{"title":"Delta watering restrictions","question":"Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?","slug":"water-restrictions","place":{"path":"ca/bc/delta","name":"Delta","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"water-roads-and-snow","name":"Water, sewer, roads and snow"},"owner":"shared","owner_label":"More than one level of government","owner_body":null,"short_answer":"In the City of Delta, Metro Vancouver lawn watering restrictions run May 1 to October 15. The City's page says the 2026 Stage 1 restrictions have ended and none were in effect when checked on November 5, 2026. Under Stage 1, residential lawns may be watered one day a week; Stage 2 and higher ban lawn watering.","aliases":["lawn watering days delta","sprinkling ban delta bc","stage 1 water restrictions delta","watering exemption permit delta","fine for watering lawn delta"],"cost":"Sprinkling permit for new landscaping $60. Fines $100 to $500 depending on stage.","how_long":"A new-landscaping sprinkling permit lets you water for up to 21 days.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Report a violation (DeltaConnect)","value":"https://www.delta.ca/deltaconnect"},{"type":"phone","label":"Property Use and Compliance (report a violation)","value":"604-946-3340"},{"type":"phone","label":"Engineering","value":"604-946-3260"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Water Conservation, City of Delta","url":"https://www.delta.ca/services/water-sewer-drainage/water-conservation"},{"title":"Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver","url":"https://metrovancouver.org/services/water/water-restrictions"},{"title":"Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (PDF)","url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/251194"}],"related":[],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/richmond","name":"Richmond","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vancouver","name":"Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/burnaby","name":"Burnaby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/white-rock","name":"White Rock","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-westminster","name":"New Westminster","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/surrey","name":"Surrey","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/water-restrictions/"}],"topic":{"title":"Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions/"},"facts":{"in_effect":{"label":"When restrictions apply","value":"Metro Vancouver restrictions run May 1 to October 15. Delta's Director issues orders for General and Stage 1 to 4 restrictions. The City's page says the 2026 Stage 1 restrictions have ended; none in effect when checked.","short":"May 1 to October 15","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://metrovancouver.org/services/water/water-restrictions","title":"Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver","section":"Lawn Watering Restrictions","quotes":["Water restrictions are in effect from May 1 to October 15."]},{"url":"https://www.delta.ca/services/water-sewer-drainage/water-conservation","title":"Water Conservation, City of Delta","section":"2026 Water Use Restrictions","quotes":["Stage 1 Water Restrictions have ended."]},{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/251194","title":"Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025) (PDF)","section":"s. 26","quotes":["The Director may, from time to time, issue water use restriction orders"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"schedule":{"label":"Sprinkling schedule","value":"Stage 1, residential lawns: even-numbered addresses Saturdays, odd-numbered Sundays; automatic systems 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., manual watering 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Non-residential: Mondays (even) or Tuesdays (odd), 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. automatic, 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. manual. Stage 2 and higher: no lawn watering.","short":"Stage 1: even Sat, odd Sun; no lawn watering Stage 2+","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/251194","title":"Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025) (PDF)","section":"Schedule E, ss. 4, 6","quotes":["residential premises with even numbered civic addresses, on","Saturday mornings between the hours of 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. for","(a) water any lawn;"]},{"url":"https://www.delta.ca/services/water-sewer-drainage/water-conservation","title":"Water Conservation, City of Delta","section":"Stage 1","quotes":["Even-numbered addresses: Saturday mornings, from 5:00 am to 7:00 am for automatic watering"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exempt_watering":{"label":"Allowed at any time","value":"Stage 1, residential: trees, shrubs and flowers by sprinkler any day 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., or any time with a handheld hose, soaker hose, watering container or drip irrigation. Vegetable gardens any day, any time. Hoses need an automatic shut-off.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/251194","title":"Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025) (PDF)","section":"Schedule E, ss. 3, 4(b), 5(d)","quotes":["use a hose unless the hose is equipped with an automatic shut-off device;","if using a handheld","watering vegetable gardens."]