---
title: North Cowichan watering restrictions
question: "Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in North Cowichan?"
place: North Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/north-cowichan
category: Water, sewer, roads and snow
owner: municipal
owner_body: Municipality of North Cowichan
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/water-restrictions/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/water-restrictions.json"
---

# North Cowichan watering restrictions

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

**Short answer:** In North Cowichan, Stage 1 watering restrictions apply every year from May 1 through October 31. Sprinklers run up to 2 hours a day on two days a week, by address, and no outdoor watering is allowed between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Check the Water Conservation page for the current stage.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Municipality of North Cowichan, https://www.northcowichan.ca)  
**Cost:** Garden Irrigation Permit for a new lawn: $25. Fines: bylaw notice $100 (Stage 1), $200 (Stage 2), $300 (Stage 3 or 4); municipal ticket $200, $400, $600.  
**How long:** Stage 1 runs May 1 to October 31. The Director of Engineering may bring in Stage 2, 3 or 4 when needed. A new-lawn permit lasts 21 days for sod and 49 days for seed.  
**Where:**
- Online: Water Conservation (current stage), https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-services/utilities/water-conservation
- Online: Watering permits, https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-services/utilities/water-conservation/watering-permits
- Phone: Operations, 250-746-3106

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Stage 1 applies every year from May 1 through October 31. The Director of Engineering may bring in Stage 2, 3 or 4 when needed, with notice on the Municipality's website, social media, signs, newspaper or radio. Check the Water Conservation page for the current stage.
  - Source: [Waterworks Bylaw No. 3620, 2016, consolidated to March 19, 2025, s. 17(1)-(2), s. 18](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Waterworks%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Stage 1 water conservation measures are in effect from May 1 through October 31 each" … "must determine when stage 1 water conservation measures" … "website, social media, signage placed in relevant public locations"
  - Source: [Water Conservation, Overview](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-services/utilities/water-conservation)
  - Official wording: "May 1 - Oct 31 annually"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Stage 1 (May 1 to Oct 31): sprinklers on lawns, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, ornamental trees, shrubs and flower gardens up to 2 hours a day on two days a week: even-numbered addresses Wednesday and Saturday; odd-numbered addresses Thursday and Sunday. Stage 2: one day a week (even Wednesday, odd Sunday). Stages 3 and 4: no sprinklers. No outdoor watering between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
  - Source: [Waterworks Bylaw No. 3620, 2016, consolidated to March 19, 2025, s. 17(3)-(4)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Waterworks%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "on their designated days for a maximum of 2" … "except between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m." … "Wednesdays and Saturdays during stage 1" … "Thursdays and Sundays during stage 1" … "at any time during stage 3 and stage 4"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** Hand watering or micro-drip irrigation is allowed any day, outside 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.: vegetable gardens and fruit trees up to 4 hours a day (Stage 1-2) or 2 hours (Stage 3-4); ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers 2 hours (Stage 1-2) or 1 hour (Stage 3-4); lawns 2 hours (Stage 1) or 1 hour (Stage 2), none in Stage 3-4. The Municipality and School District 79 sports fields are exempt from sprinkling days; some businesses (nurseries, car washes etc.) are exempt from some Stage 2 and 3 rules.
  - Source: [Waterworks Bylaw No. 3620, 2016, consolidated to March 19, 2025, s. 17(5)-(7), s. 19](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Waterworks%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "hand water or use micro-drip irrigation on vegetable gardens, or fruit" … "for a maximum of 4 hours per day during stage 1 and stage 2" … "the Municipality is exempt from the sprinkling restrictions under section 17" … "a commercial enterprise which requires water"
  - Source: [Water Conservation, Overview table](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-services/utilities/water-conservation)
  - Official wording: "Vegetable gardens, fruit trees | 4 hours/day | 4 hours/day | 2 hours/day | 2 hours/day"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** Yes, with a Garden Irrigation Permit ($25) for extra watering of a new lawn (newly seeded or sodded for the first time). Stage 1: sprinkler up to 2 hours a day on any day, or hand watering 2 hours. Stage 2 or 3: 1 hour (permits must be obtained before Stage 2; none issued during Stage 2 or 3). Stage 4: not permitted. Permits last 21 days for sod, 49 days for seed.
  - Source: [Waterworks Bylaw No. 3620, 2016, consolidated to March 19, 2025, s. 17(8)-(9), s. 20](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Waterworks%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a person shall be permitted to use a sprinkler on new" … "No new irrigation permits will be issued during stage 2 or stage 3"
  - Source: [Watering permits, Garden irrigation permits](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-services/utilities/water-conservation/watering-permits)
  - Official wording: "$25 permit fee" … "21 days for planting a new lawn with sod" … "49 days for planting a new lawn from seed"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784, 2020, item 9](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Garden Irrigation Permit $25"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: Stage 1 sprinkling on the wrong day $100 ($50 if paid within 14 days; $120 after 28 days); Stage 2 $200 ($100 early, $220 late); Stage 3 or 4 sprinkler use $300 ($150, $320). Municipal ticket: $200 (Stage 1), $400 (Stage 2), $600 (Stage 3 or 4).
  - Source: [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3677, 2021, Schedule A, Waterworks Bylaw](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-10/Bylaw%20Offence%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%2C%20No.%203677%2C%202021.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Violate stage 3 or stage 4 sprinkler use 17(4) $300 $150 $320 YES" … "17(3)(a)(i) $100 $50 $120 YES" … "17(3)(a)(ii) $200 $100 $220 YES"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw, Schedule 2, Section 19](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-05/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Violate stage 3 or stage 4 sprinkler use restrictions 17(4) $600"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Waterworks Bylaw No. 3620, 2016 (Part 4, s. 17 and Schedule 1), consolidated to March 19, 2025.
  - Source: [Waterworks Bylaw No. 3620, 2016, consolidated to March 19, 2025, title](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Waterworks%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "CONSOLIDATION WATERWORKS BYLAW Bylaw No. 3620 Current to October April 2, 2025 Last amended on March 19, 2025" … "Schedule 1 [BL3874. BL3904] Waterworks Bylaw No. 3620, 2016 WATER RESTRICTIONS TABLE Outdoor watering is permitted on your designated day as per the table below, except between 9am and 7pm."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Waterworks Bylaw](<https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Waterworks%20Bylaw.pdf>) sets a standing Stage 1 every year from May 1 through October 31. The Director of Engineering may bring in Stage 2, 3 or 4 when needed, with notice on the Municipality's website, social media, signs, newspaper or radio. It applies to properties on North Cowichan's water systems; private wells and agriculture are regulated by the Province.

