---
title: Nanaimo watering restrictions
question: "Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?"
place: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/nanaimo
category: Water, sewer, roads and snow
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Nanaimo
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/water-restrictions/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/water-restrictions.json"
---

# Nanaimo watering restrictions

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

**Short answer:** Yes. The City of Nanaimo's Waterworks bylaw sets four watering stages. Stage 1 applies in April and October and Stage 2 from May to September. Stages 3 and 4 start only when the City gives notice. Check the City's Watering Restrictions page for the stage in effect now.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Nanaimo, https://www.nanaimo.ca)  
**How long:** A new lawn permit allows extra sprinkling for 14 days.  
**Where:**
- Online: Watering Restrictions, https://www.nanaimo.ca/city-services/water-sewage/watering-restrictions
- Phone: Public Works (new lawn permits), 250-758-5222
- Email: Water Resources, water.resources@nanaimo.ca

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Stage 1 (night watering only) applies in April and October and Stage 2 (every other day) from May to September. Stage 3 (voluntary cuts) and Stage 4 (full watering ban) start when the General Manager gives notice. The City page of November 4, 2026 says Stage 1 is in effect. (Sources differ: The City web page says Stage 1 is in effect on November 4, 2026, but the bylaw ties Stage 1 to April and October only. Bylaw months quoted; the page is the only source of the current stage.)
  - Source: [Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw 2006 No. 7004, ss. 43-46](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7004.pdf)
  - Official wording: "During the months of April and October, no person shall:" … "During the months of May, June, July, August, and September, no person shall:" … "all persons are encouraged to voluntarily reduce domestic water use in an effort to avoid a comprehensive watering ban." … "If the General Manager, Engineering & Public Works (7004.15) gives notice that a reduction" … "in water use is necessary requiring Watering Restriction Level 4, no person shall:" … "gives notice that a reduction in water use is necessary requiring Watering Restriction Level 4, no person shall:"
  - Source: [Watering Restrictions, web page](https://www.nanaimo.ca/city-services/water-sewage/watering-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "Stage 1 watering restrictions are currently in effect." … "To view the current Water Restriction Stage for Nanaimo, and how you can conserve water, see RDN Team WaterSmart."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Stage 1 (April, October): sprinklers 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. any day. Stage 2 (May to September): even addresses on even days, odd on odd, 7 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m., 2 hours a day. Stage 3 (as required, voluntary): one day a week, odd addresses Monday, even Thursday. Stage 4: no lawn watering.
  - Source: [Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw 2006 No. 7004, ss. 43-44, 46](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7004.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(a) Use a sprinkler to water a lawn or garden growing on a property except between" … "the hours of 7:00 pm to 7:00 am daily;" … "An even-numbered address except on even-numbered days between the" … "hours of 7:00 am to 10:00 am or 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and for no more than 2" … "hours per day;" … "(a) Water lawns or boulevards at any time including newly seeded or sodded lawns;"
  - Source: [https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/water-resources/water-restrictions-simple-2026.pdf, City Watering Restrictions Guide 2026](https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/water-resources/water-restrictions-simple-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "STAGE 1 – April and October" … "Odd addresses: Monday; even addresses: Thursday" … "Not Permitted: Lawn watering, filling pools/fountains/hot tubs"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** Vegetable gardens and fruit trees: any day and time. Flowers, shrubs and ornamental trees: any time in Stages 1 to 3 with a hand-held container or shut-off hose (Stage 4: only 7 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m.). Drip or micro-irrigation: any time in Stages 1 to 3; Stage 4 only 7 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m. (soaker hoses do not count). New trees and shrubs: any time during planting and the next 24 hours. Businesses needing water for normal operations are exempt.
  - Source: [Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw 2006 No. 7004, s. 47](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7004.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(f) A person may water vegetable gardens or fruit trees at any day and time." … "Stage 1, Stage 2, or Stage 3 if using a hand-held container or a hose equipped" … "(h) A person may use micro-irrigation or drip-irrigation as follows:" … "(i) Any day and any time during Watering Restriction Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage" … "(e) A person may water new trees and shrubs during installation and for the following" … "Soaker hoses and weeper hoses are not considered to be micro-irrigation or"
  - Source: [Watering Restrictions, web page](https://www.nanaimo.ca/city-services/water-sewage/watering-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "Vegetable gardens and fruit trees may be watered at any time"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** A permit from the Public Works Department allows a new seeded or sodded lawn to be sprinkled outside permitted days (within restricted hours) for 14 days. Call Public Works at 250-758-5222. No permits at Stage 4; permits may be refused or invalid at Stages 2 and 3 at the General Manager's discretion. (Sources differ: City page says permits "may not be issued during Stage 3 or 4"; the bylaw says during Stage 2, 3 or 4, at the General Manager's discretion. Bylaw followed.)
  - Source: [Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw 2006 No. 7004, s. 47(a), (b), (d); s. 46(f)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7004.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A person who has installed a new lawn, either newly seeded or new sod, may apply to the City of Nanaimo Water Public Works Department for a permit which" … "New sod or newly seeded lawn may be sprinkled for 14 days after installation," … "Permits may not be issued or be valid during Watering Restriction Stage 2, Stage 3" … "(f) Obtain a new lawn watering permit."
  - Source: [Watering Restrictions, web page](https://www.nanaimo.ca/city-services/water-sewage/watering-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "New lawns (seed or sod) may qualify for a 14-day watering permit to water outside restricted days. To apply, contact Public Works at 250‑758‑5222."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Stage 1 breach: $100. Stage 2 breach: $200 (early $150, late $250). Stage 4 breach: $400 (early $300, late $500). Using water contrary to restrictions (s. 23): $200.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159, Schedule A, Schedule A, Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7159.pdf)
  - Official wording: "43(a) Water at time not permitted during Stage 1 100.00 125.00 75.00" … "44(a) Water on day or time not permitted or 200.00 150.00 250.00" … "46(a) Water lawns or boulevards during Stage 4 400.00 300.00 500.00" … "23 Use water contrary to restrictions 200.00 150.00 250.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw 2006 No. 7004.
  - Source: [Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw 2006 No. 7004, title](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7004.pdf)
  - Official wording: "WATERWORKS RATE AND REGULATION BYLAW 2006 NO. 7004"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Nanaimo's restrictions are written in the [Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw 2006 No. 7004](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7004.pdf). Stage 1 applies in April and October, and Stage 2 from May to September. Stage 3 and Stage 4 start only when the General Manager gives notice. The bylaw does not say what applies from November to March. For anything in effect right now, check the City's Watering Restrictions page.

