Powell River watering restrictions
Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?
Short answer
Yes. The City of Powell River has four water conservation stages. At Stage 1, odd-numbered addresses may sprinkle any time on odd calendar days and even-numbered addresses on even days. The City sets the current stage, so check its Utilities page before you water.
Key facts
| When restrictions apply | The bylaw has four water conservation stages (Schedule C); the stage is set by the City and no calendar dates are written in the bylaw. Stage 1 is the minimum and is in effect most of the year; Stage 2 is common in summer.Waterworks Regulations and Rates Bylaw 2425, 2015 (office consolidation), Sch. C; Utilities, Water restrictions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThese restrictions only apply to the use of treated drinking water. At the minimum Stage 1 restriction, which is in effect most of the year, Stage 2 water restrictions are common in the summer months |
|---|---|
| Sprinkling schedule | Stage 1: odd-numbered addresses water any time on odd calendar days; even-numbered addresses any time on even calendar days. Stage 2: same days, but only between 12 a.m. and 9 a.m. Stage 3: odd addresses Tuesdays and Saturdays, even addresses Wednesdays and Sundays, 12 a.m. to 9 a.m. Stage 4: all watering with treated drinking water prohibited. Only one hose may be used for sprinkling at a time.Waterworks Regulations and Rates Bylaw 2425, 2015 (office consolidation), Sch. C; s. 19(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingSTAGE 1: Properties with odd water between 12am and 9am on Tuesdays and Saturdays. street addresses may water between 12am and 9am on Wednesdays No Consumer shall use more than one (1) hose for sprinkling purposes at any one |
| Allowed at any time | Stage 3: flowers, vegetable gardens, decorative planters, shrubs and trees only by hand with a spring-loaded shut-off nozzle, or with containers or drip irrigation. Underground sprinkler systems on a time clock are exempt from Stage 1 restrictions only if run between midnight and 7 a.m. Stage 4: all watering with treated drinking water is prohibited. Vehicles may be washed in Stages 1 and 2 only with a hose with a spring-loaded shut-off.Waterworks Regulations and Rates Bylaw 2425, 2015 (office consolidation), Sch. C; s. 19(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingSTAGE 3: Only if done by hand using a spring-loaded shut-off nozzle, or using containers or drip exempted from sprinkling regulations during Stage 1, as outlined in Schedule C, only STAGES 1-2: Only with hose |
| New lawns | Stages 1 and 2: sprinkling outside the restricted times is allowed for new (establishing) lawns, trees, shrubs and flowers only at the discretion of the Director of Infrastructure and with a special permit displayed on the lawn. Stages 3 and 4: no new permits are issued or renewed and all watering with treated drinking water is prohibited.Waterworks Regulations and Rates Bylaw 2425, 2015 (office consolidation), Sch. C · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingSTAGES 1-2: Sprinkling outside restricted times allowed only at the discretion of the Director of Infrastructure & with special permits STAGES 3-4: No new permits |
| Fine | Bylaw notice: $100 for failing to comply with the sprinkling restrictions (s. 19(a)) and $100 for using more than one hose at a time (s. 19(b)), each with a $20 discount if paid within 14 days and a $20 surcharge if paid after 28 days. No municipal ticket is listed for waterworks offences.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2818, 2026, App. 25; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2818, 2026, s. 7, Sch. A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording19(a) Failure to comply with $100 $20 $20 19(b) Using more than one hose for $100 $20 $20 if Paid within 14 days of the bylaw notice being received if Paid within 14 days of the bylaw notice being received the amount of the surcharge in Column A3 of Schedule "A" shall be due |
| Bylaw | Waterworks Regulations and Rates Bylaw 2425, 2015Waterworks Regulations and Rates Bylaw 2425, 2015 (office consolidation), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingWaterworks Regulations and Rates Bylaw 2425, 2015 |
How it works
The Waterworks Regulations and Rates Bylaw 2425 has four water conservation stages in Schedule C. The City sets the stage, and no calendar dates are written in the bylaw. Stage 1 is the minimum and is in effect most of the year; Stage 2 is common in summer. The restrictions apply only to treated drinking water.
Steps
- Check the current stage on the City's Utilities page, or call 604-485-8604.
- Follow your stage:
- Stage 1: odd-numbered addresses any time on odd calendar days; even-numbered addresses any time on even calendar days.
- Stage 2: same days, but only between 12 a.m. and 9 a.m.
- Stage 3: odd addresses Tuesdays and Saturdays, even addresses Wednesdays and Sundays, 12 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Stage 4: all watering with treated drinking water is prohibited.
- Use only one hose for sprinkling at a time.
Good to know
- Stage 3: flowers, vegetable gardens, decorative planters, shrubs and trees may be watered only by hand with a spring-loaded shut-off nozzle, or with containers or drip irrigation.
- Underground sprinkler systems on a time clock are exempt from Stage 1 restrictions only if run between midnight and 7 a.m.
- Vehicles may be washed in Stages 1 and 2 only with a hose with a spring-loaded shut-off.
- New lawns: in Stages 1 and 2, sprinkling outside the restricted times is allowed for new lawns, trees, shrubs and flowers only at the discretion of the Director of Infrastructure, with a special permit displayed on the lawn. In Stages 3 and 4 no new permits are issued or renewed. No permit fee is stated.
- The Director may impose further sprinkling regulations.
- A bylaw notice is $100 for failing to comply with the sprinkling restrictions and $100 for using more than one hose at a time ($20 discount if paid within 14 days; $20 surcharge if paid after 28 days). No municipal ticket is listed for waterworks offences.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Comox · Courtenay · Cumberland · Qualicum Beach · Campbell River · Parksville
Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Waterworks Regulations and Rates Bylaw 2425, 2015 (office consolidation) (read 2026-11-05)
- Utilities, City of Powell River (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2818, 2026 (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.