---
title: North Vancouver watering restrictions
question: "Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?"
place: North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/north-vancouver
category: Water, sewer, roads and snow
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/water-restrictions/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/water-restrictions.json"
---

# North Vancouver watering restrictions

**Question:** Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?

**Short answer:** Yes. In the City of North Vancouver, Stage 1 watering rules start automatically May 1 and end October 15. Residential lawns may be watered once a week: even-numbered addresses on Saturdays and odd-numbered addresses on Sundays. Metro Vancouver can order stricter stages 2 to 4.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** Lawn watering permit: $31.22 single family or duplex, $78.11 multi-family, $156.21 commercial; none for clover. Bylaw notices: Stage 1 $100, Stage 2 $200, Stage 3 $300, Stage 4 $400.  
**How long:** A new lawn permit is valid 21 days (one 21-day extension in Stage 1); a nematode permit 14 days.  
**Where:**
- In person: Engineering, Parks and Environment counter, City Hall, 141 West 14th Street, North Vancouver, BC V7M 1H9 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
- Phone: Engineering, 604-983-7333
- Email: Engineering, eng@cnv.org
- Phone: Bylaw Services (complaints), 604-982-8302

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Stage 1 starts automatically May 1 and ends October 15. Stages 2, 3 and 4 are activated by the Metro Vancouver (GVWD) Commissioner and take effect 72 hours after the City's public announcement. Stage 2 and 3: no lawn watering (Stage 3 also bans sprinklers and soaker hoses on trees and shrubs). Stage 4: no lawn, tree, shrub or flower watering. Current stage not stated.
  - Source: [Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw 2018 No. 8627 (consolidated June 1, 2026), s. 5](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8627-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Stage 1 Restrictions come into effect automatically on May 1 every year." … "Stages 2, 3 and 4 are activated and deactivated by the GVWD Commissioner." … "comes into force 72 hours after the" … "A Restriction Stage ceases to be in force after October 15 each year; unless the"
  - Source: [Water Restrictions, Water Restrictions page](https://www.cnv.org/Community-Environment/Environmental-Protection/Water-Conservation/Sprinkling-Regulations)
  - Official wording: "Stage 1 regulations are in effect throughout Metro Vancouver from May 1 to October 15" … "No lawn watering is permitted during these stages, and sprinklers/soaker hoses are also prohibited in Stage 3." … "All outside uses are prohibited."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Stage 1, residential lawns: once a week only. Even-numbered civic addresses on Saturdays, odd-numbered on Sundays. Automatic (sprinkler system) watering 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.; manual watering 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Non-residential and mixed-use: Mondays (even) and Tuesdays (odd), automatic 4 a.m. to 6 a.m., manual 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Stages 2 to 4: no lawn watering.
  - Source: [Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw 2018 No. 8627 (consolidated June 1, 2026), Schedule A, Stage 1](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8627-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Even-numbered civic addresses on Saturdays:" … "Odd-numbered civic addresses on Sundays:" … "- Automatic watering from 5 am to 7 am" … "- Manual watering 6 am to 9 am" … "Even-numbered civic addresses on Mondays:" … "Odd-numbered civic addresses on Tuesdays:" … "Watering lawns Prohibited"
  - Source: [Water Restrictions, Water Restrictions page](https://www.cnv.org/Community-Environment/Environmental-Protection/Water-Conservation/Sprinkling-Regulations)
  - Official wording: "Permitted once weekly, with automatic watering 5am-7am and manual watering 6am-9am"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** Residential Stage 1: trees, shrubs and flowers may be watered with a sprinkler any day 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., and at any time with a handheld hose, soaker hose, water container or drip irrigation. Vegetable gardens and edible plants: any day, any time. Hoses must have an automatic shut-off, and water must not run off onto hard surfaces.
  - Source: [Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw 2018 No. 8627 (consolidated June 1, 2026), Schedule A, Stage 1 and general restrictions](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8627-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "On any day from 5 am to 9 am if using a sprinkler" … "On any day at any time if using a handheld hose," … "soaker hose, water container, or drip irrigation" … "All hoses must have an automatic shut-off device."
  - Source: [Water Restrictions, Water Restrictions page](https://www.cnv.org/Community-Environment/Environmental-Protection/Water-Conservation/Sprinkling-Regulations)
  - Official wording: "water any day at any time"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** A Lawn Watering Permit lets you water a new lawn (seed, sod, turf) or treat a lawn for nematodes or European chafer beetle outside the restricted times. Apply before Stage 2 with proof of purchase. Valid 21 days (one 21-day extension in Stage 1); nematode permits 14 days. Fee $31.22 single-family or duplex, $78.11 multi-family, $156.21 commercial; none for clover. Permits end in Stage 3 and 4.
  - Source: [Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw 2018 No. 8627 (consolidated June 1, 2026), s. 8](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8627-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "may apply to the Delegate prior to Stage 2 Restrictions for a Lawn Watering Permit" … "will expire 21 days after the date of" … "issue unless the person has received an extension for the permit." … "No new permits or permit extensions" … "will be issued in Stage 2." … "No permits will remain in effect in Stage 3 or Stage 4, and no permits" … "will be issued or extended during Stage 3 or Stage 4 restrictions."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2024 No. 9000, Fees schedule, Lawn Watering Permit](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/9000-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Lawn Watering Permit - Single Family / Duplex $ 31.22" … "Lawn Watering Permit - Multi-Family $ 78.11" … "Lawn Watering Permit - Commercial / Industrial $ 156.21" … "Lawn Watering Permit - Lawn with Clover No fee"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Stage 1: $100 (early $50, late $150). Stage 2: $200 (early $150, late $250). Stage 3: $300 (early $250, late $400). Stage 4: $400 (early $350, late $500). On court conviction the bylaw sets a fine of $3,000 to $10,000 for a first offence.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2018 No. 8675, Schedule A, Schedule A, Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw, 2018, No. 8627](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8675-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fail to Follow Water Use Restrictions - Stage 1 (Sched. A) 5 No $100 $50 $150 N/A" … "Fail to Follow Water Use Restrictions - Stage 2 (Sched. A) 5 No $200 $150 $250 N/A" … "Fail to Follow Water Use Restrictions - Stage 3 (Sched. A) 5 No $300 $250 $400 N/A" … "Fail to Follow Water Use Restrictions - Stage 4 (Sched. A) 5 No $400 $350 $500 N/A"
  - Source: [Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw 2018 No. 8627 (consolidated June 1, 2026), s. 9(B)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8627-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "not less than $3,000 but not more than $10,000 for a first conviction for an"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw, 2018, No. 8627 (follows the Metro Vancouver Drinking Water Conservation Plan)
  - Source: [Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw 2018 No. 8627 (consolidated June 1, 2026), s. 1](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8627-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Drinking Water Conservation" … "Plan Bylaw, 2018, No. 8627"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Residential water use in the City of North Vancouver follows Metro Vancouver's Drinking Water Conservation Plan, adopted by the [Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw 8627](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8627-C.pdf). Stage 1 starts automatically May 1 and ends October 15. Stages 2, 3 and 4 are activated by the Metro Vancouver (GVWD) Commissioner and take effect 72 hours after the City's public announcement. The current stage is not stated here.

