Duncan watering restrictions

Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?

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

Short answer

Yes. In the City of Duncan, Stage 1 watering restrictions apply every year from May 1 to October 31, and Stages 2, 3 and 4 are imposed when water is in short supply. In Stage 1, sprinklers are allowed two days a week by address, for up to 2 hours a day.

Key facts

When restrictions apply	Stage 1 applies every year from May 1 to October 31. Stages 2, 3 and 4 are imposed as required when the Chief Administrative Officer or the Director considers water to be in short supply.Waterworks Regulation Bylaw No. 3213, 2020 (consolidated), s. 8.1, 8.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Stage 1 Watering Restrictions are in effect from May 1st through October 31st The CAO or Director may impose watering restrictions as set out in this bylaw when in their opinion they consider water to be in short supply.
Sprinkling schedule	Stage 1: even civic addresses Wednesday and Saturday, odd addresses Thursday and Sunday; midnight to 9 a.m. or 7 p.m. to midnight; 2 hours max a day. Stage 2: even Wednesday only, odd Sunday only, same hours, 2 hours max. Stages 3 and 4: no lawn watering.Waterworks Regulation Bylaw No. 3213, 2020 (consolidated), s. 8.2 a), b), c), d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Owners or residents of even numbered civic addresses are permitted to water using conventional irrigation systems and sprinklers only on Wednesdays and Saturdays from midnight to 9:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. to midnight for a maximum of 2 hours per day. Owners or residents of odd numbered civic addresses are permitted to water using conventional irrigation systems and sprinklers only on Thursdays and Sundays from midnight to 9:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. to midnight for a maximum of 2 hours per day. Owners or residents of even numbered civic addresses are permitted to water using conventional irrigation systems and sprinklers only on Wednesdays from midnight to 9:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. to midnight for a maximum of 2 hours. Owners or residents of odd numbered civic addresses are permitted to water using conventional irrigation systems and sprinklers only on Sundays from midnight to 9:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. to midnight for a maximum of 2 hours. No person is permitted to water lawns except for newly planted lawns or landscaping with a previously approved Garden Irrigation Permit in effect.
Allowed at any time	Hand watering and micro-irrigation or drip irrigation are allowed any day between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. Stage 1: lawns 2 hours, ornamental trees, flowers and shrubs 2 hours, fruit trees and vegetable gardens 4 hours. Stage 2: lawns 1 hour. Stages 3 and 4: ornamentals 1 hour, food gardens 2 hours; soaker hoses do not count.Waterworks Regulation Bylaw No. 3213, 2020 (consolidated), s. 8.2 a) vi, vii, viii; b) vii; c) and d); Water Use Restrictions Frequently Asked Questions, Vegetable gardens, flower beds, and trees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording hand watering and micro-irrigation or drip irrigation for lawns on any day of the week between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. for a maximum of 2 hours per day. drip irrigation for fruit trees and vegetable gardens on any day of the week between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. for a maximum of 4 hours per day. drip irrigation of fruit trees and vegetable gardens on any day of the week between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. for a maximum of 2 hours per day. This does not include soaker hoses. Hand watering using buckets, a spring-loaded spray nozzle or micro/drip irrigation to water vegetable gardens and fruit trees is permitted on any day of the week during Stage 1 - 2 between 7 pm and 9 am for a maximum of 4 hours.
New lawns	A Garden Irrigation Permit ($25, City Hall) allows watering a new lawn, sod or landscaping in Stage 1 on any day, 7 p.m. to 9 a.m., up to 2 hours. It lasts 21 days for sod, 49 for seed. None are issued in Stages 2 to 4; one already issued allows 1 hour a day in Stages 2 and 3.Waterworks Regulation Bylaw No. 3213, 2020 (consolidated), s. 8.2 a) iv, 8.3 a); Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020, consolidated to August 24, 2026, Garden Irrigation Permit; Water Use Restrictions Frequently Asked Questions, What about a newly sodded lawn? · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Owners or residents are permitted to water newly planted lawns or landscaping on any day of the week between 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. with an approved Garden Irrigation Permit for a maximum of 2 hours each day. A consumer may apply to the City for a Garden Irrigation Permit to sprinkle a new lawn, new sod, or new landscaping when Stage 1 Watering Restrictions are in effect may sprinkle newly planted lawns or landscaping between the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. on any day of the week for the duration of the permit for a maximum of 1 hour each day. No person is permitted to water lawns except for newly planted lawns or landscaping with a previously approved Garden Irrigation Permit in effect. i. Garden Irrigation Permit $25.00 will be issued for 21 days where new sod has been planted and for 49 days where the lawn will be grown from seed. Garden Irrigation Permits will not be issued during Stage 2 – 3 – 4 Water Use Restrictions.
Fine	Bylaw notice by stage: Stage 1 $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days, $125 after 28 days); Stage 2 $200 ($175, $225); Stage 3 $300 ($275, $325); Stage 4 $400 ($375, $425). No municipal ticket amount is listed for watering restrictions.Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3200 (PDF, consolidated June 8, 2026), Schedule A, Waterworks Regulation Bylaw s. 8.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Not complying with stage 1 watering restrictions $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 YES Not complying with stage 2 watering restrictions $200.00 $175.00 $225.00 NO Not complying with stage 3 watering restrictions $300.00 $275.00 $325.00 NO Not complying with stage 4 watering restrictions $400.00 $375.00 $425.00 NO
Bylaw	Waterworks Regulation Bylaw No. 3213, 2020 (Part VIII, Watering Restrictions)Waterworks Regulation Bylaw No. 3213, 2020 (consolidated), Title page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Waterworks Regulation Bylaw No. 3213, 2020 (With Amendments to January 27, 2025)

