{"title":"Esquimalt watering restrictions","question":"Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Esquimalt?","slug":"water-restrictions","place":{"path":"ca/bc/esquimalt","name":"Esquimalt","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"water-roads-and-snow","name":"Water, sewer, roads and snow"},"owner":"regional","owner_label":"Regional district","owner_body":{"name":"Capital Regional District","url":"https://www.crd.ca"},"short_answer":"In Esquimalt, the Capital Regional District's water conservation bylaw sets the rules. Stage 1 applies automatically every year from May 1 to September 30. The CRD can change those dates or start stricter Stage 2 or 3 at any time. Check the CRD for the current stage.","aliases":["esquimalt watering restrictions","lawn watering esquimalt","sprinkler rules esquimalt","crd water restrictions esquimalt","watering days esquimalt"],"cost":"No cost. Ticket for watering a lawn outside Stage 1 days or times: $200. Stage 2: $250. Stage 3 lawn or boulevard watering: $400.","how_long":"Stage 1 runs May 1 to September 30 each year. A stage change takes effect 48 hours after notice. The current stage is not stated here.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"CRD Regional Watering Schedule","value":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Regional Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District","url":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule"},{"title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016, bylaw directory, Capital Regional District","url":"https://www.crd.ca/government-administration/bylaw-directory/water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016-consolidated"},{"title":"Capital Regional District Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016, Bylaw No. 4099 (PDF)","url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016"}],"related":[{"slug":"garbage-collection","title":"Esquimalt garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/garbage-collection/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Esquimalt bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/bylaw-fines/"},{"slug":"noise-rules","title":"Esquimalt noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/noise-rules/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/victoria","name":"Victoria","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/colwood","name":"Colwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/saanich","name":"Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/oak-bay","name":"Oak Bay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langford","name":"Langford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/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":"Stage 1 applies automatically every year from May 1 to September 30. The CRD Regional Water Supply Commission can change those dates or start a stricter Stage 2 or 3 at any time; it takes effect 48 hours after notice. CRD Bylaw 4099 covers Esquimalt. Current stage not stated.","short":"Stage 1: May 1 to September 30; stricter by notice","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"Capital Regional District Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016, Bylaw No. 4099 (PDF)","section":"s. 4(1)-(3)","quotes":["year from May 1 to September 30 inclusive","terminate or bring into effect a Stage more restrictive than Stage 1 at any","take effect 48 hours after the","refers to the Stages 1, 2 and 3 of Water Use Restrictions prescribed in Schedule"]},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/government-administration/bylaw-directory/water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016-consolidated","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016, bylaw directory, Capital Regional District","section":"Bylaw directory entry","quotes":["Central Saanich, Colwood, Esquimalt, Highlands"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"schedule":{"label":"Sprinkling schedule","value":"Lawns: even-numbered addresses Wednesdays and Saturdays; odd-numbered addresses Thursdays and Sundays; 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. by any method. Timed automatic irrigation may also run from 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m.","short":"Even Wed, Sat; odd Thu, Sun; 4 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"Capital Regional District Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016, Bylaw No. 4099 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, s. 1(1)(a)","quotes":["the property has an even-numbered address, the lawn watering is on","Wednesdays or Saturdays","Thursdays or Sundays","between the hours of 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. by any method permitted"]},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule","title":"Regional Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District","section":"Regional Watering Schedule","quotes":["Odd Number | Thursdays & Sundays"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exempt_watering":{"label":"Allowed at any time","value":"Hand watering and micro/drip irrigation of trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables: any day, any time (hand-held container or hose with automatic shut-off nozzle). Sprinkler watering of those plants: any day, 4 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m. Vehicles may be washed with a hand-held container or shut-off hose, or at car washes.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule","title":"Regional Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District","section":"Established trees, shrubs...","quotes":["Hand Watering & Micro/Drip Irrigation | Any day, any time","Sprinkler | Any day"]},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"Capital Regional District Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016, Bylaw No. 4099 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, s. 1(1)(b)","quotes":["hand held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle, or by Micro-irrigation"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"new_lawns":{"label":"New lawns","value":"No permit is needed for new sod or newly seeded lawns. New sod may be watered outside the lawn days and times (efficiently, 4-10 a.m. and 7-10 p.m.) on installation and for 21 days after; seeded lawns until growth is established or 49 days, whichever is less.