New Westminster watering restrictions
Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in New Westminster?
Short answer
Yes. In New Westminster, Stage 1 applies every year from May 1 to October 15 without any announcement. At Stage 1, homes with even-numbered addresses may water lawns on Saturdays and odd-numbered homes on Sundays. From October 16 to April 30 there are no restrictions unless declared.
Key facts
| When restrictions apply | Stage 1 applies every year from May 1 to October 15, without any announcement. Metro Vancouver's Commissioner can declare Stage 2, 3 or 4, which take effect 72 hours after a public announcement. From October 16 to April 30 there are no restrictions unless declared.Water Shortage Response Bylaw 6948, 2004 (consolidated 2025), s. 3.2, 3.4; Water Shortage Response Bylaw 6948, 2004 (consolidated 2025), s. 3.1(b); Water Protection and Conservation, Lawn Watering · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingIf no Restriction Stage is in force on May 1 of any year, Stage 1 Stage 1 Restrictions shall not remain in force after October 15th of Restriction Stage described in the declaration comes into force in seventy-two hours after the Commissioner From October 16 to April 30, there are no water restrictions in place |
|---|---|
| Sprinkling schedule | Stage 1, residential: lawns may be watered Saturdays at even-numbered addresses and Sundays at odd-numbered addresses, 5-7 a.m. if automatic or 6-9 a.m. if manual. Non-residential: Mondays (even) and Tuesdays (odd), 4-6 a.m. automatic or 6-9 a.m. manual. Stage 2 and above: no lawn watering.Water Shortage Response Bylaw 6948, 2004 (consolidated 2025), Sch. 1, s. 1.1(a); Water Shortage Response Bylaw 6948, 2004 (consolidated 2025), Sch. 1, s. 1.1(b); Water Shortage Response Bylaw 6948, 2004 (consolidated 2025), Sch. 1, s. 2.1(a); Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver, Stage 1 Residential · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingat premises with even numbered civic addresses on Saturdays from 5 – 7 AM if using automatic watering and at premises with odd numbered civic addresses on Sundays from 5 – 7 AM if using automatic watering and at premises with even numbered civic addresses on Mondays from 4 – 6 AM if using automatic watering and b) Non-residential Addresses shall not: 2.1.1 Water lawns. 2.1.2 Water trees, shrubs, and flowers excluding edible plants, Even-numbered addresses: Saturdays Odd-numbered addresses: Sundays Automatic watering: 5:00 am – 7:00 am Manual watering: 6:00 am – 9:00 am |
| Allowed at any time | Trees, shrubs and flowers (not edible plants) may be watered any day at any time with a handheld hose, soaker hose, water container or drip irrigation, and by sprinkler 5-9 a.m. in Stage 1. Edible plants (vegetable gardens) are not restricted. In Stage 3, only handheld hose, container or drip irrigation.Water Shortage Response Bylaw 6948, 2004 (consolidated 2025), Sch. 1, s. 1.1.2; Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver, Stage 1 Residential; Water Shortage Response Bylaw 6948, 2004 (consolidated 2025), Sch. 1, s. 3.1.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingon any day from 5 – 9 AM if using a sprinkler; on any day at any time if using a handheld hose, soaker 1.1.2 Water trees, shrubs, and flowers excluding edible plants, Vegetable gardens - Can be watered at any time 3.1.2 Water trees, shrubs, and flowers excluding edible plants: (ii) except on any day at any time if using a handheld hose, |
| New lawns | A permit lets you water a new lawn (sod or seed), new landscaping, or a lawn treated for European chafer beetle with nematodes for 21 days from 4 to 9 a.m. during Stage 1 (one extension up to 42 days in total for nematodes). It covers Stage 1 and 2 only, not Stage 3 or 4. Fee $59 for a single-family home.Water Shortage Response Bylaw 6948, 2004 (consolidated 2025), s. 5.1; Water Shortage Response Bylaw 6948, 2004 (consolidated 2025), s. 5.2; Engineering User Fees and Rates Bylaw 7553, 2013, Part 11.0 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording21 day period during the hours of 4 – 9 AM, at the premises described in does not exempt the holder from Stage 3 & 4 Restrictions. nematode treated lawn when Stage 1 Restrictions in force for a 21 day $59.00 for Single Family |
