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

# Sechelt watering restrictions

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Regional district (Sunshine Coast Regional District, https://www.scrd.ca)  
**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:**
- Phone: SCRD water supply questions, 604-885-6800
- Phone: SCRD, to report violations, 604-885-6806
- Online: SCRD Water Regulations (current stage), https://www.scrd.ca/water-regulations/

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** 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).
  - Source: [Water and Sprinkling, Water and Sprinkling page](https://www.sechelt.ca/living-here/water-and-sewer-services/water-and-sprinkling/)
  - Official wording: "The water supply system in the District of Sechelt is provided by the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD)."
  - Source: [SCRD Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 778, 2025, s. 8.1.3, 8.1.4](https://www.scrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Water-Rates-and-Regulations-No.-778.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** 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.
  - Source: [SCRD Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 778, 2025, Schedule J, Stage 1 s. 1.1(a), (b)](https://www.scrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Water-Rates-and-Regulations-No.-778.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** 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.
  - Source: [SCRD Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 778, 2025, Schedule J, Stage 1 s. 1.1(c), 1.2(b)](https://www.scrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Water-Rates-and-Regulations-No.-778.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Water Regulations, Sunshine Coast Regional District, SCRD Water Conservation Regulations page](https://www.scrd.ca/water-regulations/)
  - Official wording: "These regulations apply only to the use of SCRD drinking water not to the use of rainwater, private well water"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** 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.
  - Source: [Water Regulations, Sunshine Coast Regional District, SCRD FAQ](https://www.scrd.ca/water-regulations/)
  - Official wording: "Permits for watering new lawns are not available."
  - Source: [SCRD Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 778, 2025, Schedule J, Stage 2 s. 2.1(h)](https://www.scrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Water-Rates-and-Regulations-No.-778.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(h) not water lawns, including newly seeded or sodded lawns."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [Water Regulations, Sunshine Coast Regional District, Enforcement of Regulations](https://www.scrd.ca/water-regulations/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Sunshine Coast Regional District Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 778, 2025 (Section 8 and Schedule J)
  - Source: [SCRD Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 778, 2025, Title](https://www.scrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Water-Rates-and-Regulations-No.-778.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Sunshine Coast Regional District Water Rates and Regulations" … "Bylaw No. 778, 2025."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The 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.

## Stage 1 sprinkler schedule

- **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 and Sunday (even) or Monday, Wednesday and Saturday (odd).
- Stage 2 limits sprinklers to two days a week and bans lawn watering. Stages 3 and 4 are stricter.

## Good to know

- 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.
- Commercial farms are exempt for food crops at Stage 1. A rain sensor is required on all irrigation systems.
- 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.
- Fines are in the cost field above. SCRD first issues warnings; continued non-compliance can bring a Bylaw Enforcement Notice and fine.
- Report violations to SCRD at 604-885-6806. Water supply questions: 604-885-6800.

## Official forms and pages

- [SCRD Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 778, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.scrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Water-Rates-and-Regulations-No.-778.pdf)
- [Water Regulations, Sunshine Coast Regional District](https://www.scrd.ca/water-regulations/)
- [Water and Sprinkling, District of Sechelt](https://www.sechelt.ca/living-here/water-and-sewer-services/water-and-sprinkling/)

## Related questions

- [Sechelt garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/garbage-collection.md)
- [Sechelt bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Gibsons](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/water-restrictions.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/water-restrictions.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/water-restrictions.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/water-restrictions.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/water-restrictions.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [SCRD Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 778, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.scrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Water-Rates-and-Regulations-No.-778.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Water Regulations, Sunshine Coast Regional District](https://www.scrd.ca/water-regulations/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Water and Sprinkling, District of Sechelt](https://www.sechelt.ca/living-here/water-and-sewer-services/water-and-sprinkling/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Contacts directory, District of Sechelt](https://www.sechelt.ca/contacts-directory/) (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 Sunshine Coast Regional District. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/water-restrictions/_