Courtenay watering restrictions

Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?

Courtenay, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

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.Comox Valley Water Conservation Bylaw 2010 (CVRD Bylaw No. 129), s. 5; Comox Valley Water System, Comox Valley Regional District, Water Restrictions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 Stage 4: if flow is reduced below 5.7 cubic metres per second
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.Comox Valley Water Conservation Bylaw 2010 (CVRD Bylaw No. 129), Sched. A, Stage 1 and 2; Stage 3 Water Restrictions, Comox Valley Regional District · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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. STAGE 3 RESTRICTIONS - NO LAWN WATERING IS PERMITTED
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.Comox Valley Water Conservation Bylaw 2010 (CVRD Bylaw No. 129), Sched. A, Stages 1-4; Stage 3 Water Restrictions, Comox Valley Regional District, During Stage 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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. 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.
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.Comox Valley Water Conservation Bylaw 2010 (CVRD Bylaw No. 129), Sched. B, s. 2-4; Lawn sprinkling permit · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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. 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.
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.CVRD Bylaw Adjudication Ticketing Bylaw No. 679 (consolidated May 26, 2026), Schedule 19, Bylaw No. 129 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
Bylaw	Comox Valley Water Conservation Bylaw 2010 (Comox Valley Regional District Bylaw No. 129), amended to Bylaw No. 933 (Aug 11, 2026)Comox Valley Water Conservation Bylaw 2010 (CVRD Bylaw No. 129), s. 17; Comox Valley Water Conservation Bylaw 2010 (CVRD Bylaw No. 129), s. 2; Watering restrictions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Comox Valley Water Conservation Bylaw 2010 The restrictions and regulations in this bylaw are applicable in each municipality 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.

How it works

The CVRD manages watering restrictions for the Comox Valley Water System, which includes Courtenay, under its Water Conservation Bylaw 129. 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

The same question in other places

Comox · Cumberland · Powell River · Campbell River · Port Alberni · Qualicum Beach

Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Watering restrictions, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
Comox Valley Water Conservation Bylaw 2010 (CVRD Bylaw No. 129) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Stage 3 Water Restrictions, Comox Valley Regional District (read 2026-11-05)
Comox Valley Water System, Comox Valley Regional District (read 2026-11-05)
Lawn sprinkling permit, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
CVRD Bylaw Adjudication Ticketing Bylaw No. 679 (consolidated May 26, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)

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