{"title":"Highlands watering restrictions","question":"Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Highlands?","slug":"water-restrictions","place":{"path":"ca/bc/highlands","name":"Highlands","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"water-roads-and-snow","name":"Water, sewer, roads and snow"},"owner":"regional","owner_label":"Regional district","owner_body":{"name":"Capital Regional District","url":"https://www.crd.ca"},"short_answer":"In Highlands, the CRD Water Conservation Bylaw applies to customers of the CRD Regional Water Supply System. Stage 1 runs every year from May 1 to September 30. Most Highlands residents use private wells, which the bylaw does not cover. Check the CRD page for the current stage.","aliases":["watering restrictions highlands","lawn watering days highlands bc","sprinkling schedule highlands","crd water conservation highlands"],"cost":"Stage 1 lawn watering outside the allowed days or times: $200.","how_long":"Stage 1 is in effect every year from May 1 to September 30. The CRD Commission can change the dates or bring in stricter stages at any time; higher stages take effect 48 hours after notice.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"CRD watering schedule","value":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099 (PDF)","url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016"},{"title":"Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District","url":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule"}],"related":[{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Highlands bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/bylaw-fines/"},{"slug":"backyard-fire","title":"Highlands backyard fire and burning rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/backyard-fire/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/langford","name":"Langford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/central-saanich","name":"Central Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/colwood","name":"Colwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/esquimalt","name":"Esquimalt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/saanich","name":"Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/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":"CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099 applies to customers of the CRD Regional Water Supply System (Sooke Lake Reservoir water); Highlands is a participating municipality. Stage 1 is in effect every year from May 1 to September 30. The CRD Commission can change the dates or bring in stricter stages at any time. Most Highlands residents use private wells.","short":"Stage 1: May 1 to September 30 (CRD system only)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw 4099) (PDF)","section":"s. 2 and s. 4(1)","quotes":["The restrictions and regulations in this bylaw are applicable in each Municipality.","The Stage 1 Water Use Restrictions prescribed in Schedule “A” are in effect each","year from May 1 to September 30 inclusive","District of Highlands"]},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule","title":"Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District","section":"Watering schedule","quotes":["applies to any customers of the Regional Water Supply System receiving drinking water from the Sooke Lake Reservoir"]},{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/sustainability-and-climate-action/groundwater-well-information","title":"Groundwater and Well Information, District of Highlands","section":"Groundwater & Well Information","quotes":["most of the 2,100 residents rely on private wells for their potable water"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"schedule":{"label":"Sprinkling schedule","value":"Stage 1 lawn watering: even-numbered addresses on Wednesdays and Saturdays; odd-numbered addresses on Thursdays and Sundays. Any method between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.; timed or automatic irrigation systems may also water from 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m.","short":"Stage 1: even Wed, Sat; odd Thu, Sun; 4-10 a.m., 7-10 p.m.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw 4099) (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, s. 1(1)(a)","quotes":["the property has an even-numbered address, the lawn watering is on","Wednesdays or Saturdays","Thursdays or Sundays","between the hours of 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. by any method permitted"]},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule","title":"Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District","section":"Lawn Watering","quotes":["Even Number | Wednesdays & Saturdays"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"exempt_watering":{"label":"Allowed at any time","value":"Trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables may be watered any day, at any time, by hand-held container, a hand-held hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle, or micro/drip irrigation. A sprinkler may be used on them any day during the lawn-watering hours (4 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw 4099) (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, s. 1(1)(b)(i)","quotes":["water trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables on any day with a Sprinkler","other than during the prescribed hours for Stage 1 lawn watering or on any","hand held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle, or by Micro-irrigation"]},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule","title":"Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District","section":"Established trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetable gardens","quotes":["Hand Watering & Micro/Drip Irrigation | Any day, any time"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"new_lawns":{"label":"New lawns","value":"New sod may be watered outside the lawn-watering hours on the day of installation and the first 21 days after. A newly seeded lawn may be watered until growth is established or for 49 days after installation, whichever is less.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw 4099) (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, s. 1(1)(b)(iii)","quotes":["outside the prescribed Stage 1 lawn Watering hours, water new sod or","during the first","21 days after installation, or for newly seeded lawns, water until growth is","established or for 49 days after installation, whichever is less;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Stage 1, lawn watering outside the allowed days or times: $200. Stage 2: $250. Stage 3, watering a lawn or boulevard: $400. Wasting water: $200 (Stage 1), $300 (Stage 2), $400 (Stage 3). Hindering an inspection: $500.","short":"$200 Stage 1; $250 Stage 2; $400 Stage 3","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1857-consolidated-capital-regional-district-ticket-information-authorization-bylaw-1990b","title":"CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 1857 (PDF)","section":"Schedule 26, items 7, 8, 13","quotes":["Stage 1 - water lawn contrary to even-numbered","Sch. A 1.(1)(a)(i) $200.00","Sch. A 2.(1)(a)(i) $250.00","Hinder/Prevent Inspection 3 $500.00","Wasting water during Stage 3","Stage 3 – water lawn or boulevard"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Capital Regional District Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw 4099) (PDF)","section":"title page","quotes":["BYLAW NO. 4099","CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT WATER CONSERVATION BYLAW NO. 1, 2016"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016) applies to customers of the CRD Regional Water Supply System (Sooke Lake Reservoir water). Highlands is a participating municipality, but most residents use private wells, which the bylaw does not govern. Stage 1 is in effect every year from May 1 to September 30.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. In Stage 1, water lawns on these days: even-numbered addresses on Wednesdays and Saturdays; odd-numbered addresses on Thursdays and Sundays.\n2. Use any method between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Timed or automatic irrigation systems may also water from 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m.\n3. Check the CRD watering schedule page for the current stage.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables may be watered any day, at any time, by hand-held container, a hand-held hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle, or micro or drip irrigation. A sprinkler may be used on them any day during the lawn-watering hours.\n- New sod may be watered outside the lawn-watering hours on the day of installation and the first 21 days after. A newly seeded lawn may be watered until growth is established or for 49 days after installation, whichever is less.\n- Nurseries, farms, turf farms and tree farms are exempt from all stage restrictions.\n- Tickets: Stage 1 outside allowed days or times $200; Stage 2 $250; Stage 3 watering a lawn or boulevard $400. Wasting water: $200 (Stage 1), $300 (Stage 2), $400 (Stage 3). Hindering an inspection: $500.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw 4099) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule","title":"Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/sustainability-and-climate-action/groundwater-well-information","title":"Groundwater and Well Information, District of Highlands","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1857-consolidated-capital-regional-district-ticket-information-authorization-bylaw-1990b","title":"CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 1857 (PDF)","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 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/water-restrictions/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/water-restrictions.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/water-restrictions.json"}}