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule","title":"Regional Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District","section":"New Sod and/or Newly Seeded Lawns","quotes":["A permit is not required to install new sod and/or newly seeded lawns."]},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"Capital Regional District Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016, Bylaw No. 4099 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, s. 1(1)(b)(iii)","quotes":["or for newly seeded lawns, water until growth is","established or for 49 days after installation, whichever is less;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Court fine $100 to $10,000 per offence per day. Ticket (CRD Bylaw 1857, Schedule 26): watering a lawn outside Stage 1 days or times $200; Stage 2 $250; Stage 3 lawn or boulevard watering $400; wasting water $200 (Stage 1), $300 (Stage 2), $400 (Stage 3).","short":"Ticket $200 Stage 1; court $100 to $10,000","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"Capital Regional District Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016, Bylaw No. 4099 (PDF)","section":"s. 10(1), 10(4)","quotes":["liable to a fine not","less than $100 and not exceeding $10,000.","Capital Regional District Ticket lnformation Authorization Bylaw, 1990"]},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1857-consolidated-capital-regional-district-ticket-information-authorization-bylaw-1990b","title":"CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 1857, Schedule 26 (PDF)","section":"Schedule 26 to Bylaw 1857","quotes":["Wasting water during Stage 1                              7.(3)                 $200.00","Stage 1 – water lawn contrary to even-numbered            Sch. A 1.(1)(a)(i)    $200.00","Stage 2 – water lawn contrary to even-numbered            Sch. A 2.(1)(a)(i)    $250.00","Stage 3 – water lawn or boulevard                         Sch. A 3.(1)(a)(i)     $400.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Capital Regional District Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/government-administration/bylaw-directory/water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016-consolidated","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016, bylaw directory, Capital Regional District","section":"Bylaw directory","quotes":["Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Consolidated)","Bylaw No."]}],"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\nEsquimalt is covered by the [Capital Regional District Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw 4099)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016). Stage 1 applies automatically every year from May 1 to September 30. The CRD Regional Water Supply Commission can change those dates or start a stricter Stage 2 or 3 at any time. A change takes effect 48 hours after notice. This answer gives the standing Stage 1 rules, so check the [CRD's watering page](https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule) for the stage in force now.\n\n## Stage 1 schedule\n\n- Lawns: even-numbered addresses on Wednesdays and Saturdays; odd-numbered addresses on Thursdays and Sundays. Water 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. by any method. Timed automatic irrigation may also run from 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m.\n- Trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables: hand watering and micro or drip irrigation any day, any time (hand-held container, or hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle). Sprinklers on those plants: any day, 4 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m.\n- Vehicles may be washed with a hand-held container or shut-off hose, or at car washes.\n- New sod or newly seeded lawns: no permit needed. New sod may be watered outside the lawn days and times (efficiently, 4 to 10 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.) on installation and for 21 days after. Seeded lawns, until growth is established or 49 days, whichever is less.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Court fine: $100 to $10,000 per offence per day.\n- Tickets (CRD [Bylaw 1857, Schedule 26](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1857-consolidated-capital-regional-district-ticket-information-authorization-bylaw-1990b)): watering a lawn outside Stage 1 days or times $200; Stage 2 $250; Stage 3 lawn or boulevard watering $400. Wasting water $200 (Stage 1), $300 (Stage 2), $400 (Stage 3).\n- The CRD, not the Township, enforces the bylaw. The Township's own website has no water-restriction page.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule","title":"Regional Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/government-administration/bylaw-directory/water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016-consolidated","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016, bylaw directory, Capital Regional District","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"Capital Regional District Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016, Bylaw No. 4099 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1857-consolidated-capital-regional-district-ticket-information-authorization-bylaw-1990b","title":"CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 1857, Schedule 26 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","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/esquimalt/water-restrictions/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/water-restrictions.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/water-restrictions.json"}}