| Fine | Bylaw notice for watering when prohibited: Stage 1 $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days; $125 late); Stage 2 $200; Stage 3 $500. Municipal ticket information: Stage 1 $500, Stage 2 $600, Stage 3 $750, Stage 4 $1,000. Bylaw s. 6.3 court fines: $100 to $1,000.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7318, 2009 (consolidated July 29, 2026), Sch. A Part 25; Water Shortage Response Bylaw 6948, 2004 (consolidated 2025), s. 6.3; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 8077, 2019 (consolidated July 29, 2026), Sch. B Part 25 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingStage 1 – water lawn 100.00 75.00 125.00 Stage 2 – water lawn 200.00 150.00 225.00 Stage 3 – water lawn 500.00 450.00 525.00 $100 if the offence is committed when Stage 1 Restrictions are in $1000 if the offence is committed when Stage 4 Restrictions are in Stage 1 – water lawn when prohibited even 500.00 Stage 2 – water lawn when prohibited even 600.00 Stage 1 – water lawn when prohibited even Stage 2 – water lawn when prohibited even Stage 3 – water lawn when prohibited Stage 4 – water lawns when prohibited |
| Bylaw | Water Shortage Response Bylaw No. 6948, 2004 (permit fees in Engineering Fees and Rates Bylaw No. 7553, 2013, Part 11.0).Water Shortage Response Bylaw 6948, 2004 (consolidated 2025), s. 1.1; Engineering User Fees and Rates Bylaw 7553, 2013, Part 11.0, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited as the "Water Shortage Response Bylaw No. 6948, 2004" This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “Engineering Fees and Rates Bylaw No. 7553, 2013.” |
How it works
The City enforces Metro Vancouver's stages through its Water Shortage Response Bylaw 6948. Stage 1 applies every year from May 1 to October 15, without any announcement. Metro Vancouver's Commissioner can declare Stage 2, 3 or 4, which take effect 72 hours after a public announcement, and may keep Stage 1 going past October 15. From October 16 to April 30 there are no restrictions unless declared. Check Metro Vancouver's page for the current stage.
Good to know
- Stage 1, homes: lawns may be watered Saturdays at even-numbered addresses and Sundays at odd-numbered addresses, 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. if automatic or 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. if manual.
- Stage 1, non-residential: Mondays (even) and Tuesdays (odd), 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. if automatic or 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. if manual.
- Stage 2 and above: no lawn watering.
- Trees, shrubs and flowers (not edible plants) may be watered any day, any time, with a handheld hose, soaker hose, water container or drip irrigation, and by sprinkler 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. in Stage 1. Edible plants are not restricted. In Stage 3, only handheld hose, container or drip irrigation.
- Hoses need an automatic shut-off nozzle, and water must not run off onto driveways.
- A permit lets you water a new lawn (sod or seed), new landscaping, or a lawn treated for European chafer beetle with nematodes, for 21 days from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. in Stage 1 (one extension up to 42 days in total for nematodes). It covers Stages 1 and 2 only, not Stage 3 or 4. Fees: $59 single-family, $87 multiple-family, $176 commercial or industrial. Apply to the Director of Engineering Services (604-527-4592).
- Fines for watering when prohibited: a bylaw notice is $100 at Stage 1 ($75 if paid within 14 days), $200 at Stage 2 and $500 at Stage 3. A municipal ticket is $500 at Stage 1, $600 at Stage 2, $750 at Stage 3 and $1,000 at Stage 4. The bylaw also sets court fines of $100 to $1,000.
- The Engineering fees bylaw lists a rain barrel at $76.
What you'll need
- Proof of the new lawn or landscaping when applying for a watering permit (the City's page does not list what is needed; ask Engineering)
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Burnaby · Coquitlam · Port Coquitlam · Port Moody · Belcarra · Surrey
Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Water Protection and Conservation, City of New Westminster (read 2026-11-05)
- Water Shortage Response Bylaw 6948, 2004 (consolidated 2025) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Engineering User Fees and Rates Bylaw 7553, 2013, Part 11.0 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Lawn Watering Restrictions, Metro Vancouver (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7318, 2009 (consolidated July 29, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 8077, 2019 (consolidated July 29, 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. How answers are checked.