## The stages

- Stage 1 (April, October): sprinklers 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., any day.
- Stage 2 (May to September): even addresses on even days, odd addresses on odd days, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., 2 hours a day.
- Stage 3 (when required, voluntary): one day a week, odd addresses Monday, even addresses Thursday.
- Stage 4: no lawn watering. Washing sidewalks and driveways and filling pools, fountains or hot tubs are also banned.
- Stages 1 and 2 also limit washing vehicles, boats, trailers, windows and house siding to a hand-held container or a hose with a shut-off device.

## Good to know

- Exempt: vegetable gardens and fruit trees, any day and time. Flowers, shrubs and ornamental trees: any time in Stages 1 to 3 with a hand-held container or shut-off hose (Stage 4: only 7 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m.). Drip or micro-irrigation: any time in Stages 1 to 3, and 7 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m. in Stage 4 (soaker hoses do not count). New trees and shrubs: any time during planting and the next 24 hours. Businesses needing water for normal operations are exempt.
- A permit from Public Works (250-758-5222) allows a new seeded or sodded lawn to be sprinkled outside permitted days, within restricted hours, for 14 days. There are no permits at Stage 4, and they may be refused or invalid at Stages 2 and 3 at the General Manager's discretion. The City page says permits may not be issued in Stage 3 or 4, so confirm first.
- Tickets: Stage 1 breach $100. Stage 2 breach $200 (early $150, late $250). Stage 4 breach $400 (early $300, late $500). Using water contrary to restrictions is $200.

## Official forms and pages

- [Watering Restrictions, City of Nanaimo](https://www.nanaimo.ca/city-services/water-sewage/watering-restrictions)
- [Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw 7004 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7004.pdf)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/water-restrictions.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/water-restrictions.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/water-restrictions.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/water-restrictions.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/water-restrictions.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Watering Restrictions, City of Nanaimo](https://www.nanaimo.ca/city-services/water-sewage/watering-restrictions) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw 2006 No. 7004 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7004.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159 (PDF), Schedule A](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7159.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/water-resources/water-restrictions-simple-2026.pdf](https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/water-resources/water-restrictions-simple-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 City of Nanaimo. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/water-restrictions/_