{"title":"Ladysmith watering restrictions","question":"Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?","slug":"water-restrictions","place":{"path":"ca/bc/ladysmith","name":"Ladysmith","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":"Town of Ladysmith","url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca"},"short_answer":"In Ladysmith, Stage 1 watering restrictions apply every year from May 1 to October 31. Sprinkling is never allowed between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. The Director of Infrastructure Services can move to Stages 2, 3 or 4 at any time. Check the Town's water restrictions page for the current stage.","aliases":["sprinkling ladysmith","lawn watering restrictions ladysmith","water stage ladysmith","sprinkling permit ladysmith"],"cost":"Ticket $100 for breaking watering restrictions. A Sprinkling Permit for new lawns has no fee stated.","how_long":"A Sprinkling Permit exempts a new sod or seeded lawn for 14 days.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Water restrictions page","value":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/water/restrictions"},{"type":"phone","label":"Infrastructure Services","value":"250-245-6445"},{"type":"email","label":"Infrastructure Services email","value":"is@ladysmith.ca"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Infrastructure Services office","value":"330 6th Avenue"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Water Restrictions, Town of Ladysmith","url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/water/restrictions"},{"title":"Water Restrictions poster, Town of Ladysmith (PDF)","url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/water-restrictions/water-restrictions-poster.pdf"},{"title":"Waterworks Rates and Regulations Bylaw 1999, No. 1298 (PDF)","url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/2032-amend-water-rates-2020.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Ladysmith bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/bylaw-fines/"},{"slug":"garbage-collection","title":"Ladysmith garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/garbage-collection/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/north-cowichan","name":"North Cowichan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/duncan","name":"Duncan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lake-cowichan","name":"Lake Cowichan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nanaimo","name":"Nanaimo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lantzville","name":"Lantzville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-saanich","name":"North Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-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":"Stage 1 applies every year from May 1 to October 31. The Director of Infrastructure Services may restrict or prohibit outdoor water use at any time, moving to Stage 2 (heightened), 3 (serious) or 4 (severe).","short":"Stage 1: May 1 to October 31; stricter at any time","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/water/restrictions","title":"Water Restrictions, Town of Ladysmith","section":"Notes","quotes":["Stage 1 watering restrictions apply in the Town of Ladysmith, Diamond Improvement District, and Stz’uminus First Nation from May 1 to October 31 each year."]},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/2032-amend-water-rates-2020.pdf","title":"Waterworks Rates and Regulations Bylaw 1999, No. 1298 (PDF)","section":"s. 30","quotes":["For the purpose of conserving the Town's water supply the Director of Infrastructure","Services may at any time prohibit or restrict the use of water supplied from the public"]},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/water-restrictions/water-restrictions-poster.pdf","title":"Water Restrictions poster, Town of Ladysmith (PDF)","section":"Poster","quotes":["STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"schedule":{"label":"Sprinkling schedule","value":"Never between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Stage 1: even addresses Wednesday and Saturday, odd addresses Thursday and Sunday, 2 hours per day. Stage 2: even addresses Wednesday, odd addresses Sunday, 2 hours. Stages 3 and 4: sprinkling not permitted.","short":"Stage 1: even Wed, Sat; odd Thu, Sun; never 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/water-restrictions/water-restrictions-poster.pdf","title":"Water Restrictions poster, Town of Ladysmith (PDF)","section":"Poster, Sprinkling","quotes":["Outdoor watering is NOT permitted between 9:00 am and 7:00 pm","Sprinkling (Lawns & Gardens) Wednesday & Wednesday Even Saturday Not permitted Not permitted Addresses 2 hours per day 2 hours per day Thursday & Sunday Sunday Odd Not permitted Not permitted Addresses"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exempt_watering":{"label":"Allowed at any time","value":"Trees, shrubs and gardens may be watered by bucket, spring-loaded nozzle or micro/drip irrigation on any day, ideally 7 p.m. to 9 a.m.; vegetable gardens and fruit trees get longer times. Drip systems may run in Stages 3 and 4 (shorter hours). Weeper hoses are permitted.