Pitt Meadows watering restrictions
Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?
Short answer
In the City of Pitt Meadows, Stage 1 watering rules apply automatically every year from May 1 to October 15. Residential lawns: even-numbered addresses Saturdays, odd-numbered Sundays. Stages 2 to 4 are started by Metro Vancouver and prohibit lawn watering. Check the City for the current stage.
Key facts
| When restrictions apply | Stage 1 applies automatically every year from May 1 to October 15. Stages 2, 3 and 4 are started and ended by the Metro Vancouver (GVWD) Commissioner and take effect 72 hours after the City's public announcement. Stages end after October 15 unless the Commissioner says otherwise.Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw 2787, 2018 (consolidated), ss. 3.1-3.6; Watering Regulations · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingStage 1 Restrictions come into effect automatically on May 1 until October 15 every year. Stages 2, 3 and 4 are activated and deactivated by the GVWD Commissioner. comes into force 72 hours after the City has made a Public Announcement of the declaration A Restriction Stage ceases to be in force after October 15 each year From May 1 to October 15, Stage 1 watering regulations are in effect. |
|---|---|
| Sprinkling schedule | Stage 1 (May 1 to Oct 15), residential lawns: even-numbered addresses Saturdays, odd-numbered Sundays; automatic (timer) watering 5-7 a.m., manual watering 6-9 a.m. (e.g. a sprinkler you turn on and off yourself). Non-residential: Mondays (even) and Tuesdays (odd), automatic 4-6 a.m., manual 6-9 a.m. Stages 2, 3 and 4: lawn watering prohibited.Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw 2787, 2018 (consolidated), Schedule A, Stage 1; Watering Regulations, Lawn Watering · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingEven-numbered civic addresses on Saturdays: Odd-numbered civic addresses on Sundays: Automatic watering from 5 am to 7 am Manual watering from 6 am to 9 am Odd-numbered civic addresses on Tuesdays: Watering lawns Prohibited lawn watering ban and additional stricter measures. Even-numbered addresses: Saturday mornings |
| Allowed at any time | Stages 1 and 2: trees, shrubs and flowers any day 5-9 a.m. with a sprinkler, or any time by hand-held hose, soaker hose, water container or drip irrigation. Stage 3: no sprinklers or soaker hoses. Stage 4: none. Edible plants, and rainwater, grey water and recycled water, are exempt. Hoses need an automatic shut-off device.Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw 2787, 2018 (consolidated), Schedule A, Stage 1; Watering Regulations, Other Greenery and Gardens · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingOn any day from 5 am to 9 am if using a hose, soaker hose, water container, or drip All hoses must have an automatic shut-off device. Prohibited if using a sprinkler or soaker Edible plants are exempt from regulations. Water restrictions do not apply to the use of rainwater, grey water or any forms of recycled water. |
| New lawns | A $50 permit from the Director allows watering a new lawn (seed, sod or turf) or applying nematodes outside the Stage 1 schedule. It lasts 21 days; one 21-day extension for a new lawn (not nematodes). Stage 2: no new or renewed permits. Stage 3 and 4: all permits invalid.Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw 2787, 2018 (consolidated), ss. 5.1-5.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinginstalls a new lawn, either by seeding or by placing sod or turf; or The Director may issue a Permit to the applicant upon payment of a fee in the amount of $50. A Permit issued under section 5.2 will expire 21 days after the date of issue No permits will remain in effect in Stage 4 unless the Person has received an extension for the Permit or Stage 3 or 4 will remain in effect in Stage 4, and no permits will be issued or extended No new permits issued or renewed All City permits issued for lawn watering |
| Fine | Bylaw notice for unauthorized water use: $300 in Stage 1 or 2; $500 in Stage 3 or 4 (no early-payment discount). Court: $3,000 to $10,000 for a first conviction, $5,000 to $10,000 for a repeat.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2439, 2009 (consolidated), Schedule A, Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw No. 2787, 2018; Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw 2787, 2018 (consolidated), s. 6.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingUnauthorized Use of Water Schedule A Stage 1 300 n/a Unauthorized Use of Water Schedule A Stage 3 500 n/a not less than $3,000 but not more than $10,000 for a first conviction |
| Bylaw | Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw No. 2787, 2018Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw 2787, 2018 (consolidated), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDRINKING WATER CONSERVATION PLAN BYLAW NO. 2787, 2018 |
How it works
The Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw No. 2787, 2018 sets four stages. Stage 1 applies every year from May 1 to October 15. Stages 2, 3 and 4 are started and ended by the Metro Vancouver (GVWD) Commissioner and take effect 72 hours after the City's public announcement. They end after October 15 unless the Commissioner says otherwise. The stage in force now is not a standing rule: check the City's Watering Regulations page.
Stage 1 lawn schedule (May 1 to October 15)
- Residential: even-numbered addresses Saturdays, odd-numbered Sundays. Automatic (timer) watering 5 to 7 a.m.; manual watering 6 to 9 a.m. (for example a sprinkler you turn on and off yourself).
- Non-residential: Mondays (even) and Tuesdays (odd). Automatic 4 to 6 a.m.; manual 6 to 9 a.m.
- Stages 2, 3 and 4: lawn watering is prohibited.
Good to know
- Trees, shrubs and flowers in Stages 1 and 2: any day 5 to 9 a.m. with a sprinkler, or any time by hand-held hose, soaker hose, water container or drip irrigation. Stage 3: no sprinklers or soaker hoses. Stage 4: none.
- Edible plants, and rainwater, grey water and recycled water, are exempt. Hoses need an automatic shut-off device, and water must not run off onto hard surfaces.
- New lawn (seed, sod or turf) or nematodes: a $50 permit from the Director allows watering outside the Stage 1 schedule for 21 days. In Stage 2 no new or renewed permits are issued; in Stages 3 and 4 all permits are invalid.
- Court penalty: $3,000 to $10,000 for a first conviction, $5,000 to $10,000 for a repeat. Bylaw notices have no early-payment discount.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Maple Ridge · Port Coquitlam · Coquitlam · Anmore · Port Moody · Belcarra
Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Drinking Water Conservation Plan Bylaw 2787, 2018 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Watering Regulations, City of Pitt Meadows (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2439, 2009 (consolidated) (PDF) (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.