## Steps

1. Stage 1, residential lawns: once a week only. Even-numbered civic addresses on Saturdays, odd-numbered on Sundays. Automatic (sprinkler system) watering 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.; manual watering 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
2. Non-residential and mixed-use lawns: Mondays (even) and Tuesdays (odd), automatic 4 a.m. to 6 a.m., manual 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
3. For a new lawn (seed, sod, turf) or a nematode or European chafer beetle treatment, apply for a Lawn Watering Permit before Stage 2, with proof of purchase. Permits end in Stages 3 and 4.

## Good to know

- Trees, shrubs and flowers (Stage 1): sprinkler any day 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., and at any time with a handheld hose, soaker hose, water container or drip irrigation. Vegetable gardens and edible plants: any day, any time.
- Hoses need an automatic shut-off, and water must not run off onto hard surfaces.
- Stages 2 and 3: no lawn watering (Stage 3 also bans sprinklers and soaker hoses on trees and shrubs). Stage 4: no lawn, tree, shrub or flower watering.
- Bylaw notices: Stage 1 $100 ($50 early, $150 late); Stage 2 $200; Stage 3 $300; Stage 4 $400. On court conviction a first offence carries a fine of $3,000 to $10,000.
- Report a breach to Bylaw Services at 604-982-8302.

## Official forms and pages

- [Water Restrictions page, City of North Vancouver](https://www.cnv.org/Community-Environment/Environmental-Protection/Water-Conservation/Sprinkling-Regulations)
- [Lawn Watering Permit application (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Water-Conservation/Stage-1-Application---Lawn-Watering-Permit.pdf)
- [Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw 8627 (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8627-C.pdf)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/water-restrictions.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/water-restrictions.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/water-restrictions.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/water-restrictions.md)
- [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/water-restrictions.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Water Restrictions, City of North Vancouver](https://www.cnv.org/Community-Environment/Environmental-Protection/Water-Conservation/Sprinkling-Regulations) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw 2018 No. 8627 (consolidated June 1, 2026) (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8627-C.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2024 No. 9000 (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/9000-C.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2018 No. 8675, Schedule A (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8675-C.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

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