{"title":"Gold River watering restrictions","question":"Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Gold River?","slug":"water-restrictions","place":{"path":"ca/bc/gold-river","name":"Gold River","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"water-roads-and-snow","name":"Water, sewer, roads and snow"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Village of Gold River","url":"https://goldriver.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. Gold River's Water Conservation Bylaw has four stages. Stage 1 starts May 1 each year, with even and odd address watering days, and tightens to a sprinkling ban at Stage 3 and no outdoor watering at Stage 4. Check the Village website or the Municipal Hall notice for the current stage.","aliases":["sprinkling restrictions gold river","water stage gold river","watering days gold river","new lawn permit gold river"],"cost":"Permit for a new lawn or landscaping: $50 for private construction. Ticket amount not readable in the Village's posted bylaws.","how_long":"A new-lawn permit expires 4 weeks after issue unless extended in writing.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Village Hall","value":"(250) 283-2202"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024 (PDF)","url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bylaw-No-751-2024-Water-Conservation.pdf"}],"related":[],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/tahsis","name":"Tahsis","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/campbell-river","name":"Campbell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/tofino","name":"Tofino","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sayward","name":"Sayward","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/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 is in effect from May 1 each year. Stage 2 applies when there is drought level 3 for the West Vancouver Island basin. Stage 3 applies when the 14-day average Gold River stream-flow falls below 8.6 cubic metres a second at Station 08HC001 and there is drought level 4. Stage 4 applies when stream-flow falls below 4.3 cubic metres a second and there is drought level 5, and Council may bring it in as an emergency. The CAO or Director of Operations may change the dates or bring in Stages 1 to 3 at any time of year. Notice is posted at the Municipal Hall and on the Village website.","short":"Stage 1 from May 1; higher stages by drought level","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bylaw-No-751-2024-Water-Conservation.pdf","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 5(a)-(d)","quotes":["Stage 1 and the water use restrictions for Stage 1 prescribed in schedule ‘A’ are in effect May 1 of the","when there is a drought level 3 for the West Vancouver Island basin","below 8.6 cubic meters per second","below 4.3 cubic meters per second"]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bylaw-No-751-2024-Water-Conservation.pdf","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 5(e)","quotes":["Terminate or bring into effect water use restrictions up to and including stage 3 at any time of the"]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bylaw-No-751-2024-Water-Conservation.pdf","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 6(c)","quotes":["must be posted at the public notification place and on the Village of Gold River website."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"schedule":{"label":"Sprinkling schedule","value":"Stage 1: even-numbered civic addresses water on even calendar days and odd-numbered addresses on odd days, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for hose-supplied sprinklers, or 12:00 midnight to 4:00 a.m. for underground automated systems. Stage 2: even-numbered addresses on Tuesday and Friday and odd-numbered addresses on Monday and Thursday, same hours. Stage 3: no sprinkling of lawns, gardens or landscaped areas. Stage 4: no outdoor watering of any kind. Special days apply to Scout Lake / Burman premises and stratas.","short":"Stage 1: odd/even days, 7 to 10 a.m., 7 to 10 p.m.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bylaw-No-751-2024-Water-Conservation.pdf","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"Sched. A Stage 1","quotes":["At premises with even numbered civic addresses, on even numbered calendar days between","7:00a.m. to 10a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for hose supplied sprinklers or between 12:00 midnight and 4:00 a.m. for underground automated sprinkler systems."]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bylaw-No-751-2024-Water-Conservation.pdf","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"Sched. A Stage 2","quotes":["At premises with even numbered civic addresses, on Tuesday and Friday between","At premises with odd numbered civic addresses, on Monday and Thursday between"]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bylaw-No-751-2024-Water-Conservation.pdf","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"Sched. A Stage 3","quotes":["No person shall use a watering system to water a lawn, garden or landscaped area on property."]