Terrace watering restrictions
Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?
Short answer
Yes. Terrace enforces sprinkling restrictions year-round. Stage 1 applies all year unless otherwise indicated: sprinkle only 6 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m., odd-numbered addresses on odd-numbered days and even-numbered addresses on even-numbered days. Vegetable gardens and fruit trees are exempt.
Key facts
| When restrictions apply | The City enforces sprinkling restrictions year-round. Stage 1 is in effect all year unless otherwise indicated; Stages 2 to 5 add tighter limits when the City announces them. The Director of Engineering may restrict water use other than normal indoor use.Water Conservation, Water Conservation page; Water Distribution & Sale Consolidated Bylaw 1326, s. 26 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe City of Terrace enforces water sprinkling restrictions year-round. Stage 1: In effect year-round unless otherwise indicated The Director of Engineering may from time to time place restrictions upon the usage of potable water for purposes other than normal internal domestic use |
|---|---|
| Sprinkling schedule | Stage 1 (year-round): 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.; odd-numbered addresses on odd-numbered days, even-numbered addresses on even-numbered days. Stage 2: same hours, odd addresses Wednesdays and Sundays, even addresses Tuesdays and Saturdays, none 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Stage 3: no sprinkling.Water Conservation, Stage 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingSprinkling is permitted only from 6 am–9 am and 7 pm–10 pm on your designated days: Odd-numbered addresses – Odd-numbered days Even-numbered addresses – Even-numbered days Odd-numbered addresses – Wednesdays and Sundays Even-numbered addresses – Tuesdays and Saturdays No sprinkling from 9 am–7 pm daily City-wide. Stage 3: Sprinkling not permitted City-wide |
| Allowed at any time | Vegetable gardens and fruit trees are exempt from all watering restrictions. Under Stage 2, handheld hose with a controlled nozzle is allowed anytime; under Stage 3 it is allowed for flowers, plants and shrubs, and pool or hot tub top-ups only.Water Conservation, Water Conservation page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingExceptions: Vegetable gardens and fruit trees are exempt from all watering restrictions. Watering by handheld hose with a controlled nozzle is allowed anytime. Hot tub or pool top-ups only are permitted. |
| New lawns | Stage 3: a new house with a first-time lawn of seed or turf can apply for a permit.Water Conservation, Stage 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNew house with first-time lawn of seed or turf can apply for permit. |
| Fine | Sprinkling in violation of water restrictions: $100 (municipal ticket).Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw 1827 (consolidated to 2334-2025), Schedule 21 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingSprinkling in violation of water restrictions $100.00 |
| Bylaw | Terrace Water Distribution and Sale Bylaw No. 1326-1993 (consolidated to Bylaw No. 2339-2026), s. 26Water Distribution & Sale Consolidated Bylaw 1326, s. 37 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited as "Terrace Water Distribution and Sale Bylaw No. 1326-1993". |
How it works
The City says it enforces sprinkling restrictions year-round, using five stages as a guide. Stage 1 is in effect year-round unless otherwise indicated; Stages 2 to 5 add tighter limits when the City announces them. Under Water Distribution and Sale Bylaw 1326 (section 26), the Director of Engineering may restrict water use other than normal indoor use. The City's Water Conservation page shows the current stage; check it before you water.
The stages
- Stage 1 (year-round): sprinkling only 6 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. Odd-numbered addresses use odd-numbered days; even-numbered addresses use even-numbered days.
- Stage 2: same hours, but odd addresses water Wednesdays and Sundays and even addresses Tuesdays and Saturdays. No sprinkling 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Handheld hose with a controlled nozzle is allowed anytime.
- Stage 3: no sprinkling City-wide. Handheld hose with a controlled nozzle for flowers, plants and shrubs, and pool or hot tub top-ups only. A new house with a first-time lawn of seed or turf can apply for a permit.
- Stage 4: ban on all non-essential water use, including watering lawns, plants, flowers and shrubs, filling pools and hot tubs, and washing vehicles, boats and driveways. The Splash Park is closed.
- Stage 5: all Stage 4 bans plus commercial car washes are banned.
Good to know
- Vegetable gardens and fruit trees are exempt from all watering restrictions.
- Sprinkling against the restrictions is a $100 municipal ticket.
- The page does not say where to apply for the new-lawn permit or what it costs; ask Public Works at 250-615-4021.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Kitimat · New Hazelton · Smithers · Telkwa · Hazelton · Prince Rupert
Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Water Conservation, City of Terrace (read 2026-11-05)
- Water Distribution & Sale Consolidated Bylaw 1326 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw 1827 (consolidated to 2334-2025) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Department Contacts, City of Terrace (read 2026-11-05)
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.