Ladysmith watering restrictions

Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?

Ladysmith, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

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.

Key facts

When restrictions apply	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).Water Restrictions, Notes; Waterworks Rates and Regulations Bylaw 1999, No. 1298, s. 30; Water Restrictions poster, Poster · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 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. 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 STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4
Sprinkling schedule	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.Water Restrictions poster, Poster, Sprinkling · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 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
Allowed at any time	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.Water Restrictions, FAQ; Water Restrictions poster, Poster · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 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. Vegetable Gardens & Fruit Trees
New lawns	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.Water Restrictions, FAQ · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 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.
Fine	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.Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw 2002, No. 1457, consolidated December 22, 2021, Schedule 12; Waterworks Rates and Regulations Bylaw 1999, No. 1298, s. 32(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording WATERWORKS REGULATION BYLAW 1999, No. 1298 Conservation of water 30 $100 $2,000.00 or to imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.
Bylaw	Waterworks Rates and Regulations Bylaw 1999, No. 1298 (s. 30, Conservation of Water)Waterworks Rates and Regulations Bylaw 1999, No. 1298, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Waterworks Rates and Regulations Bylaw 1999, No. 1298

How it works

Under section 30 of the Waterworks Rates and Regulations Bylaw 1999, No. 1298, 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 and web page, 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.

Sprinkling schedule

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 is not permitted.

Soaker hoses count as sprinklers. Watering between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. is advised.

Always allowed

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. Drip systems may run in Stages 3 and 4 (shorter hours). Weeper hoses are permitted.

New lawns

A 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.

Good to know

To see the current stage, check the Town's water restrictions page.
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.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

North Cowichan · Duncan · Lake Cowichan · Nanaimo · Lantzville · North Saanich

Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Water Restrictions, Town of Ladysmith (read 2026-11-06)
Water Restrictions poster, Town of Ladysmith (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Waterworks Rates and Regulations Bylaw 1999, No. 1298 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw 2002, No. 1457, consolidated December 22, 2021 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)

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.