**Sprinklers** (lawns, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, ornamental trees, shrubs and flower gardens):

- **Stage 1:** up to 2 hours a day on two days a week. Even-numbered addresses: Wednesday and Saturday. Odd-numbered addresses: Thursday and Sunday.
- **Stage 2:** one day a week (even Wednesday, odd Sunday).
- **Stages 3 and 4:** no sprinklers.
- No outdoor watering between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

## Steps

1. Check the Water Conservation page for the current stage.
2. Hand watering or micro-drip irrigation is allowed any day outside 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Vegetable gardens and fruit trees: up to 4 hours a day (Stage 1-2) or 2 hours (Stage 3-4). Ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers: 2 hours (Stage 1-2) or 1 hour (Stage 3-4). Lawns: 2 hours (Stage 1) or 1 hour (Stage 2), none in Stage 3-4.
3. New lawn (newly seeded or sodded for the first time): get a Garden Irrigation Permit ($25) for extra watering. Stage 1: sprinkler up to 2 hours a day on any day, or hand watering 2 hours. Stage 2 or 3: 1 hour. Permits last 21 days for sod and 49 days for seed.

## Good to know

- Permits must be obtained before Stage 2 begins. None are issued during Stage 2 or 3, and the Watering Permits page says none in Stage 4 either. New-lawn watering is not permitted in Stage 4.
- Municipal and School District 79 sports fields are exempt from sprinkling days. Some businesses (nurseries, car washes and so on) are exempt from some Stage 2 and 3 rules.
- Filling pools and hot tubs and washing vehicles have separate stage rules in the bylaw.
- A bylaw notice for sprinkling on the wrong day is $100 in Stage 1 ($50 if paid within 14 days, $120 after 28 days), $200 in Stage 2 ($100 early, $220 late) and $300 in Stage 3 or 4 ($150, $320). A municipal ticket is $200, $400 and $600.

## Official forms and pages

- [Waterworks Bylaw No. 3620, 2016 (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Waterworks%20Bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Duncan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/water-restrictions.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/water-restrictions.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/water-restrictions.md)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/water-restrictions.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/water-restrictions.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Water Conservation, Municipality of North Cowichan](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-services/utilities/water-conservation) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Watering permits, Municipality of North Cowichan](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-services/utilities/water-conservation/watering-permits) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Waterworks Bylaw No. 3620, 2016, consolidated to March 19, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Waterworks%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784, 2020 (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3677, 2021 (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-10/Bylaw%20Offence%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%2C%20No.%203677%2C%202021.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-05/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Municipality of North Cowichan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/water-restrictions/_