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

# Mackenzie watering restrictions

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

**Short answer:** In Mackenzie, seasonal watering restrictions apply every year from May 15 to September 1. No sprinkling between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily. Even-numbered addresses may sprinkle lawns on even-numbered days; odd-numbered addresses on odd-numbered days.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Mackenzie, https://districtofmackenzie.ca)  
**Cost:** Fine: $50 for a first offence, $100 for a second or each subsequent offence.  
**How long:** Restrictions run May 15 to September 1 each year. The District posts a notice each year when they are in effect.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Animal Control & Bylaw Services, 250-997-3882 (If the officer is on patrol: 250-997-7617)
- Phone: District Main Office, 250-997-3221

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Seasonal restrictions apply every year from May 15 to September 1. The District posts a notice each year when they are in effect.
  - Source: [Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1466, 2022, with amendments including No. 1472, Schedule C (Bylaw 1472, 2022)](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Bylaw-No.-1531.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Water restrictions are in effect in the District of Mackenzie from May 15th to September 1st."
  - Source: [Water Restriction Period](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/2026-water-restrictions/)
  - Official wording: "May 15 to September 1 (annually)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Sprinkling schedule:** During restrictions: no sprinkling between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily. Even-numbered houses (civic addresses) may sprinkle lawns on even-numbered days; odd-numbered houses on odd-numbered days. Applies to all residential and non-residential properties.
  - Source: [Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1466, 2022, with amendments including No. 1472, Schedule C (Bylaw 1472, 2022)](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Bylaw-No.-1531.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no sprinkling is allowed between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm daily." … "even-numbered houses may sprinkle lawns on even-" … "odd-numbered houses may sprinkle lawns on odd-"
  - Source: [Water Restriction Period, Sprinkling Restrictions](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/2026-water-restrictions/)
  - Official wording: "These restrictions apply to all residential and non-residential properties within the District of Mackenzie."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Allowed at any time:** Not confirmed. The District's schedule and notice do not list exemptions for hand watering, drip irrigation, gardens or new lawns.
- **New lawns:** Not confirmed. The District's schedule and notice do not list exemptions for hand watering, drip irrigation, gardens or new lawns.
- **Fine:** Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw Schedule C: $50 for a first offence and $100 for a second offence. The Municipal Ticket Information schedule: $50 first offence and $100 each subsequent offence for sprinkling between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or on the wrong day.
  - Source: [Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1466, 2022, with amendments including No. 1472, Schedule C, s. 5](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Bylaw-No.-1531.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The penalty for water use contrary to Schedule “C” shall be $50.00 for the first offence and $100.00 for the second offence."
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1465, 2022, amended by Nos. 1488 and 1502, Schedule 10](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Bylaw-No.-1465-1488-1502-Municipal-Ticket-Information.pdf)
  - Official wording: "as amended 1. During the period of restrictions, sprinkling between $50 - First Offence the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm daily. 10.(d) $100 - Each" … "1. During the period of restrictions, sprinkling between $50 - First Offence the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm daily. 10.(d) $100 - Each Subsequent Offence"
  - Source: [Water Restriction Period, Penalties](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/2026-water-restrictions/)
  - Official wording: "$50.00 for a first offence" … "$100.00 for a second offence"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1466, 2022 (s. 10(d) and Schedule C added by Amendment No. 1472, 2022; further amended by Nos. 1478, 1495, 1512, 1521, 1531).
  - Source: [Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1466, 2022, with amendments including No. 1472, Bylaw 1472](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Bylaw-No.-1531.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall use water for irrigation, sprinkler or garden purposes except as outlined in Schedule “C” as attached."
  - Source: [Water Restriction Period, Intro](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/2026-water-restrictions/)
  - Official wording: "seasonal water restrictions are in effect under Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1472, 2022."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The District of Mackenzie's [Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Bylaw-No.-1531.pdf) (Schedule C, added by Bylaw No. 1472) sets seasonal sprinkling restrictions for all residential and non-residential properties. They apply every year from May 15 to September 1. We found no staged system (stages 1 to 4): there is one seasonal schedule. The District posts a notice each year when the restrictions are in effect.

## Good to know

- Sprinkling: not between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. any day.
- Even-numbered civic addresses may sprinkle lawns on even-numbered days; odd-numbered addresses on odd-numbered days.
- The bylaw bans using water for irrigation, sprinkler or garden purposes except as Schedule C outlines. Neither the schedule nor the District's notice lists exemptions for hand watering, drip irrigation, gardens or new lawns or sod. Ask Public Works before relying on one.
- Fines: $50 for a first offence and $100 for a second offence under the bylaw. The ticket schedule says $50 for a first offence and $100 for each subsequent offence.

## Official forms and pages

- [Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1466, with amendments (PDF)](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Bylaw-No.-1531.pdf)
- [Water Restriction Period notice](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/2026-water-restrictions/)

## Related questions

- [Mackenzie bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Mackenzie garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/garbage-collection.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/water-restrictions.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/water-restrictions.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/water-restrictions.md)
- [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/water-restrictions.md)
- [Taylor](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/water-restrictions.md)
- [Dawson Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1466, 2022, with amendments including No. 1472 (PDF)](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Bylaw-No.-1531.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Water Restriction Period, District of Mackenzie](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/2026-water-restrictions/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1465, 2022, amended by Nos. 1488 and 1502 (PDF)](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Bylaw-No.-1465-1488-1502-Municipal-Ticket-Information.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Mackenzie. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/water-restrictions/_