---
title: Gibsons watering restrictions
question: "Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Gibsons?"
place: Gibsons, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/gibsons
category: Water, sewer, roads and snow
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Gibsons
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/water-restrictions/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/water-restrictions.json"
---

# Gibsons watering restrictions

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Gibsons has four watering stages from May 1 to October 15 each year. At Stage 1, sprinklers are allowed 7 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on set days by odd or even address. Check the Town's water regulations page for the current stage. Fines are $100 to $400.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Gibsons, https://www.gibsons.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notices by stage: Stage 1 $100; Stage 2 $200; Stage 3 $300; Stage 4 $400.  
**How long:** Seasonal, May 1 to October 15 each year.  
**Where:**
- Online: Water regulations (current stage), Town of Gibsons, https://gibsons.ca/water/water-regulations/
- Phone: Town Hall, 604-886-2274
- Email: Town of Gibsons, info@gibsons.ca

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Seasonal, May 1 to October 15 each year. Four stages (1 normal, 2 moderate, 3 acute, 4 severe water supply level); the Director of Infrastructure Services may impose them in a water shortage.
  - Source: [Water regulations, About Water Regulations](https://gibsons.ca/water/water-regulations/)
  - Official wording: "Water regulations are in place from May 1 to October 15 every year"
  - Source: [Water Regulation Bylaw No. 1192, 2014, s. 5.2.2; Schedule G](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/92400/)
  - Official wording: "may, in the event of water supply" … "shortages, impose Outdoor Water Use Restrictions according to Schedule" … "Normal" … "Moderate" … "Acute" … "Severe"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Stage 1: sprinkler or soaker hose 7-9 a.m. and 7-9 p.m.; even addresses Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday; odd addresses Monday, Wednesday, Saturday. Stage 2: 7-9 a.m. only; even addresses Thursday, Sunday; odd addresses Wednesday, Saturday. Stages 3 and 4: not allowed.
  - Source: [Water regulations, Regulation Stages](https://gibsons.ca/water/water-regulations/)
  - Official wording: "7-9 am & 7-9 pm" … "Even addresses: Tues, Thurs, Sun" … "Odd addresses: Mon, Wed, Sat" … "Even addresses: Thurs, Sun 7-9 am" … "Odd addresses: Wed, Sat 7-9 am"
  - Source: [Water Regulation Bylaw No. 1192, 2014, Schedule G](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/92400/)
  - Official wording: "Sprinkling or soaker hose" … "Not allowed"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** Hand watering with a container or spray-trigger nozzle is allowed at any time in Stages 1 and 2 (lawns too); in Stage 3 only trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables. Micro or drip irrigation (25 psi or less) is allowed at any time in Stages 1 to 3 for trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables.
  - Source: [Water Regulation Bylaw No. 1192, 2014, Schedule G](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/92400/)
  - Official wording: "Micro/drip irrigation (25" … "OK at any time" … "Hand watering lawns" … "Hand watering trees," … "ONLY with"
  - Source: [Water regulations, Regulation Stages](https://gibsons.ca/water/water-regulations/)
  - Official wording: "Ok at any time, ONLY with a container or spray trigger nozzle." … "Not allowed except with micro/drip irrigation"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** Stage 1: watering an unestablished new lawn outside the allowed times needs a permit, which must be displayed on the lawn. Stage 2: only existing permits, no new permits. Stages 3 and 4: not allowed.
  - Source: [Water regulations, Regulation Stages](https://gibsons.ca/water/water-regulations/)
  - Official wording: "*Watering an unestablished new lawn requires a permit. The permit must be displayed on the lawn" … "*Watering unestablished new lawns: As per existing permits. No new permits issued"
  - Source: [Water Regulation Bylaw No. 1192, 2014, Schedule G](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/92400/)
  - Official wording: "vegetables Sprinkling unestablished By permit only, As per existing new lawns beyond must be displayed permit. No new Not allowed Not allowed" … "Sprinkling unestablished By permit only, As per existing new lawns beyond must be displayed permit. No new Not allowed Not allowed allowable times. on lawn permits issued"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notices by stage: Stage 1 $100 ($75 if paid early, $125 late); Stage 2 $200 ($150, $250); Stage 3 $300 ($225, $375); Stage 4 $400 ($300, $500).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1125, Schedule A, Bylaw 1192 s. 5.2.2](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/104779/)
  - Official wording: "Contrary to stage 1 restrictions $100 $75 $125" … "Contrary to stage 2 restrictions $200 $150 $250" … "Contrary to stage 3 restrictions $300 $225 $375" … "Contrary to stage 4 restrictions $400 $300 $500"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Water Regulation Bylaw No. 1192, 2014
  - Source: [Water Regulation Bylaw No. 1192, 2014, Title](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/92400/)
  - Official wording: "TOWN OF GIBSONS WATER REGULATION BYLAW No. 1192, 2014 Adopted: February 4th, 2014 Consolidated for convenience October, 2018"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Water Regulation Bylaw No. 1192](<https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/92400/>) sets four stages: 1 (normal), 2 (moderate), 3 (acute) and 4 (severe water supply level). The Town's rules run from May 1 to October 15 each year, and the Director of Infrastructure Services may impose stages in a water shortage. They apply in the Town's water zones 1, 2 and 3; the Sunshine Coast Regional District has different rules. The Town's [water regulations page](https://gibsons.ca/water/water-regulations/) shows the current stage.

## Sprinkler and soaker hose schedule

- **Stage 1:** 7 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Even addresses: Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday. Odd addresses: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday.
- **Stage 2:** 7 to 9 a.m. only. Even addresses: Thursday, Sunday. Odd addresses: Wednesday, Saturday.
- **Stages 3 and 4:** not allowed.

Only one hose and one sprinkler head may run at a time; this does not apply to automatic underground systems.

## Good to know

- Hand watering with a container or spray-trigger nozzle is allowed at any time in Stages 1 and 2 (lawns too); in Stage 3 only trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables.
- Micro or drip irrigation (25 psi or less) is allowed at any time in Stages 1 to 3 for trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables.
- Stage 4: all outdoor use is banned except as required by law or for health and safety.
- New lawns: at Stage 1, watering an unestablished new lawn outside the allowed times needs a permit, displayed on the lawn. At Stage 2, only existing permits; no new ones. Not allowed at Stages 3 and 4. For the permit, call 604-886-2274 or email info@gibsons.ca.
- Bylaw notices: Stage 1 $100 ($75 if paid early, $125 late); Stage 2 $200 ($150, $250); Stage 3 $300 ($225, $375); Stage 4 $400 ($300, $500).

## Official forms and pages

- [Water Regulation Bylaw No. 1192, 2014 (Town of Gibsons)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/92400/)
- [Water regulations, Town of Gibsons](https://gibsons.ca/water/water-regulations/)

## Related questions

- [Gibsons bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Gibsons garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/garbage-collection.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/water-restrictions.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/water-restrictions.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/water-restrictions.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/water-restrictions.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/water-restrictions.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Water regulations, Town of Gibsons](https://gibsons.ca/water/water-regulations/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Water Regulation Bylaw No. 1192, 2014, Town of Gibsons (consolidated October 2018)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/92400/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1125, Town of Gibsons (consolidated)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/104779/) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Town of Gibsons. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/water-restrictions/_