the City page does not state the fee). New sod: 21 days. New seed: until growth is established or 49 days, whichever is less, but the Stage 1 table says 45 days, so confirm with the City. The permit allows sprinkling outside permitted days but within permitted hours. Apply at City Hall or finance@courtenay.ca.
- Bylaw notices for using water contrary to the restrictions (CVRD Bylaw 679): Stage 1 $75, Stage 2 $150, Stage 3 $225, Stage 4 $500. Wasting water is $50 to $200 by stage.

## Official forms and pages

- [Watering restrictions, City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws/watering-restrictions)
- [Lawn sprinkling permit, City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/city-hall/permits-and-licensing/lawn-sprinkling-permit)
- [Comox Valley Water Conservation Bylaw 129 (PDF)](https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/media/17121)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/water-restrictions.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/water-restrictions.md)
- [Powell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/water-restrictions.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/water-restrictions.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/water-restrictions.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Watering restrictions, City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws/watering-restrictions) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Comox Valley Water Conservation Bylaw 2010 (CVRD Bylaw No. 129) (PDF)](https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/media/17121) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Stage 3 Water Restrictions, Comox Valley Regional District](https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/services/water/current-water-restrictions/stage-3-water-restrictions) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Comox Valley Water System, Comox Valley Regional District](https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/services/water/comox-lake-water-system) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Lawn sprinkling permit, City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/city-hall/permits-and-licensing/lawn-sprinkling-permit) (read 2026-11-05)
- [CVRD Bylaw Adjudication Ticketing Bylaw No. 679 (consolidated May 26, 2026) (PDF)](https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/sites/default/files/2026-05/679%20Bylaw%20Adjudication%20Ticketing%20System%20CONSOLIDATED%2020260526.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 Comox Valley Regional District. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/water-restrictions/_