North Cowichan watering restrictions

Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in North Cowichan?

North Cowichan, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

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.

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.Waterworks Bylaw No. 3620, 2016, consolidated to March 19, 2025, s. 17(1)-(2), s. 18; Water Conservation, Overview · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 May 1 - Oct 31 annually
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.Waterworks Bylaw No. 3620, 2016, consolidated to March 19, 2025, s. 17(3)-(4) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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.Waterworks Bylaw No. 3620, 2016, consolidated to March 19, 2025, s. 17(5)-(7), s. 19; Water Conservation, Overview table · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 Vegetable gardens, fruit trees \| 4 hours/day \| 4 hours/day \| 2 hours/day \| 2 hours/day
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.Waterworks Bylaw No. 3620, 2016, consolidated to March 19, 2025, s. 17(8)-(9), s. 20; Watering permits, Garden irrigation permits; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784, 2020, item 9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 $25 permit fee 21 days for planting a new lawn with sod 49 days for planting a new lawn from seed Garden Irrigation Permit $25
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).Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3677, 2021, Schedule A, Waterworks Bylaw; Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw, Schedule 2, Section 19 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 Violate stage 3 or stage 4 sprinkler use restrictions 17(4) $600
Bylaw	Waterworks Bylaw No. 3620, 2016 (Part 4, s. 17 and Schedule 1), consolidated to March 19, 2025.Waterworks Bylaw No. 3620, 2016, consolidated to March 19, 2025, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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.

How it works

The Waterworks Bylaw 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

Check the Water Conservation page for the current stage.
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.
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.