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

# Fernie watering restrictions

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Under the City of Fernie's Water Conservation and Regulation Bylaw 2518, Stage 1 rules apply automatically every year from March 1 to October 15. The City can declare Stage 2, 3 or 4 when needed. At Stage 1, even-numbered properties water lawns Monday, Thursday and Saturday; odd-numbered, Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Fernie, https://www.fernie.ca)  
**Cost:** New lawn or tree watering permit: $25 (low or medium density residential), $50 (high density), $100 (commercial, industrial or institutional). Tickets: $100, $200 and $500 for breaking Stage 1, 2 or 3 rules.  
**How long:** A new lawn or tree permit lasts 21 days; one extension is allowed but must end within 21 days of first issue.  
**Where:**
- Online: Water Conservation page (check the current stage), https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/water-sewer/water-conservation.html
- Email: Public Works, operations@fernie.ca
- Phone: City Hall, 250-423-6817

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Stage 1 applies automatically from March 1 to October 15 each year. The Director of Engineering and Public Works can declare Stage 2, 3 or 4 when reservoir levels or demand require it (Stage 2 takes effect 48 hours after public announcement, Stages 3 and 4 after 24 hours). (Sources differ: Inside the bylaw, s. 5.2 says Stage 1 runs March 1 to October 15 but s. 8.1 says March 1 to October 31; the City page says October 15. Current notice: the City page says "Current Water Restrictions in Effect: Stage 2", and a July 20, 2026 notice put Stage 2 into effect July 22, 2026 at 2 p.m. Check fernie.ca/waterconservation for the current stage.)
  - Source: [Water Conservation and Regulation Bylaw No. 2518, 2024, s. 5.1, 5.2](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/175133)
  - Official wording: "Stage 1 Regulation is in force from March 1st to October 15th of" … "any year without prior declaration" … "the Outdoor Water Use Regulation Stage described in the declaration comes into" … "force in the City 48 hours for Stage 2, and 24 hours for"
  - Source: [Water Conservation, Water Restriction Stages](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/water-sewer/water-conservation.html)
  - Official wording: "Stage 1 water restrictions are in effect from March 1- October 15 annually unless otherwise posted."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Stage 1 (lawns): even-numbered properties Mon, Thu, Sat; odd-numbered Tue, Fri, Sun; up to 2 hours a day, 5 to 10 a.m. or 8 to 11 p.m. Stage 2: even Mon and Thu; odd Tue and Fri; same hours. Stage 3: gardens, trees, shrubs only, with a shut-off nozzle, even Thu, odd Tue, 1 hour, 6 to 8 a.m. or 8 to 10 p.m. Stage 4: no lawn watering.
  - Source: [Water Conservation and Regulation Bylaw No. 2518, 2024, s. 8.1, 9.3, 10.3, 11.3](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/175133)
  - Official wording: "on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday for even" … "on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday for odd numbered" … "for a maximum of 2 hours per day between the hours of" … "on Monday and Thursday only for even numbered" … "on Thursdays only for even numbered properties and" … "for a maximum of 1 hour per day from 6:00am to" … "Lawns whether New Lawns, or otherwise;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** Exempt in Stages 1 to 3: vegetable gardens and edible plants, concrete curing, City playing fields. City parks and greenspaces are exempt in Stages 1 and 2 only. Rain barrel water is exempt. Stage 4 has no exemptions except essential City maintenance and pre-purchased landscaping stock.
  - Source: [Water Conservation and Regulation Bylaw No. 2518, 2024, s. 7.1, 8.2, 11.7](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/175133)
  - Official wording: "do not apply to a person using water obtained from alternative" … "to a person watering a vegetable garden or edible plants;" … "to a person watering concrete for curing purposes;" … "Except for sections 11.5 and 11.6, there are no exemptions from Stage" … "(g) City parks, Playing Fields, and greenspaces." … "(j) City Playing Fields." … "(e) Commercial Car Washes and general car washing;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** A Water Use Permit lets you water a new lawn or tree during Stage 1 or 2. Fees: $25 low or medium density residential, $50 high density, $100 commercial, industrial or institutional. It lasts 21 days; one extension is allowed but must end within 21 days of first issue. Not valid in Stage 3 or 4.
  - Source: [Water Conservation and Regulation Bylaw No. 2518, 2024, s. 6.1, 6.4, Schedule A](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/175133)
  - Official wording: "may apply to the Director of Engineering and Public Works, or designate, for a Permit" … "Any Permits issued" … "when Stage 3 Regulations or Stage 4 Regulations are in force" … "will not be valid." … "Low and Medium Density Residential $25.00" … "High Density Residential $50.00" … "Commercial, Industrial, or Institutional $100.00" … "Such an extension shall end on or before 21 days from the date of issue of the initial"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket for breaking Stage 1, 2 or 3 rules: $100 first offence, $200 second, $500 third. Stage 4: $500 first, $1,000 second. Wasting water: $250, $350, $500.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041, Appendix 20 of Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/55199)
  - Official wording: "Violate Water Use Regulation Stage 1 (1st Offence) 8.2 $100.00" … "Violate Water Use Regulation Stage 1 (2nd Offence) 8.2 $200.00" … "Violate Water Use Regulation Stage 1 (3rd Offence) 8.2 $500.00" … "Violate Water Use Regulation Stage 4 (1st Offence) 11.2 $500.00" … "Violate Water Use Regulation Stage 4 (2nd Offence) 11.2 $1000.00" … "Waste of Water (1st Offence) 7.2 $250.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Water Conservation and Regulation Bylaw No. 2518, 2024
  - Source: [Water Conservation and Regulation Bylaw No. 2518, 2024, Title](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/175133)
  - Official wording: "THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF FERNIE BRITISH COLUMBIA WATER CONSERVATION AND REGULATION BYLAW NO. 2518, 2024 1|Page"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Water Conservation and Regulation Bylaw No. 2518, 2024](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/175133) puts Stage 1 in place automatically from March 1 to October 15 each year. The Director of Engineering and Public Works can declare Stage 2, 3 or 4 when reservoir levels or demand require it. Stage 2 takes effect 48 hours after public announcement; Stages 3 and 4 after 24 hours. To see which stage is in force now, check the City's Water Conservation page.

