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Whistler watering restrictions

Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Whistler?

Whistler, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

Yes. Whistler's Outdoor Potable Water Usage Bylaw sets three stages: Stage 1 from November 1 to April 30, Stage 2 from May 1 to October 31, and Stage 3 when the General Manager of Infrastructure Services declares it. Check the Municipality's water conservation page for the current stage.

Key facts

When restrictions applyStage 1: November 1 to April 30. Stage 2: May 1 to October 31. Stage 3: when the General Manager of Infrastructure Services decides; at least one week's notice before enforcement, except in emergencies. Check the Municipality's water conservation page for the current stage.Outdoor Potable Water Usage Bylaw No. 2179, 2018, Schedule A; ss. 5.1, 6.3; Water Conservation Stages and Restrictions, Heading · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
November 1 through April 30
May 1 through October 31
Except in emergency circumstances, the Municipality shall provide notice of an impending Stage increase at least one (1) week prior to enforcement commencing.
Whistler is in Water Conservation Stage 1.
Sprinkling scheduleLawns by hand or simple sprinkler: 7 to 10 a.m. and 8 to 11 p.m., any day in Stage 1 and on neighbourhood days in Stage 2. Automatic in-ground irrigation: 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. only, Monday/Wednesday/Friday or Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday depending on neighbourhood (Schedule B). Stage 3: lawn watering not permitted.Outdoor Potable Water Usage Bylaw No. 2179, 2018, Schedule A; Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Any Day Only Between
7 AM – 10 AM and
by automatic in-ground irrigation between the hours of 10PM and 4 AM on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays:
and 4 AM on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays:
Allowed at any timeStages 1 and 2: decorative hanging baskets and containers (by hand or drip) and vehicle, boat and bike washing with a shut-off valve, any day, any time. Edible gardens: s. 8.1 exempts them from Stages 1 and 2, but Schedule A limits Stage 2 to 7-10 a.m. and 8-11 p.m. Stage 3: Schedule A says not permitted; the General Manager may exempt (s. 8.2).Sources differ: Schedule A shows Stage 2 edible-garden watering limited to 7-10 a.m. and 8-11 p.m., while s. 8.1 exempts edible gardens from Stages 1 and 2; the two parts of the bylaw are not consistent.Outdoor Potable Water Usage Bylaw No. 2179, 2018, Schedule A; ss. 8.1, 8.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Edible/ vegetable gardens;
Decorative Hanging Baskets/Containers
Testing Irrigation Systems for Broken
The following are exempt from the Schedule “A”: Outdoor Water Conservation Stages 1 and 2.
the following activities can be exempted at
Vehicles, Boats, Motorized Equipment,
Edible/vegetable gardens
New lawnsA person with new landscaping (never installed, or more than 50 per cent of it repaired) may apply for a temporary irrigation permit. Stage 1: any time. Stage 2: neighbourhood schedule, 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., or per permit (issued at the General Manager's discretion). Stage 3: not permitted; permits are not issued or valid.Outdoor Potable Water Usage Bylaw No. 2179, 2018, s. 7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
A person who has installed new (never been installed or a repair of more than 50 per cent of existing landscaping may) apply to the Municipality for an irrigation permit
Permits will be issued at the discretion of the General Manager during Water Conservation Stage 2.
Permits will not be issued or be valid during Water Conservation Stages 3 or 4.
10 PM – 4 AM or per
FineBylaw notice: use of water contrary to Stage 1 or 2: $200; contrary to Stage 3: $500; wasting water: $100 (same amount whether paid early or late). Municipal ticket schedule: Stage 1 $100; Stage 2 $200; Stage 3 $300; Stage 4 $1,000; wasting water $100.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2174, 2018, Schedule A, Schedule A, Outdoor Potable Water Usage Bylaw No. 2179, 2018; Municipal Ticket Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1719, 2005, Schedule B10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Use of Water 3.3 200 200 NO
Use of Water 3.3 500 500 NO
Wasting Water 3.2 100 100 NO
Use of water contrary to Stage 1 3.3, 4, 9.1 $100
Use of water contrary to Stage 3 3.3, 4, 9.2 $300
Use of water contrary to Stage 4 3.3, 4, 9.3 $1000
BylawOutdoor Potable Water Usage Bylaw No. 2179, 2018 (as amended by No. 2428, 2024)Outdoor Potable Water Usage Bylaw No. 2179, 2018, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
OUTDOOR POTABLE WATER USAGE BYLAW NO. 2179, 2018

How it works

The Outdoor Potable Water Usage Bylaw No. 2179, as amended in 2024, sets three conservation stages. Stage 1 runs November 1 to April 30 and Stage 2 runs May 1 to October 31. Stage 3 starts when the General Manager of Infrastructure Services decides, with at least one week's notice before enforcement except in emergencies. To see which stage is in force today, check the Municipality's Water Conservation Stages and Restrictions page.

Steps

  1. Check the current stage on the Water Conservation Stages and Restrictions page before you water.
  2. Lawns by hand or simple sprinkler: 7 to 10 a.m. and 8 to 11 p.m., any day in Stage 1 and on your neighbourhood's days in Stage 2. In Stage 3, lawn watering is not permitted.
  3. Automatic in-ground irrigation: 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. only, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday or Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, depending on your neighbourhood (Schedule B of the bylaw).
  4. New landscaping (never installed, or more than 50 per cent repaired) may apply for a temporary irrigation permit, issued at the General Manager's discretion. Stage 1: any time. Stage 2: neighbourhood schedule, 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., or per the permit. Stage 3: not permitted, and permits are not issued or valid.

Good to know

  • Stages 1 and 2: decorative hanging baskets and containers (by hand or drip) and vehicle, boat and bike washing with a shut-off valve are allowed any day, any time.
  • The bylaw contradicts itself on edible gardens. Section 8.1 exempts them from Stages 1 and 2, but Schedule A limits Stage 2 watering to 7 to 10 a.m. and 8 to 11 p.m. In Stage 3, Schedule A says not permitted, though the General Manager may exempt (s. 8.2). Confirm with the Municipality.
  • The Schedule A table is hard to read for Stage 2 hand watering of lawns, so check the bylaw table and the water page for your neighbourhood.
  • Fines: a bylaw notice is $200 for Stage 1 or 2 breaches, $500 for Stage 3 and $100 for wasting water. The municipal ticket schedule lists different amounts (Stage 1 $100, Stage 2 $200, Stage 3 $300, Stage 4 $1,000, wasting water $100) and still shows a Stage 4.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Pemberton · Squamish · Lions Bay · Anmore · District of North Vancouver · Bowen Island

Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Outdoor Potable Water Usage Bylaw No. 2179, 2018 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Water Conservation Stages and Restrictions, Resort Municipality of Whistler (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2174, 2018, Schedule A (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Municipal Ticket Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1719, 2005 (PDF) (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.