{"title":"Qualicum Beach watering restrictions","question":"Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?","slug":"water-restrictions","place":{"path":"ca/bc/qualicum-beach","name":"Qualicum Beach","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"water-roads-and-snow","name":"Water, sewer, roads and snow"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Town of Qualicum Beach","url":"https://www.qualicumbeach.com"},"short_answer":"In Qualicum Beach, from May 15 to September 15 each year, sprinklers may not be used on lawns, gardens or similar landscaping between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Hand watering and drip irrigation are allowed any time. Council can add further limits or a ban during a shortage.","aliases":["watering restrictions qualicum beach","sprinkler rules qualicum beach","lawn watering qualicum beach","sprinkler permit qualicum beach"],"cost":"Special Sprinkler Permit for new landscaping: $30 per permit for a single-family dwelling ($30 per unit, to $150, for multi-family). Ticket: listed at $75 but under a repealed bylaw, so confirm with the Town. Court fine up to $10,000.","how_long":"Restrictions apply every year from May 15 to September 15. A Special Sprinkler Permit is valid up to three weeks.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Town Hall, for a sprinkler permit (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)","value":"#201 - 660 Primrose Street, Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 1S7"},{"type":"phone","label":"Town Hall","value":"250-752-6921"},{"type":"online","label":"Water Services","value":"https://qualicumbeach.com/water-services"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw No. 753, 2020 (PDF)","url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Waterworks%20Rate%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No%2E%20753%2C%202020%2Epdf"},{"title":"Water Services, Town of Qualicum Beach","url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/water-services"},{"title":"Water Connection and Sprinkler Permit, Town of Qualicum Beach","url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/town-services/permits/water-connection-sprinkler-permit/"},{"title":"Water Conservation and Water Restrictions FAQ (PDF)","url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Media%20Newsroom%20Publications/Media%20Releases/2023%20Media%20Releases/FAQ%20Water%20Conservation%20and%20Water%20Restrictions%2Epdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Qualicum Beach bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/bylaw-fines/"},{"slug":"garbage-collection","title":"Qualicum Beach garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/garbage-collection/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/parksville","name":"Parksville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lantzville","name":"Lantzville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-alberni","name":"Port Alberni","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nanaimo","name":"Nanaimo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sechelt","name":"Sechelt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/water-restrictions/"}],"topic":{"title":"Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions/"},"facts":{"in_effect":{"label":"When restrictions apply","value":"Every year from May 15 to September 15. Council may also, by resolution, impose further limits or a ban during a water shortage; notice is given in a local newspaper, on the Town's website or on social media.","short":"May 15 to September 15","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Waterworks%20Rate%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No%2E%20753%2C%202020%2Epdf","title":"Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw No. 753, 2020 (PDF)","section":"s. 35-36","quotes":["during the period from May 15 to","September 15 of each year.","the Council may, by resolution, at any time temporarily prohibit or impose"]},{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/water-services","title":"Water Services, Town of Qualicum Beach","section":"Water Restrictions","quotes":["Water Restrictions – May 15 to September 15"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"schedule":{"label":"Sprinkling schedule","value":"Sprinklers may not be used to water lawns, gardens or similar landscape features between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily from May 15 to September 15, so sprinkler watering is allowed from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Not limited by odd/even day or address.","short":"None 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., May 15 to September 15","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Waterworks%20Rate%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No%2E%20753%2C%202020%2Epdf","title":"Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw No. 753, 2020 (PDF)","section":"s. 35","quotes":["No person shall water a lawn, garden or similar landscape feature using a sprinkler","between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily"]},{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/water-services","title":"Water Services, Town of Qualicum Beach","section":"Water Restrictions","quotes":["the watering of lawns and gardens will only be permitted between the hours of 7:00 pm and 7:00 am daily."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exempt_watering":{"label":"Allowed at any time","value":"Hand watering, vehicle washing and other residential uses are not restricted in the May 15 to September 15 period. The Town's FAQ says hand-watering, micro irrigation and drip irrigation are permitted anytime; the restricted times apply only to pop-up, rotor and other sprinklers. Exempt unless Council says otherwise: public parks and playing fields where compliance is impractical, nurseries, and hosing for safety or sanitary reasons.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Waterworks%20Rate%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No%2E%20753%2C%202020%2Epdf","title":"Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw No. 753, 2020 (PDF)","section":"s. 35, 38","quotes":["No restrictions apply during the same period for all other","residential water uses (e.g. hand watering, vehicle washing, etc.).","Nurseries - where economic loss would result from loss of plant stock."]