Saanich watering restrictions
Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Saanich?
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.
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.CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099), s. 4; Watering Schedules, Watering Schedules page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingStage 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 The Stage 1 Watering Schdule of the Capital Region District Water Conservation Bylaw is in effect May 1 through September 30 every year. |
|---|---|
| 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.Watering Schedules, Watering Schedules page; CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099), Schedule A, s. 1(1)(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingEven numbered addresses may water: Wednesday and Saturday Odd numbered addresses may water: Thursday and Sunday 4 a.m. – 10 a.m. the property has an even-numbered address, the lawn watering is on Wednesdays or Saturdays Thursdays or Sundays |
| 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.CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099), Schedule A, s. 1(1)(b); Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District, Watering Schedules (CRD) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingMicro-irrigation or Drip-irrigation systems hand held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle 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. |
| 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.Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District, Watering Schedules (CRD); CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099), Schedule A, s. 1(1)(b)(iii) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA 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 newly seeded lawns, water until growth is established or for 49 days after installation, whichever is less |
| 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.CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099), s. 10; CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 1857, Schedule 26 to Bylaw No. 1857 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingis liable to a fine not less than $100 and not exceeding $10,000 Capital Regional District Ticket lnformation Authorization Bylaw, 1990 Stage 1 – water lawn contrary to even-numbered Wasting water during Stage 1 |
| Bylaw | Capital Regional District Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099)CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT WATER CONSERVATION |
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). 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
- Check your address number and water on your lawn days.
- Check the CRD Watering Schedule page 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
The same question in other places
Oak Bay · Esquimalt · Victoria · View Royal · Central Saanich · Colwood
Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District (read 2026-11-06)
- CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099) (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 1857 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Watering Schedules, District of Saanich (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. How answers are checked.