How it works

Under the Waterworks Regulation Bylaw No. 3213, Stage 1 applies every year from May 1 to October 31. The Chief Administrative Officer or the Director can impose Stages 2, 3 and 4 when water is in short supply. To see which stage applies now, check the City's Water Conservation page. The rules cover City water only; homes on private wells or private utilities are not covered.

Sprinklers and irrigation

Stage 1: even civic addresses Wednesday and Saturday; odd addresses Thursday and Sunday. Midnight to 9 a.m. or 7 p.m. to midnight, 2 hours maximum a day.
Stage 2: even addresses Wednesday only; odd addresses Sunday only; same hours, 2 hours maximum.
Stages 3 and 4: no lawn watering.
Automatic systems must be programmed to match the stage. For a strata, the watering day follows the building address, not the unit.

Good to know

Hand watering and drip or micro-irrigation are allowed any day between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. In Stage 1: lawns 2 hours, ornamental trees, flowers and shrubs 2 hours, fruit trees and vegetable gardens 4 hours. In Stage 2: lawns 1 hour. In Stages 3 and 4: ornamentals 1 hour, food gardens 2 hours; soaker hoses do not count.
Washing driveways and houses is banned from Stage 2; vehicles and boats may not be washed in Stage 3 or 4.
New lawns: a Garden Irrigation Permit ($25, City Hall) allows watering a new lawn, sod or landscaping in Stage 1 on any day, 7 p.m. to 9 a.m., up to 2 hours. It lasts 21 days for sod and 49 for seed. No new permits are issued in Stages 2 to 4; one already issued allows 1 hour a day in Stages 2 and 3.
Bylaw notice (Bylaw No. 3200): Stage 1 $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days, $125 after 28 days); Stage 2 $200 ($175, $225); Stage 3 $300 ($275, $325); Stage 4 $400 ($375, $425). The court fine is up to $10,000, and the City may stop the water supply to a parcel breaking a restriction.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

North Cowichan · Ladysmith · North Saanich · Lake Cowichan · Sidney · Central Saanich

Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Waterworks Regulation Bylaw No. 3213, 2020 (consolidated) (PDF), City of Duncan (read 2026-11-05)
Water Conservation / Restrictions, City of Duncan (read 2026-11-05)
Water Use Restrictions Frequently Asked Questions (PDF), City of Duncan (read 2026-11-05)
Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020, consolidated to August 24, 2026 (PDF), City of Duncan (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3200 (PDF, consolidated June 8, 2026), City of Duncan (read 2026-11-05)

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