---
title: Parksville watering restrictions
question: "Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?"
place: Parksville, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/parksville
category: Water, sewer, roads and snow
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Parksville
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/water-restrictions/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/water-restrictions.json"
---

# Parksville watering restrictions

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

**Short answer:** Yes. The City of Parksville sets water conservation levels 1 to 4 between April and October, and none from November 1 to April 1. Levels 3 and 4 apply as advised on the City website. The City's website shows the current level.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Parksville, https://www.parksville.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice $250 for using water contrary to the conservation levels ($187.50 if paid within 14 days, $312.50 if paid late). Wasting water $150; not using water as the bylaw requires $100. Court fine up to $10,000.  
**Where:**
- Email: Bylaw compliance, bylaw@parksville.ca
- Phone: Bylaw compliance, 250-954-4650

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** The City sets conservation levels 1 to 4 between April and October; none between November 1 and April 1. Level 1 is April 1 to 30; Level 2 is May 1 to October 31 unless the City advises otherwise; Levels 3 and 4 apply as advised on the City website. The current stage is not stated.
  - Source: [Water Conservation, Water Conservation page](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=377)
  - Official wording: "Water conservation is implemented by the City in four levels. Between April and October, conservation levels may be in place" … "The City does not implement water conservation measures between November 1 and April 1"
  - Source: [Water Service System Bylaw No. 1320, 1999 (Schedule B, Water Conservation Levels)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1068)
  - Official wording: "APRIL 1 TO APRIL 30" … "MAY 1 TO OCTOBER 31" … "As advised by the City of Parksville" … "Such notice shall be sufficiently given if notice is provided on the City of Parksville website or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Level 1 (April): lawn sprinklers 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., any day. Level 2 (May to October): odd addresses on odd days, even on even days, 7 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m., two hours a day at most. Level 3: once a week, 7 to 10 a.m. or p.m., two hours: even numbers Thursday, odd numbers Monday. Level 4: lawn watering banned.
  - Source: [Water Service System Bylaw No. 1320, 1999 (Schedule B, Water Conservation Levels), Schedule B, Levels 1 to 4](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1068)
  - Official wording: "is permitted during watering times between 7 pm" … "and 7 am, any day of the week." … "Odd numbered civic addresses may water on odd numbered days and even numbered civic addresses may" … "water on even numbered days. Watering times are 7 am to 10 am OR 7 pm to 10 pm for a maximum of two" … "• Even numbered houses on Thursdays" … "• Odd numbered houses on Mondays" … "All outdoor watering is prohibited including newly seeded and sodded lawns."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** Vegetable gardens and fruit trees are exempt from all levels. Drip and micro-irrigation (under 20 gallons an hour at under 25 PSI; soaker hoses do not count) and hand watering are allowed anytime in Levels 1 to 3 (7 to 10 a.m. or p.m. in Level 4). Ornamentals outside permitted times: hand-held container or hose with shutoff nozzle. Commercial users such as nurseries and car washes, and public parks and sports fields, are exempt.
  - Source: [Water Service System Bylaw No. 1320, 1999 (Schedule B, Water Conservation Levels), Schedule B, exemptions and levels](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1068)
  - Official wording: "Vegetable gardens and fruit trees are exempt from all watering restrictions." … "Ornamental shrubs, flowers and trees are restricted to hand-held container or hose equipped with a shutoff nozzle if watered outside of permitted times." … "Micro-irrigation and drip-irrigation consists of water delivered to the root zone of a plant and" … "Hand-watering," … "ANYTIME ANYTIME ANYTIME" … "are exempt from all water conservation levels." … "Watering of public parks, open space, and sports fields are exempt from conservation levels"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** A special watering permit from the City lets new sod or newly seeded lawn be sprinkled outside permitted days for 14 days after installation. The permit must be displayed. No permits are issued or valid in Levels 3 and 4.
  - Source: [Water Service System Bylaw No. 1320, 1999 (Schedule B, Water Conservation Levels), Schedule B, A. Special Watering Permits](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1068)
  - Official wording: "New sod or newly seeded lawn may be sprinkled for 14 days after installation, provided a" … "permit has been issued for the premises at which the new lawn has been installed." … "Permits will not be issued or be valid during water conservation levels 3 and 4."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: using water contrary to the conservation levels $250 ($187.50 if paid within 14 days; $312.50 late; compliance agreement available). Wasting water $150; not using water as the bylaw requires $100. Court fine up to $10,000.
  - Source: [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1486, Schedule A, Schedule A, Water Service System Bylaw s. 7](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/2814)
  - Official wording: "7(a) $250.00 $187.50 $312.50 YES" … "7(b) Allow waste of water $150.00 $112.50 $187.50" … "Failure to use water in accordance"
  - Source: [Water Service System Bylaw No. 1320, 1999 (Schedule B, Water Conservation Levels), s. 49(a)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1068)
  - Official wording: "maximum fine of not more than $10,000."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Water Service System Bylaw, 1999, No. 1320 (Schedule B, Water Conservation Levels)
  - Source: [Water Service System Bylaw No. 1320, 1999 (Schedule B, Water Conservation Levels), s. 54](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1068)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as "City of Parksville Water Service System Bylaw,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Water Service System Bylaw 1320](<https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1068>) (Schedule B), the City sets conservation levels 1 to 4 between April and October. Level 1 is April 1 to 30. Level 2 is May 1 to October 31 unless the City advises otherwise. Levels 3 and 4 apply as advised on the City website. There is no level from November 1 to April 1. To see the current level, check the [City's Water Conservation page](<https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=377>).

## Steps

1. Check the current level on the City's Water Conservation page.
2. Water your lawn only as that level allows:
   - Level 1 (April): sprinklers 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., any day.
   - Level 2 (May to October): odd addresses on odd days, even on even days, 7 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m., two hours a day at most.
   - Level 3: once a week, 7 to 10 a.m. or p.m., two hours. Even numbers Thursday, odd numbers Monday.
   - Level 4: lawn watering banned.
3. For new sod or seed, ask the City for a special watering permit and display it.

## Good to know

- Exempt from all levels: vegetable gardens and fruit trees. Commercial users such as nurseries and car washes, and public parks and sports fields, are also exempt.
- Drip and micro-irrigation (under 20 gallons an hour at under 25 PSI; soaker hoses do not count) and hand watering are allowed anytime in Levels 1 to 3, and 7 to 10 a.m. or p.m. in Level 4.
- Ornamentals outside permitted times: use a hand-held container or a hose with a shutoff nozzle.
- A special watering permit lets new sod or newly seeded lawn be sprinkled outside permitted days for 14 days after installation. No permits are issued or valid in Levels 3 and 4. The permit fee was not found.
- A bylaw notice is $250 ($187.50 if paid within 14 days, $312.50 if paid late); a compliance agreement is available. Wasting water is $150. Not using water as the bylaw requires is $100.
- Questions: Bylaw Compliance, bylaw@parksville.ca or 250-954-4650.

## Official forms and pages

- [Water Conservation, City of Parksville](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=377)
- [Water Service System Bylaw 1320 (consolidated, PDF)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1068)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/water-restrictions.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/water-restrictions.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/water-restrictions.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/water-restrictions.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/water-restrictions.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Water Conservation, City of Parksville](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=377) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Water Service System Bylaw No. 1320, 1999 (Schedule B, Water Conservation Levels)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1068) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1486, Schedule A](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/2814) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Parksville. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/water-restrictions/_