North Saanich watering restrictions
Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?
Short answer
Yes. In North Saanich, the Capital Regional District (CRD) Water Conservation Bylaw 4099 applies. Stage 1 restrictions apply every year from May 1 to September 30, and the CRD can change the dates or bring in a stricter stage at any time. Lawn watering days depend on whether your address is odd or even.
Key facts
| When restrictions apply | Stage 1 restrictions apply every year from May 1 to September 30 inclusive. The CRD's Regional Water Supply Commission can change those dates or bring in a stricter stage at any time of year; a new stage takes effect 48 hours after notice.CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099, ss. 4(1), 4(2), 4(3); Water Conservation, Water Conservation page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingare in effect each year from May 1 to September 30 inclusive terminate or bring into effect a Stage more restrictive than Stage 1 at any take effect 48 hours after the Notice for that Stage under section 5(1) The CRD imposes Stage 1 Water Conservation measures annually from May 1 until September 30. Corresponding watering schedules are in effect within the District of North Saanich |
|---|---|
| Sprinkling schedule | Lawns, Stage 1: even-numbered addresses on Wednesdays and Saturdays; odd-numbered addresses on Thursdays and Sundays. Any method: 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Timed or automatic irrigation systems: 12:01 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. For multi-unit and strata complexes, use the address number of the whole complex.CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099, Schedule A, s. 1(1)(a); Regional Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District, Lawn Watering · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe property has an even-numbered address, the lawn watering is on Wednesdays or Saturdays, and the watering occurs between the hours of the property has an odd-numbered address, the lawn watering is on Thursdays or Sundays, and the watering occurs between the hours of or between the hours of 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. by any method permitted by this bylaw; Odd Number | Thursdays & Sundays Any method: 4-10am or 7-10pm Timed/automatic irrigation systems: 12:01-10 am or 7-10 pm Even Number | Wednesdays & Saturdays Any method: 4-10am or 7-10pm Timed/automatic irrigation systems: 12:01-10 am or 7-10 pm |
| Allowed at any time | Established trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables: sprinklers on any day 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.; hand watering (hand-held container or hose with automatic shut-off) and micro or drip irrigation any day at any time. Vehicles and boats can be washed any time with a container or a hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle. Pools, hot tubs and ponds may be filled. Nurseries, farms, turf farms and tree farms are exempt.Regional Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District, Established trees; Vehicle and Boat Washing; Pools; Nurseries; CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099, s. 8(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingSprinkler | Any day 4-10am or 7-10pm Hand Watering & Micro/Drip Irrigation | Any day, any time A person may wash their vehicle or boat anytime using a handheld container or a handheld hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle You may use water to fill wading pools, swimming pools, hot tubs, or garden pond during Stage 1 Water Restrictions. Nurseries, farms, turf farms and tree farms are exempt from the Water Conservation Bylaw 4099. Nurseries, Farms, Turf Farms and Tree Farms are exempted from all Stage |
| New lawns | No permit is needed for new sod or newly seeded lawns. Water between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on installation and for the first 21 days for new sod, and for newly seeded lawns until growth is established or for 49 days after installation, whichever is less. After that, return to your lawn watering days and times.Regional Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District, New Sod and/or Newly Seeded Lawns; CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099, Schedule A, s. 1(1)(b)(iii) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA permit is not required to install new sod and/or newly seeded lawns. for new sod on installation and during the first 21 days after installation, and newly seeded lawns until growth is established or for 49 days after installations, whichever is less. or for newly seeded lawns, water until growth is established or for 49 days after installation, whichever is less; |
| Fine | Stage 1 ticket (CRD Bylaw 1857, Schedule 26): $200 for watering a lawn outside the allowed days or times, and $200 for wasting water or watering contrary to the restrictions. A court fine is $100 to $10,000, and each day is a separate offence.CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099, s. 10(1), (2), (4); CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 1857 (Schedule 26) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA person who contravenes this bylaw commits an offence and is liable to a fine not less than $100 and not exceeding $10,000. a ticket information pursuant to Bylaw No. 1857, Stage 1 – water lawn contrary to even-numbered Wasting water during Stage 1 7.(3) $200.00 Water contrary to restriction 7.(4) $200.00 |
| Bylaw | Capital Regional District Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099)CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT WATER CONSERVATION BYLAW NO. 1, 2016 BYLAW NO. 4099 |
How it works
North Saanich's water comes through the CRD, and CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099 applies. Stage 1 restrictions apply every year from May 1 to September 30. The CRD's Regional Water Supply Commission can change those dates or bring in a stricter stage at any time of year; a new stage takes effect 48 hours after notice. To check the current stage, see the CRD watering schedule page.
Stage 1 schedule
- Lawns: even-numbered addresses on Wednesdays and Saturdays; odd-numbered addresses on Thursdays and Sundays. Any method: 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Timed or automatic irrigation systems: 12:01 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Multi-unit and strata complexes use the address number of the whole complex.
- Established trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables: sprinklers any day, 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Hand watering (a container or a hose with an automatic shut-off) and micro or drip irrigation any day, any time.
- New sod or seeded lawns: no permit needed. Water 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on installation and for the first 21 days for new sod; for new seed, until growth is established or 49 days after installation, whichever is less. Then return to your lawn days.
- Vehicles and boats: wash any time with a container or a hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle. Pools, hot tubs and ponds may be filled. Nurseries, farms, turf farms and tree farms are exempt.
Good to know
- Water must not be wasted or sprayed onto neighbouring property.
- The Stage 1 ticket is $200 for watering a lawn outside the allowed days or times, and $200 for wasting water (CRD Bylaw 1857, Schedule 26). A court fine is $100 to $10,000, and each day is a separate offence.
- The bylaw's automatic-system hours (12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m.) differ from the CRD page (12:01 a.m. to 10 a.m.); confirm with the CRD.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Sidney · Central Saanich · Highlands · Saanich · Langford · View Royal
Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Regional Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District (read 2026-11-05)
- CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 1857 (Schedule 26) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Water Conservation, District of North Saanich (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.