{"title":"Victoria watering restrictions","question":"Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?","slug":"water-restrictions","place":{"path":"ca/bc/victoria","name":"Victoria","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":"Capital Regional District","url":"https://www.crd.bc.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. Under the Capital Regional District's Water Conservation Bylaw 4099, Stage 1 watering rules apply in Victoria every year from May 1 to September 30. Lawns can be watered two days a week, by street address, in the early morning or evening only. The CRD can bring in stricter stages at any time.","aliases":["lawn watering days victoria","sprinkler ban victoria","stage 1 water restrictions victoria","when can i water my lawn victoria"],"cost":"Ticket (CRD Bylaw 1857): $200 for watering a lawn outside the Stage 1 days or times. Court fine of $100 to $10,000 per offence.","how_long":"Stage 1 runs May 1 to September 30 every year. Stricter stages take effect 48 hours after notice.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"CRD Regional Watering Schedule","value":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw 4099) (PDF)","url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016"}],"related":[],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/oak-bay","name":"Oak Bay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/esquimalt","name":"Esquimalt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/saanich","name":"Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/colwood","name":"Colwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langford","name":"Langford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/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":"Stage 1 restrictions apply every year from May 1 to September 30. The regional water commission can change that period or bring in a stricter stage at any time of year; stricter stages take effect 48 hours after notice.","short":"Stage 1: May 1 to September 30; stricter by notice","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw 4099) (PDF)","section":"s. 4","quotes":["The 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"]},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule","title":"Regional Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District","section":"Water Conservation Bylaw","quotes":["Stage 1 Watering Schedule of the Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4099 for the Regional Water Supply System is in effect May 1 through September 30 every year."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"schedule":{"label":"Sprinkling schedule","value":"May 1 to September 30. Even-numbered addresses: Wednesdays and Saturdays. Odd-numbered addresses: Thursdays and Sundays. Any method 4 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m.; timed or automatic irrigation systems may also run 12:01 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m. For a strata or multi-unit complex use the complex's street number.","short":"May 1 to September 30: even Wed, Sat; odd Thu, Sun","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule","title":"Regional Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District","section":"Lawn Watering","quotes":["Odd Number | Thursdays & Sundays","Even Number | Wednesdays & Saturdays","Any method: 4-10am or 7-10pm","Timed/automatic irrigation systems: 12:01-10 am or 7-10 pm","the address number means the street address that is assigned to the entire complex, and not the individual unit number."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exempt_watering":{"label":"Allowed at any time","value":"Hand watering and micro or drip irrigation: any day, any time. Established trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables with a sprinkler: any day, 4 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m. Vehicles and boats can be washed with a container or hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle, or at commercial washes. Pools, hot tubs and ponds may be filled. Nurseries and farms are exempt.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule","title":"Regional Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District","section":"Stage 1","quotes":["Hand Watering & Micro/Drip Irrigation | Any day, any time","Sprinkler | Any day 4-10am or 7-10pm","A person may wash their vehicle or boat anytime using a handheld container or a handheld hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle","You may use water to fill wading pools, swimming pools, hot tubs, or garden pond during Stage 1 Water Restrictions.","Nurseries, farms, turf farms and tree farms are exempt from the Water Conservation Bylaw 4099."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"new_lawns":{"label":"New lawns","value":"No permit needed. New sod may be watered on installation and for the first 21 days, and newly seeded lawn until growth is established or 49 days, whichever is less, between 4 to 10 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. Then go back to your lawn watering days.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule","title":"Regional Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District","section":"New Sod","quotes":["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, and newly seeded lawns until growth is established or for 49 days after installations, whichever is less.","Once your new lawn is established, please revert to your designated lawn watering days and times."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Court fine of $100 to $10,000 per offence, each day a separate offence. Ticket (CRD Bylaw 1857): $200 for watering a lawn outside the Stage 1 days or times, wasting water in Stage 1 or watering contrary to a restriction; $100 for playing fields or spray parks; $250 for lawns in Stage 2; $400 in Stage 3.","short":"Ticket $200 Stage 1; court $100 to $10,000","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw 4099) (PDF)","section":"s. 10","quotes":["A person who contravenes this bylaw commits an offence and is liable to a fine not less than $100 and not exceeding $10,000.","a ticket information pursuant to Bylaw No. 1857"]},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1857-consolidated-capital-regional-district-ticket-information-authorization-bylaw-1990b","title":"CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 1857, Schedule 26 (PDF)","section":"Schedule 26","quotes":["Stage 1 – water lawn contrary to even-numbered","Wasting water during Stage 1","Stage 3 – water lawn or boulevard"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Capital Regional District Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw No. 4099)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw 4099) (PDF)","section":"Title","quotes":["CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT WATER CONSERVATION","BYLAW NO. 1, 2016"]},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/report-bylaw-violation","title":"Report a Bylaw Violation, City of Victoria","section":"Watering Restrictions","quotes":["The Capital Regional District regulates water conservation through its Water Conservation Bylaw."]}],"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\nVictoria is served by the CRD Regional Water Supply, and the [Water Conservation Bylaw 4099](<https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016>) applies in each municipality. Stage 1 restrictions apply every year from May 1 to September 30. The regional water commission can change that period or bring in a stricter stage at any time of year, and a stricter stage takes effect 48 hours after notice. Check the CRD page for the stage in force now.\n\n## Stage 1 schedule\n\n1. Lawns, May 1 to September 30: even-numbered addresses water on Wednesdays and Saturdays; odd-numbered addresses on Thursdays and Sundays. Any method may be used 4 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m. Timed or automatic irrigation systems may also run 12:01 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m. For a strata or multi-unit complex, use the complex's street number.\n2. Established trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables: a sprinkler any day, 4 to 10 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m. Hand watering and micro or drip irrigation: any day, any time.\n3. New sod or seeded lawn: no permit needed. New sod may be watered on installation and for the first 21 days; new seed until growth is established or 49 days, whichever is less, between 4 to 10 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. Then go back to your lawn watering days.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Vehicles and boats can be washed with a container or a hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle, or at commercial washes. Pools, hot tubs and ponds may be filled. Nurseries and farms are exempt.\n- Hand-held hoses must have an automatic shut-off nozzle. Wasting water, such as running taps or hoses, over-watering, or spray onto neighbouring property, is also banned.\n- Tickets under CRD Bylaw 1857: $200 for watering a lawn outside the Stage 1 days or times, wasting water in Stage 1, or watering contrary to a restriction; $100 for playing fields or spray parks; $250 for lawns in Stage 2; $400 in Stage 3.\n- A court can fine $100 to $10,000 per offence, and each day is a separate offence.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/watering-schedule","title":"Regional Watering Schedule, Capital Regional District","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/4099-capital-regional-district-water-conservation-bylaw-no-1-2016","title":"CRD Water Conservation Bylaw No. 1, 2016 (Bylaw 4099) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/1857-consolidated-capital-regional-district-ticket-information-authorization-bylaw-1990b","title":"CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 1857, Schedule 26 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/community-safety-bylaw-services/report-bylaw-violation","title":"Report a Bylaw Violation, City of Victoria","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","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/victoria/water-restrictions/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/water-restrictions.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/water-restrictions.json"}}