Port Alberni watering restrictions
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.
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.Water Restrictions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe 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. |
|---|---|
| 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.Water Restrictions At a Glance (2018), Lawns, trees, shrubs and flowers; City returns to Stage 1 water restrictions (August 27, 2025) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingSTAGE 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. 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. |
| 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.City returns to Stage 1 water restrictions (August 27, 2025) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingResidents 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. |
| 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).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (consolidated), Schedule A-26, s. 5(10) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingUse of water contrary to water restrictions $25.00 $18.75 $31.25 |
| Bylaw | Waterworks Bylaw No. 4494, 2001 (s. 5(10), per the ticket schedule); the City's bylaw list now shows Waterworks Bylaw No. 5131, 2025Sources 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (consolidated), Schedule A; City Bylaws, Bylaw list · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingWaterworks Bylaw, 2001 Bylaw No. 4494 | 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 |
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. 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
The same question in other places
Qualicum Beach · Parksville · Cumberland · Comox · Courtenay · Lantzville
Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Water Restrictions, City of Port Alberni (read 2026-11-05)
- Water Restrictions At a Glance (2018) (PDF), City of Port Alberni (read 2026-11-05)
- City returns to Stage 1 water restrictions (August 27, 2025), City of Port Alberni (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- City Bylaws, City of Port Alberni (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. How answers are checked.