Grand Forks watering restrictions
Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?
Short answer
Yes. Grand Forks' Water Regulation Bylaw 2065 has a Normal stage plus Stages 1 to 3. Normal applies year-round unless City staff declare a higher stage. At Normal, lawn sprinkling is allowed up to three set days a week. Check the City's Sprinkling Regulations page for the current stage.
Key facts
| When restrictions apply | The Normal stage applies year-round unless City staff declare a higher stage (Stage 1 to 3) by notice; restrictions revert to Normal after October 15 unless still needed. Staff try to give up to 7 days' notice of planned changes.Water Regulation Bylaw No. 2065, consolidated July 28, 2021, ss. 27-28 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingis active year-round except when a higher Restriction Stage has been declared in accordance with this bylaw. Water use restriction will automatically revert to Restriction Stage “Normal” after October 15th of any year unless restrictions are required to remain in effect. notice of up to 7 days will be provided. |
|---|---|
| Sprinkling schedule | Lawn sprinkling, Normal stage: manual sprinklers 6-9 a.m. and 7-10 p.m., automatic systems 12-4 a.m., up to 3 days a week (odd addresses Wed, Fri, Sun; even Tue, Thu, Sat). Stage 1: 2 days (Wed and Sun; Tue and Sat). Stage 2: 1 day (Sun; Sat). Stage 3: lawn watering prohibited.Water Regulation Bylaw No. 2065, consolidated July 28, 2021, Schedule A, lines A and B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingWatering allowed between 6am – 9am and 7pm – 10pm up to 3 Watering allowed between 12am - 4am up to 3 days per week. Wednesday, Friday, Sunday Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday Wednesday & Sunday Tuesday & Saturday Use of water for this purpose prohibited. |
| Allowed at any time | Handheld watering (spring-loaded nozzle on a hose, or a watering can) or drip irrigation of food gardens, aesthetic gardens, trees and shrubs is allowed any time in the Normal stage and Stage 1; in Stage 2 it follows the Normal-stage days, and in Stage 3 the Stage 1 days.Water Regulation Bylaw No. 2065, consolidated July 28, 2021, Schedule A, lines C and E · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingHandheld (spring-loaded nozzle on Allowed - Anytime. hose or watering can) or Drip |
| New lawns | Normal stage: seeding is recommended by April 30 or after September 30; a new lawn may be watered every day for 2 weeks (sod) or 6 weeks (seed) at the allowed hours, then follow the normal schedule. Stage 1: seeding must start before April 30 or after September 30 and watering follows the regular schedule. Stages 2 and 3: prohibited.Water Regulation Bylaw No. 2065, consolidated July 28, 2021, Schedule A, line D · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingRecommended that seeding start no later than April 30 or after After installation the new lawn may be watered every day for 2 weeks for Sod or 6 weeks for Seeded Lawns at the same times as Seeding must start before April 30 or after Sept. 30. |
| Fine | Municipal ticket for failing to follow watering restrictions (first / second / third offence): Stage 1 $50 / $100 / $150; Stage 2 $100 / $200 / $300; Stage 3 $150 / $300 / $450. The ticket schedule also lists a $600 'Stage 4' row, but the Water Bylaw has no Stage 4.Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2073, Schedule N · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingStage 1 Regulation – Water Outside of Hours 3rd Offence – Failure to follow water restrictions $150.00 3rd Offence – Failure to follow water restrictions $300.00 3rd Offence – Failure to follow water restrictions $450.00 Stage 4 Regulation – NO WATERING Failure to follow water restrictions $600.00 |
| Bylaw | Water Regulation Bylaw No. 2065.Water Regulation Bylaw No. 2065, consolidated July 28, 2021, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingWater Regulation Bylaw No. 2065 |
How it works
Water Regulation Bylaw 2065 sets the stages in Schedule A. Normal applies year-round unless City staff declare a higher stage (1 to 3) by notice. Restrictions revert to Normal after October 15 unless still needed. Staff try to give up to 7 days' notice of planned changes. The City's Sprinkling Regulations page shows the current stage.
Lawn sprinkling (Schedule A)
| Stage | Days | Odd addresses | Even addresses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Up to 3 days a week | Wed, Fri, Sun | Tue, Thu, Sat |
| 1 | 2 days | Wed, Sun | Tue, Sat |
| 2 | 1 day | Sun | Sat |
| 3 | Lawn watering prohibited | - | - |
Manual sprinklers: 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Automatic systems: 12 a.m. to 4 a.m.
Good to know
- Handheld watering (a spring-loaded nozzle on a hose, or a watering can) or drip irrigation of food gardens, aesthetic gardens, trees and shrubs is allowed any time at Normal and Stage 1. In Stage 2 it follows the Normal-stage days, and in Stage 3 the Stage 1 days.
- New lawns, Normal: seeding is recommended by April 30 or after September 30, and a new lawn may be watered every day for 2 weeks (sod) or 6 weeks (seed) at the allowed hours. Stage 1: seeding must start before April 30 or after September 30. Stages 2 and 3: prohibited.
- The ticket schedule also lists a $600 row for a "Stage 4", but the bylaw has no Stage 4.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Greenwood · Midway · Rossland · Warfield · Trail · Montrose
Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Water Regulation Bylaw No. 2065, consolidated July 28, 2021 (PDF), City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2073, Schedule N (PDF), City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
- Sprinkling Regulations, City of Grand Forks (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. How answers are checked.