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

# Delta watering restrictions

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**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:**
- Online: Report a violation (DeltaConnect), https://www.delta.ca/deltaconnect
- Phone: Property Use and Compliance (report a violation), 604-946-3340
- Phone: Engineering, 604-946-3260

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** 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.
  - Source: [Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver](https://metrovancouver.org/services/water/water-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "Water restrictions are in effect from May 1 to October 15."
  - Source: [Water Conservation, 2026 Water Use Restrictions](https://www.delta.ca/services/water-sewer-drainage/water-conservation)
  - Official wording: "Stage 1 Water Restrictions have ended."
  - Source: [Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025), s. 26](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/251194)
  - Official wording: "The Director may, from time to time, issue water use restriction orders"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** 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.
  - Source: [Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025), Schedule E, ss. 4, 6](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/251194)
  - Official wording: "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;"
  - Source: [Water Conservation, Stage 1](https://www.delta.ca/services/water-sewer-drainage/water-conservation)
  - Official wording: "Even-numbered addresses: Saturday mornings, from 5:00 am to 7:00 am for automatic watering"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** 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.
  - Source: [Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025), Schedule E, ss. 3, 4(b), 5(d)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/251194)
  - Official wording: "use a hose unless the hose is equipped with an automatic shut-off device;" … "if using a handheld" … "watering vegetable gardens."
  - Source: [Water Conservation, Stage 1](https://www.delta.ca/services/water-sewer-drainage/water-conservation)
  - Official wording: "Vegetable gardens and other edible plants may be watered any day, at any time, using any watering method."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** 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.
  - Source: [Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025), ss. 28, 31](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/251194)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025), Schedule A, Table IV](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/251194)
  - Official wording: "Sprinkling permit for new landscaping 60.00"
  - Source: [Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver, Stage 1](https://metrovancouver.org/services/water/water-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "New lawns, lawns treated for chafer beetle: Watering outside restricted times requires a municipal permit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [Delta Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw No. 6639 (consolidated May 22, 2026), Schedule 1, Water Service Bylaw s. 27](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135301)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Delta Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 7009, 2011 (consolidated July 7, 2026), Schedule A](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/238336)
  - Official wording: "27(b) Using water contrary to 150 125 175" … "27(e) Using water contrary to 500 450 550"
  - Source: [Water Conservation, FAQ](https://www.delta.ca/services/water-sewer-drainage/water-conservation)
  - Official wording: "Non-compliance fine is $150 under Stage 1 Watering Restrictions."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (s. 27 and Schedule E, Water Use Restriction General Order)
  - Source: [Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025), s. 27](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/251194)
  - Official wording: "No Person shall, except in accordance with a permit issued under this bylaw, contravene any water use"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under 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.

## Stage 1 schedule

- 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 and 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. manual.
- 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.
- Stage 2 and higher: no lawn watering.

## New lawns

A 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.

## Good to know

- 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.
- To report a violation, use the DeltaConnect app or call Property Use and Compliance at 604-946-3340.

## Official forms and pages

- [Water Conservation, City of Delta](https://www.delta.ca/services/water-sewer-drainage/water-conservation)
- [Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver](https://metrovancouver.org/services/water/water-restrictions)
- [Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/251194)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Richmond](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/water-restrictions.md)
- [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/water-restrictions.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/water-restrictions.md)
- [White Rock](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/water-restrictions.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/water-restrictions.md)
- [Surrey](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver](https://metrovancouver.org/services/water/water-restrictions) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Water Conservation, City of Delta](https://www.delta.ca/services/water-sewer-drainage/water-conservation) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025) (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/251194) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Delta Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw No. 6639 (consolidated May 22, 2026) (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135301) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Delta Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 7009, 2011 (consolidated July 7, 2026) (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/238336) (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 any government. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/water-restrictions/_