---
title: Highlands watering restrictions
question: "Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Highlands?"
place: Highlands, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/highlands
category: Water, sewer, roads and snow
owner: regional
owner_body: Capital Regional District
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/water-restrictions/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/water-restrictions.json"
---

# Highlands watering restrictions

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Regional district (Capital Regional District, https://www.crd.ca)  
**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:**
- Online: CRD watering schedule, https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** 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.
  - Source: [Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw 4099), s. 2 and s. 4(1)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District, Watering schedule](https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule)
  - Official wording: "applies to any customers of the Regional Water Supply System receiving drinking water from the Sooke Lake Reservoir"
  - Source: [Groundwater and Well Information, Groundwater & Well Information](https://www.highlands.ca/sustainability-and-climate-action/groundwater-well-information)
  - Official wording: "most of the 2,100 residents rely on private wells for their potable water"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Sprinkling schedule:** 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.
  - Source: [Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw 4099), Schedule A, s. 1(1)(a)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District, Lawn Watering](https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule)
  - Official wording: "Even Number | Wednesdays & Saturdays"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Allowed at any time:** 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.).
  - Source: [Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw 4099), Schedule A, s. 1(1)(b)(i)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District, Established trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetable gardens](https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule)
  - Official wording: "Hand Watering & Micro/Drip Irrigation | Any day, any time"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **New lawns:** 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.
  - Source: [Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw 4099), Schedule A, s. 1(1)(b)(iii)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 1857, Schedule 26, items 7, 8, 13](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1857-consolidated-capital-regional-district-ticket-information-authorization-bylaw-1990b)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Capital Regional District Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099).
  - Source: [Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw 4099), title page](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016)
  - Official wording: "BYLAW NO. 4099" … "CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT WATER CONSERVATION BYLAW NO. 1, 2016"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [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.

## Steps

1. In Stage 1, water lawns on these days: even-numbered addresses on Wednesdays and Saturdays; odd-numbered addresses on Thursdays and Sundays.
2. 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.
3. Check the CRD watering schedule page for the current stage.

## Good to know

- 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.
- 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.
- Nurseries, farms, turf farms and tree farms are exempt from all stage restrictions.
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099 (PDF)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016)
- [Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule)

## Related questions

- [Highlands bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Highlands backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/backyard-fire.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/water-restrictions.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/water-restrictions.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/water-restrictions.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/water-restrictions.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/water-restrictions.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw 4099) (PDF)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Groundwater and Well Information, District of Highlands](https://www.highlands.ca/sustainability-and-climate-action/groundwater-well-information) (read 2026-11-08)
- [CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 1857 (PDF)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1857-consolidated-capital-regional-district-ticket-information-authorization-bylaw-1990b) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 Capital Regional District. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/water-restrictions/_