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bylaw-No-751-2024-Water-Conservation.pdf","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"Sched. A Stage 4","quotes":["Watering outdoor lawns, gardens, plants, and trees in any manner or by any means,"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"exempt_watering":{"label":"Allowed at any time","value":"Stages 1 and 2: hand watering of flower gardens, vegetable gardens, decorative planters, shrubs or trees, and drip irrigation. Stage 3: watering a vegetable / food garden is permitted. Stage 4: no outdoor watering, including by hand.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bylaw-No-751-2024-Water-Conservation.pdf","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"Sched. A Stage 1","quotes":["Hand watering of flower gardens, vegetable gardens, decorative planters, shrubs or trees. Drip"]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bylaw-No-751-2024-Water-Conservation.pdf","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"Sched. A Stage 3","quotes":["Watering for vegetable / food garden."]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bylaw-No-751-2024-Water-Conservation.pdf","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"Sched. A Stage 4","quotes":["including watering by hand."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"new_lawns":{"label":"New lawns","value":"A permit for a new lawn or landscaping costs $50 for private construction (waived for public works or where required by bylaw or Provincial orders or permits). It expires 4 weeks after issue unless extended in writing, and no new permits are issued during Stage 4.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bylaw-No-751-2024-Water-Conservation.pdf","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 9(a)","quotes":["may issue permits for the installation of a new lawn, establishment, or re-"]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bylaw-No-751-2024-Water-Conservation.pdf","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"Sched. B","quotes":["New Lawn / Landscaping ($50)","This permit expires 4 weeks from the date of issue unless extended in writing"]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bylaw-No-751-2024-Water-Conservation.pdf","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"Sched. A Stage 4","quotes":["No new permits shall be authorized under Schedule B"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"scanned","note":"Gold River's ticket amounts are in a scanned bylaw that could not be read.","sources":[]},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Village of Gold River Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bylaw-No-751-2024-Water-Conservation.pdf","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This Bylaw can be cited as the \"Village of Gold River Water Conservation Bylaw - NO. 751, 2024”"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bylaw-No-751-2024-Water-Conservation.pdf) sets four stages. Stage 1 is in effect from May 1 each year. Stage 2 applies at drought level 3 for the West Vancouver Island basin. Stage 3 applies when the 14-day average Gold River stream-flow falls below 8.6 cubic metres a second at Station 08HC001 and there is drought level 4. Stage 4 applies when stream-flow falls below 4.3 cubic metres a second and there is drought level 5, and Council may bring it in as an emergency. The CAO or Director of Operations may change the dates or bring in Stages 1 to 3 at any time of year. Notice is posted at the Municipal Hall and on the Village website, so check there for the current stage.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Stage 1: even-numbered civic addresses water on even calendar days and odd-numbered addresses on odd days, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for hose-supplied sprinklers, or 12:00 midnight to 4:00 a.m. for underground automated systems.\n- Stage 2: even-numbered addresses on Tuesday and Friday, odd-numbered addresses on Monday and Thursday, same hours.\n- Stage 3: no sprinkling of lawns, gardens or landscaped areas. Watering a vegetable or food garden is permitted.\n- Stage 4: no outdoor watering of any kind, including by hand.\n- Stages 1 and 2: hand watering of flower gardens, vegetable gardens, decorative planters, shrubs or trees, and drip irrigation are allowed. Stage 1 also lets a hose with an automatic shut-off wash boats or vehicles. Special days apply to Scout Lake / Burman premises and stratas.\n- Rain water, grey water and recycled water are not covered by the restrictions.\n- A permit for a new lawn or landscaping costs $50 for private construction (waived for public works or where required by bylaw or Provincial orders or permits). It expires 4 weeks after issue unless extended in writing. No new permits are issued during Stage 4.\n- On conviction, the bylaw sets a fine of not less than $100; penalties may also be processed by bylaw notice. The ticket amount could not be read.","sources":[{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bylaw-No-751-2024-Water-Conservation.pdf","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024 (PDF), Village of Gold River","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/water-restrictions/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/water-restrictions.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/water-restrictions.json"}}