---
title: Saanich watering restrictions
question: "Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Saanich?"
place: Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/saanich
category: Water, sewer, roads and snow
owner: regional
owner_body: Capital Regional District
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/water-restrictions/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/water-restrictions.json"
---

# Saanich watering restrictions

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Regional district (Capital Regional District, https://www.crd.ca)  
**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:**
- Online: CRD Watering Schedule, https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule
- Online: Saanich Watering Schedules, https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/utilities-garbage/water/watering-schedules.html

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** 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.
  - Source: [CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099), s. 4](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Watering Schedules, Watering Schedules page](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/utilities-garbage/water/watering-schedules.html)
  - Official wording: "The Stage 1 Watering Schdule of the Capital Region District Water Conservation Bylaw is in effect May 1 through September 30 every year."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** 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.
  - Source: [Watering Schedules, Watering Schedules page](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/utilities-garbage/water/watering-schedules.html)
  - Official wording: "Even numbered addresses may water:" … "Wednesday and Saturday" … "Odd numbered addresses may water:" … "Thursday and Sunday" … "4 a.m. – 10 a.m."
  - Source: [CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099), Schedule A, s. 1(1)(a)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016)
  - Official wording: "the property has an even-numbered address, the lawn watering is on" … "Wednesdays or Saturdays" … "Thursdays or Sundays"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** 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.
  - Source: [CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099), Schedule A, s. 1(1)(b)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016)
  - Official wording: "Micro-irrigation" … "or Drip-irrigation systems" … "hand held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle"
  - Source: [Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District, Watering Schedules (CRD)](https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** 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.
  - Source: [Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District, Watering Schedules (CRD)](https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099), Schedule A, s. 1(1)(b)(iii)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016)
  - Official wording: "newly seeded lawns, water until growth is" … "established or for 49 days after installation, whichever is less"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099), s. 10](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016)
  - Official wording: "is liable to a fine not" … "less than $100 and not exceeding $10,000" … "Capital Regional District Ticket lnformation Authorization Bylaw, 1990"
  - Source: [CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 1857, Schedule 26 to Bylaw No. 1857](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1857-consolidated-capital-regional-district-ticket-information-authorization-bylaw-1990b)
  - Official wording: "Stage 1 – water lawn contrary to even-numbered" … "Wasting water during Stage 1"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Capital Regional District Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099)
  - Source: [CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099), title](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016)
  - Official wording: "CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT WATER CONSERVATION"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Water 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.

**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.

**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.

**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.

## Steps

1. Check your address number and water on your lawn days.
2. Check the [CRD Watering Schedule page](https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule) for any stage change before you water.

## Good to know

- 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.
- Nurseries, farms, turf farms and tree farms are exempt.
- Saanich's own Water Utility Bylaw sets no lawn-watering schedule.

## Official forms and pages

- [Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule)
- [CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099) (PDF)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016)
- [CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 1857 (PDF)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1857-consolidated-capital-regional-district-ticket-information-authorization-bylaw-1990b)
- [Watering Schedules, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/utilities-garbage/water/watering-schedules.html)

## Related questions

- [Saanich garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/garbage-collection.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/water-restrictions.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/water-restrictions.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/water-restrictions.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/water-restrictions.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/water-restrictions.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule) (read 2026-11-06)
- [CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099) (PDF)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016) (read 2026-11-06)
- [CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 1857 (PDF)](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1857-consolidated-capital-regional-district-ticket-information-authorization-bylaw-1990b) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Watering Schedules, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/utilities-garbage/water/watering-schedules.html) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Capital Regional District. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/water-restrictions/_