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

# Nelson watering restrictions

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

**Short answer:** Nelson's Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw 3293 sets Normal restrictions at all times and Stages 1 to 3 when the City Engineer declares a water shortage. Lawn sprinklers run only 4 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m., on days set by address. Check the City's Water Restrictions page for the current stage.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Nelson, https://www.nelson.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice (Declared Restriction): Normal $50 ($35 if paid within 14 days; $60 after 28 days); Stage 1 $200 ($175; $225); Stage 2 $400 ($350; $500); Stage 3 $400 ($350; $500).  
**How long:** A stage takes effect 24 hours after a public announcement.  
**Where:**
- Online: Water Restrictions (current stage and chart), https://www.nelson.ca/378/Water-Restrictions
- Phone: Public Works (permits and questions), 250-352-8238
- Email: Public Works, publicworks@nelson.ca

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Normal restrictions apply at all times unless the City Engineer declares Stage 1, 2 or 3 because of a water shortage. A stage takes effect 24 hours after a public announcement.
  - Source: [Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw 3293, 2015, Schedule B, Part 8, s. 8.2, 8.3, 8.4](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/1139)
  - Official wording: "The water use restriction “Normal”, as described in Schedule “B” of this Bylaw is the default water restriction in place at all times, unless a water use Restrictions Stage is declared and activated in accordance with this bylaw." … "comes into force twenty-four (24) hours after the City makes a public announcement of the declaration."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Lawn sprinklers only 4 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. Normal: even-numbered addresses on even dates, odd on odd dates. Stage 1: even addresses Wednesday and Saturday, odd addresses Thursday and Sunday. Stage 2: even Wednesday, odd Thursday. Stage 3: no lawn watering.
  - Source: [Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw 3293, 2015, Schedule B](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/1139)
  - Official wording: "an even numbered address, except on even numbered days of the month between the hours of 4:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; and," … "an even numbered address, except on Wednesdays and Saturdays between the hours of 4:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m." … "an odd numbered address, except on Thursdays and Sundays between the hours of 4:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m." … "Stage 3 — No Lawn Watering"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** Trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables may be watered on any day at any time by hand-held container or a hose with a shut-off nozzle (Stage 3: only 4 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.), and by drip or micro-irrigation at any time (Stage 3: those hours). Nurseries, farms and orchards are exempt. Newly planted trees and shrubs may be watered for 24 hours after installation.
  - Source: [Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw 3293, 2015, Schedule B](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/1139)
  - Official wording: "on any day at any time if watering is done by hand-held container or a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle;" … "use micro-irrigation or drip-irrigation systems to water trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables at any time on any day; and," … "(a) nurseries;" … "water new trees and shrubs during installation and for the following 24 hours"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** A person with a new seeded or sodded lawn may apply to the City for a permit to sprinkle outside watering days (within the allowed hours). New sod: 21 days. New seed: until growth is established or 49 days, whichever is less. Permits are not issued or valid in Stage 2 or 3. Contact Public Works, 250-352-8238, publicworks@nelson.ca.
  - Source: [Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw 3293, 2015, Schedule B, Schedule B, Permits](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/1139)
  - Official wording: "may apply to the City of Nelson for a permit, which will allow the new lawn to be sprinkled outside of watering days, but within restricted hours." … "New sod may be sprinkled for 21 days after installation" … "Permits will not be issued or be valid during Stage 2 or 3 restrictions."
  - Source: [Water Restrictions](https://www.nelson.ca/378/Water-Restrictions)
  - Official wording: "For a permit, please contact Public Works at 250-352-8238 or email publicworks@nelson.ca"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice (Declared Restriction, Schedule B): Normal $50 ($35 within 14 days; $60 after 28 days); Stage 1 $200 ($175; $225); Stage 2 $400 ($350; $500); Stage 3 $400 ($350; $500). The schedule also has older rows citing deleted s. 3.18 with different amounts ($100, $200, $400, and a Stage 4 at $500). (Sources differ: Amounts per the schedule: Stage 1 $100/$90/$110; Stage 2 $200/$185/$215; Stage 3 $400/$375/$425; Stage 4 $500/$475/$500. No amount is listed for a Normal-level breach. The bylaw's court fine is up to $10,000 (s. 9.2).)
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 3195, Schedule A, Schedule A, Waterworks s. 3.18 and Sch. B](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/38996)
  - Official wording: "Contravene Stage 1" … "Sch. B. $100 $90 $110 No" … "Contravene Stage 2" … "Sch. B. $200 $185 $215 No" … "Contravene Stage 3" … "Sch. B. $400 $375 $425 No" … "Contravene Stage 4" … "Sch. B. $500 $475 $500 No" … "Schedule B “Normal” $50 $35 $60 No" … "Schedule B “Stage 1” $200 $175 $225 No" … "Schedule B “Stage 2” $400 $350 $500 No"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw No. 3293, 2015, Schedule B.
  - Source: [Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw 3293, 2015, Schedule B, Part 12](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/1139)
  - Official wording: "Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw No. 3293, 2015"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw 3293](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/1139), Normal restrictions apply at all times unless the City Engineer declares Stage 1, 2 or 3 because of a water shortage. A stage takes effect 24 hours after a public announcement. The current stage is on the City's [Water Restrictions page](https://www.nelson.ca/378/Water-Restrictions); check it before you water.

Lawn sprinklers may run only 4 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.:

1. **Normal:** even-numbered addresses on even dates, odd-numbered on odd dates.
2. **Stage 1:** even addresses Wednesday and Saturday; odd addresses Thursday and Sunday.
3. **Stage 2:** even addresses Wednesday; odd addresses Thursday. Using water to wash sidewalks, driveways and building surfaces is also banned.
4. **Stage 3:** no lawn watering. Filling pools, hot tubs and ponds, washing vehicles (except at commercial car washes) and watering boulevards are also banned.

## Good to know

- Trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables may be watered any day at any time by hand-held container or a hose with a shut-off nozzle, and by drip or micro-irrigation any time. In Stage 3 these are limited to 4 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.
- Sprinklers on trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables are allowed any day during the lawn-watering hours (Normal to Stage 2). Nurseries, farms and orchards are exempt. Newly planted trees and shrubs may be watered for 24 hours after installation.
- New lawn permit: a person with a new seeded or sodded lawn may apply to the City to sprinkle outside watering days, within the allowed hours. New sod: 21 days. New seed: until growth is established or 49 days, whichever is less. Permits are not issued or valid in Stage 2 or 3. Contact Public Works at 250-352-8238 or publicworks@nelson.ca.
- Fines: the bylaw notice schedule has older rows citing a deleted section, with different amounts and a Stage 4 that Bylaw 3293 does not have. The amounts above are from the current Declared Restriction rows; confirm with the City.
- Nelson uses bylaw notices only.

## Official forms and pages

- [Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw 3293, Schedule B (PDF)](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/1139)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/water-restrictions.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/water-restrictions.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/water-restrictions.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/water-restrictions.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/water-restrictions.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Water Restrictions, City of Nelson](https://www.nelson.ca/378/Water-Restrictions) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw 3293, 2015, Schedule B (PDF)](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/1139) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 3195, Schedule A (PDF)](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/38996) (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 Nelson. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/water-restrictions/_