{"title":"Saanich watering restrictions","question":"Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Saanich?","slug":"water-restrictions","place":{"path":"ca/bc/saanich","name":"Saanich","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"water-roads-and-snow","name":"Water, sewer, roads and snow"},"owner":"regional","owner_label":"Regional district","owner_body":{"name":"Capital Regional District","url":"https://www.crd.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. The CRD's Stage 1 watering rules apply in Saanich every year from May 1 to September 30. Lawns: even-numbered addresses water Wednesday and Saturday; odd-numbered addresses Thursday and Sunday. Tickets are issued under CRD bylaws, not Saanich's.","aliases":["lawn watering saanich","sprinkling restrictions saanich","water restrictions crd saanich","watering schedule saanich","watering days saanich"],"cost":"Ticket under CRD Bylaw 1857: $200 for lawn watering outside your Stage 1 days or hours, and $200 for wasting water in Stage 1 ($300 Stage 2, $400 Stage 3). A court can fine $100 to $10,000 per day.","how_long":"Stage 1 runs May 1 to September 30 every year. The CRD can bring in Stage 2 or 3 (or change dates) at any time, taking effect 48 hours after notice.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"CRD Watering Schedule","value":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule"},{"type":"online","label":"Saanich Watering Schedules","value":"https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/utilities-garbage/water/watering-schedules.html"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District","url":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule"},{"title":"CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099) (PDF)","url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016"},{"title":"CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 1857 (PDF)","url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1857-consolidated-capital-regional-district-ticket-information-authorization-bylaw-1990b"},{"title":"Watering Schedules, District of Saanich","url":"https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/utilities-garbage/water/watering-schedules.html"}],"related":[{"slug":"garbage-collection","title":"Saanich garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/garbage-collection/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/oak-bay","name":"Oak Bay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/esquimalt","name":"Esquimalt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/victoria","name":"Victoria","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/central-saanich","name":"Central Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/colwood","name":"Colwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/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":"Stage 1 of the CRD Water Conservation Bylaw is in effect every year from May 1 to September 30. The CRD Commission can bring in Stage 2 or 3 (or change dates) at any time; those take effect 48 hours after notice. Applies to customers of the Regional Water Supply System, which includes Saanich.","short":"Stage 1: May 1 to September 30; stricter by notice","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099) (PDF)","section":"s. 4","quotes":["Stage 1 Water Use Restrictions prescribed in Schedule “A” are in effect each","year from May 1 to September 30 inclusive","take effect 48 hours after the"]},{"url":"https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/utilities-garbage/water/watering-schedules.html","title":"Watering Schedules, District of Saanich","section":"Watering Schedules page","quotes":["The Stage 1 Watering Schdule of the Capital Region District Water Conservation Bylaw is in effect May 1 through September 30 every year."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"schedule":{"label":"Sprinkling schedule","value":"Lawns: even-numbered addresses Wednesday and Saturday; odd-numbered addresses Thursday and Sunday. Any method 4-10 a.m. and 7-10 p.m.; timed or automatic irrigation systems may also run from 12:01 a.m. For multi-unit complexes use the complex's address number.","short":"Even Wed, Sat; odd Thu, Sun; 4-10 a.m. and 7-10 p.m.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/utilities-garbage/water/watering-schedules.html","title":"Watering Schedules, District of Saanich","section":"Watering Schedules page","quotes":["Even numbered addresses may water:","Wednesday and Saturday","Odd numbered addresses may water:","Thursday and Sunday","4 a.m. – 10 a.m."]},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099) (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, s. 1(1)(a)","quotes":["the property has an even-numbered address, the lawn watering is on","Wednesdays or Saturdays","Thursdays or Sundays"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exempt_watering":{"label":"Allowed at any time","value":"Hand-held container or hose with shut-off nozzle, and micro or drip irrigation, for trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables: any day, any time. Sprinklers on those plants: any day, 4-10 a.m. and 7-10 p.m. You may fill pools, hot tubs and ponds. Vehicles and boats: handheld container or hose with automatic shut-off nozzle.