---
title: Cumberland watering restrictions
question: "Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Cumberland?"
place: Cumberland, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/cumberland
category: Water, sewer, roads and snow
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Cumberland
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/water-restrictions/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/water-restrictions.json"
---

# Cumberland watering restrictions

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Cumberland's Stage 1 water restrictions apply every year from May 1 to September 30, allowing lawn sprinkling two days a week by address. Stages 2 to 4 are declared as conditions require. Call 250-336-2291 or check Village news for the current stage.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Cumberland, https://cumberland.ca)  
**Cost:** Tickets: Stage 1 $100 ($50 if paid early); Stage 2 $200 ($100); Stage 3 $500 (early $400, or $250 for waste of water); Stage 4 $3000 ($1500). The new lawn permit fee is not stated.  
**How long:** New lawn permits (Stage 1 only): new sod for 21 days after installation; newly seeded lawn until growth is established or 49 days, whichever is less.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Village Office, 250-336-2291 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Stage 1 is in effect every year from May 1 to September 30. Stages 2 to 4 are declared by the Chief Administrative Officer based on conditions; check Village news or call 250-336-2291.
  - Source: [Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1234, 2025, s. 6(1)](https://cumberland.ca/water-conservation-bylaw/)
  - Official wording: "Stage 1 and the Water Use Restrictions for Stage 1 prescribed in Schedule “A” are in effect in each year from May 1 to September 30 both inclusive, except as provided under subsection (2)."
  - Source: [Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1234, 2025, s. 6(2)](https://cumberland.ca/water-conservation-bylaw/)
  - Official wording: "(b) terminate or bring into effect a Stage more restrictive than Stage 1 at any time of the year for any period of time."
  - Source: [Water Restrictions, Stage 2 Water Restrictions](https://cumberland.ca/water-restrictions/)
  - Official wording: "To find out if Stage 2 restrictions are in effect, check the website news or call 250-336-2291."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Stage 1: lawn sprinkling two days a week, even-numbered addresses Wednesday and Saturday, odd-numbered Thursday and Sunday, 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Stage 2: one day, even Wednesday, odd Thursday, same hours. Stage 3: no lawn watering.
  - Source: [Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1234, 2025, Schedule A, Stage 1](https://cumberland.ca/water-conservation-bylaw/)
  - Official wording: "(i) an even numbered address, except on Wednesday and Saturday between the hours of 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; and" … "(ii) an odd numbered address, except on Thursday and Sunday between the hours of 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; and"
  - Source: [Water Restrictions, Stage 2 and Stage 3](https://cumberland.ca/water-restrictions/)
  - Official wording: "Lawn watering with a sprinkler is allowed one day per week:" … "Lawn watering is not allowed."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Allowed at any time:** In Stages 1 and 2: trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables by hand-held container or hose with a shut-off nozzle at any time, and by micro-irrigation or drip systems at any time; sprinklers on these plants on any day in the permitted hours. Newly planted plants by any method during installation and the next 24 hours. Hand or shut-off-nozzle vehicle washing at any time.
  - Source: [Water Restrictions, Stage 1 Water Restrictions](https://cumberland.ca/water-restrictions/)
  - Official wording: "water trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables by hand-held container or a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle on any day at any time." … "water trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables use micro-irrigation or drip-irrigation systems on any day at any time." … "water newly planted trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables by any method during installation and for the following 24 hours."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **New lawns:** During Stage 1 only, a permit lets you water new sod for 21 days after installation, or newly seeded lawn until growth is established or 49 days, whichever is less, in the permitted Stage 1 hours. Permits are not valid in Stages 2, 3 and 4.
  - Source: [Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1234, 2025, s. 10(1), (3), (4)](https://cumberland.ca/water-conservation-bylaw/)
  - Official wording: "Permits will not be issued nor will be valid during Stage 2, 3 and 4 restrictions." … "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"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Ticket: Stage 1 $100 ($50 if paid early); Stage 2 $200 ($100); Stage 3 $500 (early $400, or $250 for waste of water); Stage 4 $3000 ($1500). Court fine: $3,000 to $50,000 for a first conviction.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1053, 2017 (consolidated August 2025), Schedule N, Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1234, 2025](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bylaw-1053-Municipal-Ticket-Info-CONS-Aug-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Waste of water Stage 1 4(3) $100 $50" … "Water contrary to restrictions Stage 2" … "Water contrary to restrictions Stage 4" … "$3000 $1500" … "Water contrary to restrictions Stage 3 Schedule A $500 $400 s.6(a)" … "Waste of water Stage 3 4(3) $500 $250"
  - Source: [Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1234, 2025, Penalty](https://cumberland.ca/water-conservation-bylaw/)
  - Official wording: "not less than $3,000 but not more than $50,000 for a first conviction for an offence;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1234, 2025
  - Source: [Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1234, 2025, s. 1](https://cumberland.ca/water-conservation-bylaw/)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw shall be cited as “Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1234, 2025”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Cumberland's [Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1234](<https://cumberland.ca/water-conservation-bylaw/>) sets four stages. Stage 1 is in effect every year from May 1 to September 30. The Chief Administrative Officer declares Stages 2 to 4 based on conditions. Check Village news or call 250-336-2291 for the current stage.

## Good to know

- Stage 1: lawn sprinkling two days a week. Even-numbered addresses Wednesday and Saturday, odd-numbered Thursday and Sunday, 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Stage 2: one day. Even-numbered addresses Wednesday, odd-numbered Thursday, same hours.
- Stage 3: no lawn watering.
- In Stages 1 and 2, trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables may be watered by hand-held container or hose with a shut-off nozzle at any time, and by micro-irrigation or drip systems at any time. Sprinklers on these plants are allowed any day in the permitted hours. Newly planted plants may be watered by any method during installation and the next 24 hours. Hand or shut-off-nozzle vehicle washing is allowed at any time.
- In Stage 3, hand or shut-off-nozzle watering of trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables is allowed only 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Hoses need an automatic shut-off device in all stages. Disability and farm exemptions exist.
- New lawn permit: during Stage 1 only, you can water new sod for 21 days after installation, or newly seeded lawn until growth is established or 49 days, whichever is less, in the permitted Stage 1 hours. Permits are not valid in Stages 2, 3 and 4. The fee is set by Council and no amount was found.
- Tickets: Stage 1 $100 ($50 if paid early); Stage 2 $200 ($100); Stage 3 $500 (early $400, or $250 for waste of water); Stage 4 $3000 ($1500). A court fine is $3,000 to $50,000 for a first conviction.

## Official forms and pages

- [Water Restrictions, Village of Cumberland](https://cumberland.ca/water-restrictions/)
- [Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1234, 2025, Village of Cumberland](https://cumberland.ca/water-conservation-bylaw/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/water-restrictions.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/water-restrictions.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/water-restrictions.md)
- [Powell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-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

- [Water Restrictions, Village of Cumberland](https://cumberland.ca/water-restrictions/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1234, 2025, Village of Cumberland](https://cumberland.ca/water-conservation-bylaw/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1053, 2017 (consolidated August 2025) (PDF)](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bylaw-1053-Municipal-Ticket-Info-CONS-Aug-2025.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 Village of Cumberland. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/water-restrictions/_