Gold River watering restrictions
Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Gold River?
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.
Key facts
| When restrictions apply | 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.Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024, s. 5(a)-(d); Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024, s. 5(e); Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024, s. 6(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingStage 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 Terminate or bring into effect water use restrictions up to and including stage 3 at any time of the must be posted at the public notification place and on the Village of Gold River website. |
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| Sprinkling schedule | 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.Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024, Sched. A Stage 1; Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024, Sched. A Stage 2; Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024, Sched. A Stage 3; Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024, Sched. A Stage 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingAt 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. At premises with even numbered civic addresses, on Tuesday and Friday between At premises with odd numbered civic addresses, on Monday and Thursday between No person shall use a watering system to water a lawn, garden or landscaped area on property. Watering outdoor lawns, gardens, plants, and trees in any manner or by any means, |
| Allowed at any time | 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.Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024, Sched. A Stage 1; Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024, Sched. A Stage 3; Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024, Sched. A Stage 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingHand watering of flower gardens, vegetable gardens, decorative planters, shrubs or trees. Drip Watering for vegetable / food garden. including watering by hand. |
| New lawns | 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.Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024, s. 9(a); Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024, Sched. B; Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024, Sched. A Stage 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingmay issue permits for the installation of a new lawn, establishment, or re- New Lawn / Landscaping ($50) This permit expires 4 weeks from the date of issue unless extended in writing No new permits shall be authorized under Schedule B |
| Fine | Not confirmed. Gold River's ticket amounts are in a scanned bylaw that could not be read. |
| Bylaw | Village of Gold River Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis Bylaw can be cited as the "Village of Gold River Water Conservation Bylaw - NO. 751, 2024” |
How it works
The Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024 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.
Good to know
- 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, odd-numbered addresses on Monday and Thursday, same hours.
- Stage 3: no sprinkling of lawns, gardens or landscaped areas. Watering a vegetable or food garden is permitted.
- Stage 4: no outdoor watering of any kind, including by hand.
- 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.
- Rain water, grey water and recycled water are not covered by the restrictions.
- 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.
- 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.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Tahsis · Campbell River · Tofino · Sayward · Cumberland · Courtenay
Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Water Conservation Bylaw No. 751, 2024 (PDF), Village of Gold River (read 2026-11-08)
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. How answers are checked.