Delta watering restrictions
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.
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.Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver; Water Conservation, 2026 Water Use Restrictions; Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025), s. 26 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingWater restrictions are in effect from May 1 to October 15. Stage 1 Water Restrictions have ended. The Director may, from time to time, issue water use restriction orders |
|---|---|
| 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.Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025), Schedule E, ss. 4, 6; Water Conservation, Stage 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingresidential 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; Even-numbered addresses: Saturday mornings, from 5:00 am to 7:00 am for automatic watering |
| 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.Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025), Schedule E, ss. 3, 4(b), 5(d); Water Conservation, Stage 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinguse a hose unless the hose is equipped with an automatic shut-off device; if using a handheld watering vegetable gardens. Vegetable gardens and other edible plants may be watered any day, at any time, using any watering method. |
| 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.Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025), ss. 28, 31; Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025), Schedule A, Table IV; Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver, Stage 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingirrigate 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 Sprinkling permit for new landscaping 60.00 New lawns, lawns treated for chafer beetle: Watering outside restricted times requires a municipal permit |
| 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.Delta Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw No. 6639 (consolidated May 22, 2026), Schedule 1, Water Service Bylaw s. 27; Delta Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 7009, 2011 (consolidated July 7, 2026), Schedule A; Water Conservation, FAQ · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording27(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 27(b) Using water contrary to 150 125 175 27(e) Using water contrary to 500 450 550 Non-compliance fine is $150 under Stage 1 Watering Restrictions. |
| Bylaw | Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (s. 27 and Schedule E, Water Use Restriction General Order)Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025), s. 27 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo Person shall, except in accordance with a permit issued under this bylaw, contravene any water use |
How it works
Under the Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 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
The same question in other places
Richmond · Vancouver · Burnaby · White Rock · New Westminster · Surrey
Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver (read 2026-11-05)
- Water Conservation, City of Delta (read 2026-11-05)
- Delta Water Service Bylaw No. 7441, 2016 (consolidated December 19, 2025) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Delta Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw No. 6639 (consolidated May 22, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Delta Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 7009, 2011 (consolidated July 7, 2026) (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. How answers are checked.