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/water/restrictions","title":"Water Restrictions, Town of Ladysmith","section":"FAQ","quotes":["to water trees, shrubs and gardens on any day of the week.","Watering should take place between 7:00 pm and 9:00 am","Weeper hoses are permitted."]},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/water-restrictions/water-restrictions-poster.pdf","title":"Water Restrictions poster, Town of Ladysmith (PDF)","section":"Poster","quotes":["Vegetable Gardens & Fruit Trees"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"new_lawns":{"label":"New lawns","value":"A Sprinkling Permit exempts a new sod or seeded lawn from the restrictions for 14 days. Permits are not issued in Stage 2, 3 or 4. Apply to Infrastructure Services: is@ladysmith.ca, 250.245.6445 or 330 6th Avenue.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/water/restrictions","title":"Water Restrictions, Town of Ladysmith","section":"FAQ","quotes":["Sprinkling Permits will be issued for 14 days where new sod has been planted or where the lawn will be grown from seed.","Sprinkling Permits will not be issued during Stage 2, Stage 3 or Stage 4 water use restrictions."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Ticket: $100 for the water conservation offence (Waterworks bylaw s. 30). On conviction, up to $2,000 or 6 months in jail, or both; each day is a separate offence.","short":"Ticket $100; up to $2,000 in court","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1457-ticket-information-utilization-bylaw-consolidation.pdf","title":"Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw 2002, No. 1457, consolidated December 22, 2021 (PDF)","section":"Schedule 12","quotes":["WATERWORKS REGULATION BYLAW 1999, No. 1298","Conservation of water 30 $100"]},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/2032-amend-water-rates-2020.pdf","title":"Waterworks Rates and Regulations Bylaw 1999, No. 1298 (PDF)","section":"s. 32(2)","quotes":["$2,000.00 or to imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Waterworks Rates and Regulations Bylaw 1999, No. 1298 (s. 30, Conservation of Water)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/2032-amend-water-rates-2020.pdf","title":"Waterworks Rates and Regulations Bylaw 1999, No. 1298 (PDF)","section":"title","quotes":["Waterworks Rates and Regulations Bylaw 1999, No. 1298"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder section 30 of the [Waterworks Rates and Regulations Bylaw 1999, No. 1298](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/2032-amend-water-rates-2020.pdf), the Director of Infrastructure Services may restrict or prohibit outdoor water use at any time. The stage-by-stage rules are in the Town's [water restrictions poster](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/water-restrictions/water-restrictions-poster.pdf) and [web page](https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/water/restrictions), not in the bylaw. Stage 1 applies every year from May 1 to October 31. The restrictions apply to Town water users, and also to the Diamond Improvement District and Stz'uminus First Nation, but not to private wells.\n\n## Sprinkling schedule\n\nNever between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.\n\n- Stage 1: even addresses Wednesday and Saturday, odd addresses Thursday and Sunday, 2 hours per day.\n- Stage 2: even addresses Wednesday, odd addresses Sunday, 2 hours.\n- Stages 3 and 4: sprinkling is not permitted.\n\nSoaker hoses count as sprinklers. Watering between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. is advised.\n\n## Always allowed\n\nTrees, shrubs and gardens may be watered by bucket, spring-loaded nozzle or micro/drip irrigation on any day, ideally 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. Drip systems may run in Stages 3 and 4 (shorter hours). Weeper hoses are permitted.\n\n## New lawns\n\nA Sprinkling Permit exempts a new sod or seeded lawn for 14 days. Permits are not issued in Stage 2, 3 or 4. Apply to Infrastructure Services at is@ladysmith.ca, 250-245-6445 or 330 6th Avenue.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- To see the current stage, check the Town's water restrictions page.\n- A breach is a $100 ticket. On conviction it can mean up to $2,000 or 6 months in jail, or both, and each day is a separate offence.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/water/restrictions","title":"Water Restrictions, Town of Ladysmith","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/water-restrictions/water-restrictions-poster.pdf","title":"Water Restrictions poster, Town of Ladysmith (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/2032-amend-water-rates-2020.pdf","title":"Waterworks Rates and Regulations Bylaw 1999, No. 1298 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1457-ticket-information-utilization-bylaw-consolidation.pdf","title":"Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw 2002, No. 1457, consolidated December 22, 2021 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","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/ladysmith/water-restrictions/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/water-restrictions.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/water-restrictions.json"}}