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099) (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, s. 1(1)(b)","quotes":["Micro-irrigation","or Drip-irrigation systems","hand held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle"]},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule","title":"Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District","section":"Watering Schedules (CRD)","quotes":["Hand Watering & Micro/Drip Irrigation","Any day, any time","You may use water to fill wading pools, swimming pools, hot tubs, or garden pond during Stage 1 Water Restrictions."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"new_lawns":{"label":"New lawns","value":"No permit needed. New sod may be watered outside your lawn days (any day, 4-10 a.m. and 7-10 p.m.) on installation and for the first 21 days. Newly seeded lawns: until growth is established or 49 days, whichever is less. Then go back to your lawn days.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule","title":"Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District","section":"Watering Schedules (CRD)","quotes":["A permit is not required to install new sod and/or newly seeded lawns.","for new sod on installation and during the first 21 days after installation","or for 49 days after installations, whichever is less"]},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099) (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, s. 1(1)(b)(iii)","quotes":["newly seeded lawns, water until growth is","established or for 49 days after installation, whichever is less"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Ticket under CRD Bylaw 1857: $200 for lawn watering outside your Stage 1 days or hours, and $200 for wasting water in Stage 1 ($300 Stage 2, $400 Stage 3). A court can fine $100 to $10,000 per day.","short":"Ticket $200 Stage 1; court $100 to $10,000","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099) (PDF)","section":"s. 10","quotes":["is liable to a fine not","less than $100 and not exceeding $10,000","Capital Regional District Ticket lnformation Authorization Bylaw, 1990"]},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1857-consolidated-capital-regional-district-ticket-information-authorization-bylaw-1990b","title":"CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 1857 (PDF)","section":"Schedule 26 to Bylaw No. 1857","quotes":["Stage 1 – water lawn contrary to even-numbered","Wasting water during Stage 1"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Capital Regional District Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099) (PDF)","section":"title","quotes":["CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT WATER CONSERVATION"]}],"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\nWater restrictions in Saanich come from the Capital Regional District, under the [CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016). It applies to customers of the Regional Water Supply System, which includes Saanich. Stage 1 is in effect every year from May 1 to September 30. The CRD can bring in Stage 2 or 3, or change dates, at any time; those take effect 48 hours after notice. The CRD says it has not needed Stage 2 or 3 since 2002.\n\n**Lawns.** Even-numbered addresses: Wednesday and Saturday. Odd-numbered addresses: Thursday and Sunday. Any method from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.; timed or automatic irrigation systems may also run from 12:01 a.m. Multi-unit complexes use the complex's address number.\n\n**Trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables.** A hand-held container, a hose with a shut-off nozzle, or micro or drip irrigation: any day, any time. Sprinklers on those plants: any day, 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. You may fill pools, hot tubs and ponds. Vehicles and boats: handheld container or hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle.\n\n**New lawns.** No permit is needed. New sod may be watered outside your lawn days (any day, 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.) on installation and for the first 21 days. Newly seeded lawns: until growth is established or 49 days, whichever is less. Then go back to your lawn days.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your address number and water on your lawn days.\n2. Check the [CRD Watering Schedule page](https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule) for any stage change before you water.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Tickets are under CRD Bylaw 1857: $200 for lawn watering outside your Stage 1 days or hours, and $200 for wasting water in Stage 1 ($300 in Stage 2, $400 in Stage 3). A court can fine $100 to $10,000 per day.\n- Nurseries, farms, turf farms and tree farms are exempt.\n- Saanich's own Water Utility Bylaw sets no lawn-watering schedule.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule","title":"Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1857-consolidated-capital-regional-district-ticket-information-authorization-bylaw-1990b","title":"CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 1857 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/utilities-garbage/water/watering-schedules.html","title":"Watering Schedules, District of Saanich","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/saanich/water-restrictions/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/water-restrictions.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/water-restrictions.json"}}