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

# Port Alberni watering restrictions

**Question:** Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Port Alberni?

**Short answer:** Yes. The City of Port Alberni brings in Stage 1 water restrictions every year, typically July 1 to September 30, and can tighten them if hot weather persists. Under Stage 1, even-numbered addresses sprinkle on even-numbered days and odd on odd, 6 to 9 a.m. or 6 to 9 p.m. Check the current stage.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Port Alberni, https://www.portalberni.ca)  
**Cost:** A bylaw notice for using water contrary to the restrictions is $25 ($18.75 if paid within 14 days; $31.25 if paid late).  
**How long:** Stage 1 is typically July 1 to September 30. The City announces the current stage.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Public Works, 250-720-2840
- Email: Public Works, citypa@portalberni.ca

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** The City brings in Stage 1 every year, typically July 1 to September 30, and may trigger further stages (up to Stage 4) if hot weather persists. The current stage is announced by the City.
  - Source: [Water Restrictions](https://www.portalberni.ca/water-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "the City implements annual Stage 1 Water Restrictions. These restrictions are typically in place from July 1 - September 30." … "if hot weather persists, the City will trigger further restrictions."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Stage 1: even-numbered addresses sprinkle on even-numbered calendar days, odd on odd, 6-9 a.m. or 6-9 p.m. Per the City's 2018 summary: Stage 2, even addresses Wednesdays and Saturdays, odd Thursdays and Sundays; Stage 3, even Saturdays, odd Sundays, same hours; Stage 4, none.
  - Source: [Water Restrictions At a Glance (2018), Lawns, trees, shrubs and flowers](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/Water%20Restrictions%20At%20a%20Glance%202018_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "STAGE 1: EVEN-numbered addresses can sprinkle on EVEN-numbered calen-" … "STAGE 2: EVEN-numbered addresses can sprinkle on Wednesdays &" … "STAGE 3: EVEN-numbered address can sprinkle on Saturdays, 6-9 am or 6-9" … "STAGE 4: All forms of watering using treated drinking water are prohibited."
  - Source: [City returns to Stage 1 water restrictions (August 27, 2025)](https://www.portalberni.ca/city-returns-stage-1-water-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "Odd-numbered addresses may water on odd-numbered calendar days, and even-numbered addresses may water on even-numbered days, between 6–9 a.m. and 6–9 p.m."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** Stage 1: vegetable and food gardens may be watered any day, up to two hours, using drip or micro irrigation or by hand (spring-loaded nozzle or bucket). Vehicle and outdoor surface washing allowed any day with a spring-loaded nozzle or bucket. Filling pools, hot tubs, ponds and fountains allowed.
  - Source: [City returns to Stage 1 water restrictions (August 27, 2025)](https://www.portalberni.ca/city-returns-stage-1-water-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "Residents can continue watering their vegetable/food gardens using drip/micro irrigation or hand watering" … "Vehicle and outdoor surface washing is permitted any day, provided a spring-loaded nozzle or watering pail/bucket is used." … "Filling pools, hot tubs, ponds, or fountains is permitted."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** Not confirmed. No residential new-lawn rule could be read in the City's materials.
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: $25 for use of water contrary to water restrictions ($18.75 if paid within 14 days; $31.25 if paid late).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (consolidated), Schedule A-26, s. 5(10)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5128%2C%205128-1_Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20No.%205128%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Use of water contrary to water restrictions $25.00 $18.75 $31.25"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Waterworks Bylaw No. 4494, 2001 (s. 5(10), per the ticket schedule); the City's bylaw list now shows Waterworks Bylaw No. 5131, 2025 (Sources differ: Could not confirm which bylaw now sets the stages: Waterworks Bylaw No. 5131 (2025) PDF has no text layer, and the ticket schedule still cites No. 4494.)
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (consolidated), Schedule A](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5128%2C%205128-1_Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20No.%205128%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Waterworks Bylaw, 2001 Bylaw No. 4494"
  - Source: [City Bylaws, Bylaw list](https://www.portalberni.ca/city-bylaws)
  - Official wording: "| 2025 | Waterworks Bylaw A bylaw to regulate the waterworks system of the City including the Distribution System, reservoirs, treatment-facilities, pumpstations, dams and intakes." … "A Bylaw created pursuant to Section 165 of the Community Charter that authorizes the expenditure of funds for the municipality. | | 5131 | 2025 | Waterworks Bylaw"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City brings in Stage 1 water restrictions every year, typically July 1 to September 30, and will trigger further restrictions if hot weather persists. The City announces the current stage; this answer does not say which one is in force. The Waterworks Bylaw No. 5131 on the City's site has no readable text, so the stages below come from the City's notices and its 2018 "At a Glance" summary.

## Good to know

- Stage 1 (confirmed by the City's August 27, 2025 notice): lawns, trees, shrubs and flowers can be sprinkled on even-numbered calendar days at even-numbered addresses and odd-numbered days at odd-numbered addresses, 6 to 9 a.m. or 6 to 9 p.m.
- Stage 1: vegetable and food gardens may be watered any day, up to two hours, using drip or micro irrigation or by hand (spring-loaded nozzle or bucket). Vehicles and outdoor surfaces may be washed any day with a spring-loaded nozzle or bucket. Filling pools, hot tubs, ponds and fountains is allowed.
- Per the City's 2018 summary (confirm with the City before relying on it): Stage 2, even addresses on Wednesdays and Saturdays, odd on Thursdays and Sundays; Stage 3, even addresses on Saturdays, odd on Sundays, same hours; Stage 4, no sprinkling.
- The 2018 summary also has a permit row for commercial and new lawns ("Contact the City directly for details"); no residential new-lawn rule could be read. Ask Public Works.
- A bylaw notice is $25 ($18.75 if paid within 14 days, $31.25 if paid late) under the [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128](<https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5128%2C%205128-1_Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20No.%205128%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf>). The schedule cites the older Waterworks Bylaw No. 4494 (2001), while the City's bylaw list shows Waterworks Bylaw No. 5131, 2025.
- To find the current stage, check portalberni.ca or call Public Works at 250-720-2840.

## Official forms and pages

- [Water Restrictions, City of Port Alberni](https://www.portalberni.ca/water-restrictions)
- [Water Restrictions At a Glance, Stages 1 to 4 (2018) (PDF)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/Water%20Restrictions%20At%20a%20Glance%202018_0.pdf)
- [City returns to Stage 1 water restrictions (August 27, 2025)](https://www.portalberni.ca/city-returns-stage-1-water-restrictions)

## Related questions

- [Port Alberni bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/bylaw-fines.md)

## 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)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/water-restrictions.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/water-restrictions.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/water-restrictions.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/water-restrictions.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Water Restrictions, City of Port Alberni](https://www.portalberni.ca/water-restrictions) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Water Restrictions At a Glance (2018) (PDF), City of Port Alberni](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/Water%20Restrictions%20At%20a%20Glance%202018_0.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [City returns to Stage 1 water restrictions (August 27, 2025), City of Port Alberni](https://www.portalberni.ca/city-returns-stage-1-water-restrictions) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5128%2C%205128-1_Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20No.%205128%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [City Bylaws, City of Port Alberni](https://www.portalberni.ca/city-bylaws) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Port Alberni. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/water-restrictions/_