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

# Prince George watering restrictions

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Prince George's sprinkling restrictions apply every day of the year. Even house numbers sprinkle on even-numbered dates and odd house numbers on odd dates, and no one may sprinkle from 12 noon to 5 p.m. (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Western Acres). The bylaw notice is $100.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Prince George, https://www.princegeorge.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice $100 if paid within 30 days; $125 if paid later. No fee for an exemption is stated on the pages read.  
**Where:**
- Online: Water use restriction exemption application, https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/permits-applications/water-use-restriction-exemption-application
- Phone: Water use restriction exemptions, 250-561-7550

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Every day of the year; no stages are described. The City's Authorized Person can also issue a public notice prohibiting or restricting water use if a shortage exists or is imminent.
  - Source: [Water Restrictions & Conservation, Water use restrictions](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/water-sewer-and-stormwater/water-restrictions-conservation)
  - Official wording: "Note: Water use restrictions are in effect 365 days a year."
  - Source: [Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw No. 7479, 2003 (consolidated May 26, 2025), s. 4.1(d)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/BL7479_CONSOLIDATED_2025-05-26.pdf)
  - Official wording: "water supply shortage exists or is imminent or the public interest may require it, issue a public notice prohibiting or restricting the use of water."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Even house numbers sprinkle on even-numbered dates; odd house numbers on odd dates. No sprinkling from 12 noon to 5 p.m. daily; in Western Acres, not from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  - Source: [Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw No. 7479, 2003 (consolidated May 26, 2025), Schedule C](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/BL7479_CONSOLIDATED_2025-05-26.pdf)
  - Official wording: "NO SPRINKLING IS ALLOWED BETWEEN 12.00 noon and 5:00 pm. DAILY" … "NO SPRINKLING IS ALLOWED BETWEEN 8:00 am and 5:00 pm DAILY." … "If you have an even house number, you can sprinkle your lawn on even numbered days." … "If you have an odd house number, you can sprinkle your lawn on odd numbered days."
  - Source: [Water Restrictions & Conservation, Water use restrictions](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/water-sewer-and-stormwater/water-restrictions-conservation)
  - Official wording: "Sprinkling is permitted for even house numbers on even-numbered dates and odd house numbers on odd-numbered dates within the prescribed hours of the day."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** Not confirmed. The bylaw and City page do not list watering that is allowed at any time.
- **New lawns:** Apply to the City's Utilities Division for an exemption (seeding or sod): up to two weeks, and it does not allow watering from noon to 5 p.m. The City says a new lawn needs about three weeks of sprinkling.
  - Source: [Water Use Restriction Exemption Application](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/permits-applications/water-use-restriction-exemption-application)
  - Official wording: "Exemptions are for maximum two (2) weeks only." … "This exemption does not permit water use during the hours of 12:00pm (noon) and 5:00pm."
  - Source: [Water Restrictions & Conservation, Water use restrictions](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/water-sewer-and-stormwater/water-restrictions-conservation)
  - Official wording: "Establishing a new lawn requires three weeks of sprinkling" … "you can apply online for an exemption to restrictions or call: 250-561-7550."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** $100 if paid within 30 days of the Bylaw Notice; $125 if paid later.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 8813, 2016 (consolidated), Schedule B, Schedule B, Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/BL8813_CONSOLIDATED_2024-09-09_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Water contrary to restrictions 3.6 $100 $125 Yes"
  - Source: [Water Restrictions & Conservation, Water use restrictions](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/water-sewer-and-stormwater/water-restrictions-conservation)
  - Official wording: "The fine for sprinkling violators is $100.00."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw No. 7479, 2003 (s. 3.6 and Schedule C)
  - Source: [Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw No. 7479, 2003 (consolidated May 26, 2025), title](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/BL7479_CONSOLIDATED_2025-05-26.pdf)
  - Official wording: "CITY OF PRINCE GEORGE WATER REGULATION AND RATES BYLAW NO. 7479, 2003"
  - Source: [Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw No. 7479, 2003 (consolidated May 26, 2025), s. 3.6](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/BL7479_CONSOLIDATED_2025-05-26.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No consumer shall use water contrary to this Bylaw and without"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw No. 7479](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/BL7479_CONSOLIDATED_2025-05-26.pdf), sprinkling restrictions apply every day of the year in Prince George; no stages are described. Sprinkling means putting City water on any exterior surface, including lawns, gardens and landscaping. The City's Authorized Person can also issue a public notice prohibiting or restricting water use if a shortage exists or is imminent.

## Good to know

- Even house numbers sprinkle on even-numbered dates; odd house numbers on odd dates.
- No sprinkling from 12 noon to 5 p.m. daily. In Western Acres, no sprinkling from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- New lawn (seed or sod): apply to the City's Utilities Division for an exemption. It lasts up to two weeks and does not allow watering from noon to 5 p.m. The City says a new lawn needs about three weeks of sprinkling.
- The bylaw and City page list no watering allowed at any time (such as hand watering or drip). Ask Utilities at 250-561-7550 if unsure.

## Official forms and pages

- [Water Restrictions & Conservation, City of Prince George](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/water-sewer-and-stormwater/water-restrictions-conservation)
- [Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw No. 7479 (consolidated PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/BL7479_CONSOLIDATED_2025-05-26.pdf)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/water-restrictions.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/water-restrictions.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/water-restrictions.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/water-restrictions.md)
- [McBride](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/water-restrictions.md)
- [Burns Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Water Restrictions & Conservation, City of Prince George](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/water-sewer-and-stormwater/water-restrictions-conservation) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw No. 7479, 2003 (consolidated May 26, 2025) (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/BL7479_CONSOLIDATED_2025-05-26.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Water Use Restriction Exemption Application, City of Prince George](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/permits-applications/water-use-restriction-exemption-application) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 8813, 2016 (consolidated), Schedule B (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/BL8813_CONSOLIDATED_2024-09-09_0.pdf) (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 Prince George. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/water-restrictions/_