---
title: White Rock watering restrictions
question: "Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?"
place: White Rock, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/white-rock
category: Water, sewer, roads and snow
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of White Rock
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/water-restrictions/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/water-restrictions.json"
---

# White Rock watering restrictions

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

**Short answer:** Yes. The City of White Rock applies watering restrictions each year from May 1 to October 15, starting with Stage 1 on May 1. In Stage 1, residential lawns may be watered one day a week: even-numbered addresses on Saturdays, odd-numbered on Sundays. Check the Water Conservation page for the current stage.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of White Rock, https://www.whiterockcity.ca)  
**Cost:** A Water Exemption Permit for a newly planted lawn costs $61 and is valid 21 days.  
**How long:** Restrictions run May 1 to October 15 each year (one City page says October 31).  
**Where:**
- Online: Water Conservation page, https://www.whiterockcity.ca/296/Water-Conservation
- Phone: Report a violation, 604-541-2181
- Email: Water team (exemption permits), water@whiterockcity.ca

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Restrictions apply every year from May 1 to October 15 (one City page elsewhere says October 31). Stage 1 starts automatically each May 1; Stages 2 to 4 are brought in as needed. The City's 2026 guide says to follow Stage 1.
  - Source: [Water Conservation, Water Restrictions](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/296/Water-Conservation)
  - Official wording: "Outdoor watering restrictions are in effect every year from May 1 to October 15." … "Stage 1 restrictions are automatically implemented each year on May 1." … "Stage 2 to Stage 4 restrictions are implemented as needed." … "runs from May 1 to October 31 every year to assist in water conservation."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Stage 1, residential lawns: one day a week only. Even-numbered addresses Saturdays, odd-numbered Sundays. Automatic systems 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.; manual (hand-held) watering 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Multi-family buildings go by the building number. Stage 2 and higher: no lawn watering.
  - Source: [Water Conservation, Stage 1 Restrictions](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/296/Water-Conservation)
  - Official wording: "Residential lawn watering is permitted one day a week." … "Automatic watering is allowed 5 a.m. to 7 a.m." … "Manual watering is allowed 6 a.m. to 9 a.m." … "Even numbered addresses: Saturdays" … "Odd numbered addresses: Sundays" … "All lawn watering is prohibited."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** Stage 1: gardens, shrubs, trees and flower beds may be watered any day 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. with a sprinkler (residential), or at any time by hand or with drip irrigation. Stage 2: vegetable gardens at any time; trees, shrubs and flowers by hand, soaker hose or drip at any time. Hoses washing a boat or vehicle need an automatic shut-off.
  - Source: [Water Conservation, Stages 1 and 2](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/296/Water-Conservation)
  - Official wording: "watering of gardens, shrubs, trees and flower beds is permitted any day from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. for residential properties" … "or anytime if hand watering or using drip irrigation." … "Vegetable gardens can be watered at any time." … "water hoses must be equipped with an automatic shut off device."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** A Water Exemption Permit for a newly planted, not yet established lawn costs $61, is valid 21 days, and allows daily watering 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. Available under Stage 1 and Stage 2; one renewal is available unless Stage 3 is in effect.
  - Source: [Water Conservation, Water Exemption Permits](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/296/Water-Conservation)
  - Official wording: "Water exemption permits are allowed under Stage 1 and Stage 2 water restrictions." … "Permit Fees are $61" … "Permits are valid for only three weeks (21 days) from the permit issue date" … "every day for 21 days between the morning hours of 4 a.m. to 9 a.m."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2026, No. 2554, Water Fees](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/12092/Bylaw-2554---2026-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Water Restriction Exemption Permit $61.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Bylaw:** Not confirmed. The City's Water Conservation page names no bylaw.

## How it works

The City of White Rock's [Water Conservation page](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/296/Water-Conservation) sets four stages of watering restrictions every year from May 1 to October 15. One City page elsewhere says October 31. Stage 1 starts automatically each May 1, and Stages 2 to 4 are brought in as needed. The City's 2026 guide says to follow Stage 1. No current stage notice was in the pages we read, so check the Water Conservation page for today's stage.

## Good to know

- Stage 1, residential lawns: one day a week only. Even-numbered addresses on Saturdays, odd-numbered on Sundays. Automatic systems 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.; hand-held watering 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Multi-family buildings go by the building number. Non-residential: even addresses Mondays, odd Tuesdays; automatic 4 to 6 a.m.; manual 6 to 9 a.m.
- Stage 2 and higher: no lawn watering.
- Stage 1: gardens, shrubs, trees and flower beds may be watered any day 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. with a sprinkler (residential), or at any time by hand or with drip irrigation. Stage 2: vegetable gardens at any time; trees, shrubs and flowers by hand, soaker hose or drip at any time. Stage 3 allows gardens only by hand, containers or drip irrigation; Stage 4 bans all outdoor watering.
- Hoses washing a boat or vehicle need an automatic shut-off.
- New lawn: a Water Exemption Permit costs $61, is valid 21 days, and allows daily watering 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. It is available under Stage 1 and Stage 2, with one renewal unless Stage 3 is in effect. Email water@whiterockcity.ca.
- Fines: we found no ticket amount or City bylaw for breaking the restrictions. The Water Services Bylaw sets a general court fine of $100 to $10,000 but has no sprinkling rules. Report violations to the Bylaws Department at 604-541-2181.

## What you'll need

- Water Exemption Permit Application (only for a newly planted lawn that has not yet established)

## Official forms and pages

- [Water Conservation](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/296/Water-Conservation)
- [Water Exemption Permit Application](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/620/Water-Exemption-Permit-Application)
- [Water Services Bylaw 2117 (PDF)](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/313/Water-Services-Bylaw-2015-Number-2117-PDF)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Surrey](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/water-restrictions.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/water-restrictions.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/water-restrictions.md)
- [Delta](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/water-restrictions.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/water-restrictions.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Water Conservation, City of White Rock](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/296/Water-Conservation) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2026, No. 2554 (PDF)](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/12092/Bylaw-2554---2026-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Water Services Bylaw 2015, No. 2117 (PDF)](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/313/Water-Services-Bylaw-2015-Number-2117-PDF) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of White Rock. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/water-restrictions/_