},{"url":"https://www.delta.ca/services/water-sewer-drainage/water-conservation","title":"Water Conservation, City of Delta","section":"Stage 1","quotes":["Vegetable gardens and other edible plants may be watered any day, at any time, using any watering method."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"new_lawns":{"label":"New lawns","value":"A sprinkling permit for new landscaping lets you water a newly seeded lawn, new turf, or apply nematodes for up to 21 days; $60. The permit must be displayed. Also needed for lawns treated for chafer beetle.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/251194","title":"Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025) (PDF)","section":"ss. 28, 31","quotes":["irrigate a newly seeded Lawn, newly","installed turf, or for application of nematodes for a period of up to 21 days","permit is conspicuously displayed at the premises"]},{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/251194","title":"Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025) (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, Table IV","quotes":["Sprinkling permit for new landscaping 60.00"]},{"url":"https://metrovancouver.org/services/water/water-restrictions","title":"Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver","section":"Stage 1","quotes":["New lawns, lawns treated for chafer beetle: Watering outside restricted times requires a municipal permit"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Municipal ticket and bylaw notice: General restrictions $100, Stage 1 $150, Stage 2 $250, Stage 3 $400, Stage 4 $500. Bylaw notice paid within 14 days: $75, $125, $225, $350, $450. After 28 days: $125, $175, $275, $450, $550.","short":"Notice $150 Stage 1 ($125 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135301","title":"Delta Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw No. 6639 (consolidated May 22, 2026) (PDF)","section":"Schedule 1, Water Service Bylaw s. 27","quotes":["27(a) Using water contrary to restrictions (General 100","27(b) Using water contrary to restrictions (Stage 1) 150","27(c) Using water contrary to restrictions (Stage 2) 250"]},{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/238336","title":"Delta Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 7009, 2011 (consolidated July 7, 2026) (PDF)","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["27(b) Using water contrary to 150 125 175","27(e) Using water contrary to 500 450 550"]},{"url":"https://www.delta.ca/services/water-sewer-drainage/water-conservation","title":"Water Conservation, City of Delta","section":"FAQ","quotes":["Non-compliance fine is $150 under Stage 1 Watering Restrictions."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (s. 27 and Schedule E, Water Use Restriction General Order)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/251194","title":"Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025) (PDF)","section":"s. 27","quotes":["No Person shall, except in accordance with a permit issued under this bylaw, contravene any water use"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Water Service Bylaw No. 7441](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/251194), Delta's Director issues orders for General and Stage 1 to 4 restrictions. Check the City's Water Conservation page for what is in effect.\n\n## Stage 1 schedule\n\n- Residential lawns: even-numbered addresses Saturdays, odd-numbered Sundays. Automatic systems 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.; manual watering 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.\n- Non-residential: Mondays (even) or Tuesdays (odd), 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. automatic and 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. manual.\n- Trees, shrubs and flowers (residential): by sprinkler any day 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., or any time with a handheld hose, soaker hose, watering container or drip irrigation. Vegetable gardens any day, any time. Hoses need an automatic shut-off.\n- Stage 2 and higher: no lawn watering.\n\n## New lawns\n\nA sprinkling permit for new landscaping lets you water a newly seeded lawn, new turf, or apply nematodes for up to 21 days. It costs $60 and must be displayed. A permit is also needed for lawns treated for chafer beetle.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Fines (municipal ticket and bylaw notice, same full amounts): General restrictions $100, Stage 1 $150, Stage 2 $250, Stage 3 $400, Stage 4 $500. Bylaw notice paid within 14 days: $75, $125, $225, $350, $450. After 28 days: $125, $175, $275, $450, $550.\n- To report a violation, use the DeltaConnect app or call Property Use and Compliance at 604-946-3340.","sources":[{"url":"https://metrovancouver.org/services/water/water-restrictions","title":"Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.delta.ca/services/water-sewer-drainage/water-conservation","title":"Water Conservation, City of Delta","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/251194","title":"Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135301","title":"Delta Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw No. 6639 (consolidated May 22, 2026) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://delta.civicweb.net/document/238336","title":"Delta Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 7009, 2011 (consolidated July 7, 2026) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/water-restrictions/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/water-restrictions.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/water-restrictions.json"}}