},{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Media%20Newsroom%20Publications/Media%20Releases/2023%20Media%20Releases/FAQ%20Water%20Conservation%20and%20Water%20Restrictions%2Epdf","title":"Water Conservation and Water Restrictions FAQ (PDF)","section":"FAQ (July 25, 2023)","quotes":["hand-watering, micro irrigation and drip irrigation are permitted anytime;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"new_lawns":{"label":"New lawns","value":"Apply for a Special Sprinkler Permit to water new landscaping such as fresh sod at times otherwise restricted. Fee $30 per permit for a single-family dwelling ($30 per unit, to $150, for multi-family). Valid up to three weeks; the Director of Engineering may set conditions. Apply at Town Hall with payment.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Waterworks%20Rate%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No%2E%20753%2C%202020%2Epdf","title":"Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw No. 753, 2020 (PDF)","section":"s. 37; Sched. C","quotes":["Any person may apply to the Municipality for a permit to water new","Permits shall be valid for three (3) weeks from the date of issue.","Single Family Dwelling                        $30.00 per permit"]},{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/town-services/permits/water-connection-sprinkler-permit/","title":"Water Connection and Sprinkler Permit, Town of Qualicum Beach","section":"Special Sprinkler Permit","quotes":["Residents can apply for a special sprinkler permit to water new landscape features like fresh sod."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw 626 Schedule 19 lists $75 for watering contrary to restrictions, but it still names the repealed Waterworks Bylaw No. 713 (s. 31). Current Bylaw 753 allows ticketing under Bylaw 626. Confirm the amount with the Town; court fine up to $10,000.","short":"Ticket $75; court up to $10,000","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20Utilization%20Bylaw%20No.%20626%20(Consolidated%20up%20to%20Bylaw%20No.%20626.07).pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 626, consolidated to 626.07 (PDF)","section":"Sched. 19","quotes":["Watering contrary to restrictions","$75.00","Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw No. 713, 2017","Watering contrary to restrictions 31 $75.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Town of Qualicum Beach Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw No. 753, 2020","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Waterworks%20Rate%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No%2E%20753%2C%202020%2Epdf","title":"Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw No. 753, 2020 (PDF)","section":"s. 44","quotes":["Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw No. 753, 2020"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the Town's [Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw No. 753](<https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Waterworks%20Rate%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No%2E%20753%2C%202020%2Epdf>), sprinklers may not be used to water lawns, gardens or similar landscape features between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily from May 15 to September 15 each year. So sprinkler watering is allowed from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The rule is not limited by odd/even day or address.\n\nCouncil may also, by resolution, impose further limits or a ban during a water shortage. Notice is given in a local newspaper, on the Town's website or on social media. Check the Town's water services page for the current status.\n\n## What is exempt\n\n- Hand watering, vehicle washing and other residential uses are not restricted in the May 15 to September 15 period.\n- The Town's FAQ says hand-watering, micro irrigation and drip irrigation are permitted any time. The restricted times apply only to pop-up, rotor and other sprinklers.\n- Exempt unless Council says otherwise: public parks and playing fields where compliance is impractical, nurseries, and hosing for safety or sanitary reasons.\n- Food gardens are not mentioned separately; the restriction applies to sprinklers on a lawn, garden or similar landscape feature.\n\n## New lawns\n\n1. Apply for a Special Sprinkler Permit at Town Hall, with payment, to water new landscaping such as fresh sod at otherwise restricted times.\n2. The fee is $30 per permit for a single-family dwelling ($30 per unit, to $150, for multi-family).\n3. The permit is valid up to three weeks, and the Director of Engineering may set conditions.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Bylaw 626 lists a $75 ticket for watering contrary to restrictions, but it still names the repealed Waterworks Bylaw No. 713, so the amount may be out of date. Confirm with the Town. A court can fine up to $10,000.\n- The Town, not the Regional District of Nanaimo, supplies water and sets these restrictions here.","sources":[{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Waterworks%20Rate%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No%2E%20753%2C%202020%2Epdf","title":"Waterworks Rate and Regulation Bylaw No. 753, 2020 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/water-services","title":"Water Services, Town of Qualicum Beach","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/town-services/permits/water-connection-sprinkler-permit/","title":"Water Connection and Sprinkler Permit, Town of Qualicum Beach","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Media%20Newsroom%20Publications/Media%20Releases/2023%20Media%20Releases/FAQ%20Water%20Conservation%20and%20Water%20Restrictions%2Epdf","title":"Water Conservation and Water Restrictions FAQ (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20Utilization%20Bylaw%20No.%20626%20(Consolidated%20up%20to%20Bylaw%20No.%20626.07).pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 626, consolidated to 626.07 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/water-restrictions/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/water-restrictions.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/water-restrictions.json"}}