{"title":"Sechelt watering restrictions","question":"Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Sechelt?","slug":"water-restrictions","place":{"path":"ca/bc/sechelt","name":"Sechelt","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":"Sunshine Coast Regional District","url":"https://www.scrd.ca"},"short_answer":"In Sechelt, water comes from the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD), which sets the restrictions. Stage 1 applies every year from May 1 to September 30, and SCRD can change the stage at any time up to Stage 4, a complete outdoor ban. Check SCRD for the current stage.","aliases":["sprinkling restrictions sechelt","lawn watering sechelt","water ban sechelt","scrd water restrictions"],"cost":"Fines rise with the stage: Stage 1 $200, Stage 2 $300, Stage 3 $400, Stage 4 $500. SCRD first issues warnings. No permits for watering new lawns are available.","how_long":"Stage 1 applies May 1 to September 30 each year; SCRD can change the stage or dates at any time.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"SCRD water supply questions","value":"604-885-6800"},{"type":"phone","label":"SCRD, to report violations","value":"604-885-6806"},{"type":"online","label":"SCRD Water Regulations (current stage)","value":"https://www.scrd.ca/water-regulations/"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"SCRD Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 778, 2025 (PDF)","url":"https://www.scrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Water-Rates-and-Regulations-No.-778.pdf"},{"title":"Water Regulations, Sunshine Coast Regional District","url":"https://www.scrd.ca/water-regulations/"},{"title":"Water and Sprinkling, District of Sechelt","url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/living-here/water-and-sewer-services/water-and-sprinkling/"}],"related":[{"slug":"garbage-collection","title":"Sechelt garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/garbage-collection/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Sechelt bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/gibsons","name":"Gibsons","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/bowen-island","name":"Bowen Island","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lantzville","name":"Lantzville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nanaimo","name":"Nanaimo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lions-bay","name":"Lions Bay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/west-vancouver","name":"West Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/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":"The District's water comes from the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD). Stage 1 restrictions apply every year from May 1 to September 30. SCRD can change the stage or the dates at any time, up to Stage 4 (complete outdoor ban).","short":"Stage 1: May 1 to September 30; SCRD may change","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/living-here/water-and-sewer-services/water-and-sprinkling/","title":"Water and Sprinkling, District of Sechelt","section":"Water and Sprinkling page","quotes":["The water supply system in the District of Sechelt is provided by the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD)."]},{"url":"https://www.scrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Water-Rates-and-Regulations-No.-778.pdf","title":"SCRD Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 778, 2025 (PDF)","section":"s. 8.1.3, 8.1.4","quotes":["Stage 1 water use restrictions prescribed in Schedule “J” of this Bylaw are in","effect in each year from May 1 to September 30, inclusive","may terminate, or bring into effect, water use restrictions at any time of the"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"schedule":{"label":"Sprinkling schedule","value":"Stage 1 (sprinkler watering): lawns 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Thursday and Sunday for even-numbered addresses, Wednesday and Saturday for odd-numbered. Trees, shrubs, flowers and food plants 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday (even) or Monday, Wednesday, Saturday (odd). Stage 2 limits sprinklers to two days a week and bans lawn watering; Stages 3 and 4 are stricter.","short":"Stage 1: lawns Thu, Sun (even), Wed, Sat (odd), 7 to 8 a.m.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.scrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Water-Rates-and-Regulations-No.-778.pdf","title":"SCRD Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 778, 2025 (PDF)","section":"Schedule J, Stage 1 s. 1.1(a), (b)","quotes":["on a property with an even numbered address on Tuesday, Thursday, and","Sunday from 7:00 am to 9:00 am and from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm; and","on a property with an even numbered address on Thursday and Sunday","from 7:00 am to 8:00 am; and","(h) not water lawns, including newly seeded or sodded lawns."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exempt_watering":{"label":"Allowed at any time","value":"At Stage 1, watering at any time by hose with spray-trigger nozzle, hand-held container or drip irrigation is allowed. Washing vehicles or boats, washing hard surfaces, and filling pools are allowed at any time with a nozzle hose, pressure washer or container. Stricter limits apply in Stages 2 to 4. Rules apply only to SCRD water, not rainwater, private wells or recycled water. Commercial farms are exempt for food crops at Stage 1.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.scrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Water-Rates-and-Regulations-No.