Nelson watering restrictions

Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?

Nelson, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

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.Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw 3293, 2015, Schedule B, Part 8, s. 8.2, 8.3, 8.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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.
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.Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw 3293, 2015, Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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.Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw 3293, 2015, Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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.Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw 3293, 2015, Schedule B, Schedule B, Permits; Water Restrictions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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. For a permit, please contact Public Works at 250-352-8238 or email publicworks@nelson.ca
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).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 3195, Schedule A, Schedule A, Waterworks s. 3.18 and Sch. B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
Bylaw	Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw No. 3293, 2015, Schedule B.Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw 3293, 2015, Schedule B, Part 12 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw No. 3293, 2015

How it works

Under the Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw 3293, 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; check it before you water.

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

Normal: even-numbered addresses on even dates, odd-numbered on odd dates.
Stage 1: even addresses Wednesday and Saturday; odd addresses Thursday and Sunday.
Stage 2: even addresses Wednesday; odd addresses Thursday. Using water to wash sidewalks, driveways and building surfaces is also banned.
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)

The same question in other places

Castlegar · Salmo · Fruitvale · Montrose · Trail · Warfield

Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Water Restrictions, City of Nelson (read 2026-11-05)
Waterworks Regulatory Bylaw 3293, 2015, Schedule B (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 3195, Schedule A (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)

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