## Watering days and hours

- **Stage 1 (lawns):** even-numbered properties Monday, Thursday and Saturday; odd-numbered Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Up to 2 hours a day, 5 to 10 a.m. or 8 to 11 p.m.
- **Stage 2:** even-numbered Monday and Thursday; odd-numbered Tuesday and Friday; same hours. Trees, shrubs, flowers and plants at homes may be watered 5 to 8 a.m. only (non-residential 1 to 9 a.m.), up to 2 hours. Washing a car needs an automatic shut-off hose, 5 to 10 a.m. or 8 to 11 p.m.
- **Stage 3:** gardens, trees and shrubs only, with a shut-off nozzle: even-numbered Thursday, odd-numbered Tuesday, 1 hour, 6 to 8 a.m. or 8 to 10 p.m.
- **Stage 4:** no watering of lawns, flowers, shrubs, trees or playing fields.

## Good to know

- **Exempt:** vegetable gardens and edible plants, concrete curing and City playing fields in Stages 1 to 3; City parks and greenspaces in Stages 1 and 2 only; rain barrel water. Stage 4 has no exemptions except essential City maintenance and pre-purchased landscaping stock. Hoses must have an automatic shut-off unless a person is holding them.
- **New lawn or tree:** a Water Use Permit lets you water during Stage 1 or 2. It is not valid in Stage 3 or 4. Post it on a stake facing the street.
- **Tickets:** $100 first offence, $200 second and $500 third for Stage 1, 2 or 3 rules; Stage 4 is $500 first and $1,000 second. Wasting water is $250, $350 and $500.
- **Sources differ:** section 5.2 of the bylaw and the City's page say Stage 1 ends October 15, but section 8.1 says October 31. Confirm with Public Works.

## Official forms and pages

- [Water Conservation and Regulation Bylaw No. 2518, 2024 (PDF)](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/175133)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/water-restrictions.md)
- [Elkford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/water-restrictions.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/water-restrictions.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/water-restrictions.md)
- [Creston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/water-restrictions.md)
- [Invermere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Water Conservation and Regulation Bylaw No. 2518, 2024 (PDF), City of Fernie](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/175133) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Water Conservation, City of Fernie](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/water-sewer/water-conservation.html) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041 (PDF), City of Fernie](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/55199) (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 City of Fernie. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/water-restrictions/_