-778.pdf","title":"SCRD Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 778, 2025 (PDF)","section":"Schedule J, Stage 1 s. 1.1(c), 1.2(b)","quotes":["at any time water lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, and food producing plants and","trees by hose equipped with a spray-trigger nozzle, hand-held container, or","Commercial Farms are exempt from Stage 1 water conservation regulations"]},{"url":"https://www.scrd.ca/water-regulations/","title":"Water Regulations, Sunshine Coast Regional District","section":"SCRD Water Conservation Regulations page","quotes":["These regulations apply only to the use of SCRD drinking water not to the use of rainwater, private well water"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"new_lawns":{"label":"New lawns","value":"No permits for watering new lawns are available. At Stage 2 and above, lawn watering is banned, including newly seeded or sodded lawns; new lawns should be established in early spring or fall.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.scrd.ca/water-regulations/","title":"Water Regulations, Sunshine Coast Regional District","section":"SCRD FAQ","quotes":["Permits for watering new lawns are not available."]},{"url":"https://www.scrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Water-Rates-and-Regulations-No.-778.pdf","title":"SCRD Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 778, 2025 (PDF)","section":"Schedule J, Stage 2 s. 2.1(h)","quotes":["(h) not water lawns, including newly seeded or sodded lawns."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Fines rise with the stage: Stage 1 $200, Stage 2 $300, Stage 3 $400, Stage 4 $500. SCRD first issues warnings; continued non-compliance can bring a Bylaw Enforcement Notice and fine.","short":"$200 Stage 1; $300 Stage 2; $400 Stage 3","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.scrd.ca/water-regulations/","title":"Water Regulations, Sunshine Coast Regional District","section":"Enforcement of Regulations","quotes":["Stage 1 at $200","Stage 2 at $300","Stage 3 at $400","Stage 4 at $500","The SCRD will issue warnings to properties in violation of regulations"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Sunshine Coast Regional District Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 778, 2025 (Section 8 and Schedule J)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.scrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Water-Rates-and-Regulations-No.-778.pdf","title":"SCRD Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 778, 2025 (PDF)","section":"Title","quotes":["Sunshine Coast Regional District Water Rates and Regulations","Bylaw No. 778, 2025."]}],"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\nThe District of Sechelt does not run the water system; the SCRD does. Its [Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw 778](<https://www.scrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Water-Rates-and-Regulations-No.-778.pdf>) (Section 8 and Schedule J) sets restrictions. Stage 1 applies every year from May 1 to September 30. SCRD can change the stage or the dates at any time, up to Stage 4 (complete outdoor ban). To see the current stage, check the [SCRD water regulations page](<https://www.scrd.ca/water-regulations/>). The rules apply only to SCRD water, not rainwater, private wells or recycled water.\n\n## Stage 1 sprinkler schedule\n\n- **Lawns:** 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Thursday and Sunday for even-numbered addresses, Wednesday and Saturday for odd-numbered.\n- **Trees, shrubs, flowers and food plants:** 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday (even) or Monday, Wednesday and Saturday (odd).\n- Stage 2 limits sprinklers to two days a week and bans lawn watering. Stages 3 and 4 are stricter.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- At Stage 1, watering at any time by hose with a spray-trigger nozzle, hand-held container or drip irrigation is allowed. Washing vehicles or boats, washing hard surfaces and filling pools are allowed at any time with a nozzle hose, pressure washer or container. Stricter limits apply in Stages 2 to 4.\n- Commercial farms are exempt for food crops at Stage 1. A rain sensor is required on all irrigation systems.\n- No permits for watering new lawns are available. At Stage 2 and above, lawn watering is banned, including newly seeded or sodded lawns, so establish new lawns in early spring or fall.\n- Fines are in the cost field above. SCRD first issues warnings; continued non-compliance can bring a Bylaw Enforcement Notice and fine.\n- Report violations to SCRD at 604-885-6806. Water supply questions: 604-885-6800.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.scrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Water-Rates-and-Regulations-No.-778.pdf","title":"SCRD Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 778, 2025 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.scrd.ca/water-regulations/","title":"Water Regulations, Sunshine Coast Regional District","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/living-here/water-and-sewer-services/water-and-sprinkling/","title":"Water and Sprinkling, District of Sechelt","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.sechelt.ca/contacts-directory/","title":"Contacts directory, District of Sechelt","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/sechelt/water-restrictions/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/water-restrictions.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/water-restrictions.json"}}