Our water use can increase by 50% in summer and early fall, for swimming pools, growing food, maintaining sports fields and other social and community-building uses. But a lot is also used to green our lawns, wash our decks or driveways and other lower-priority uses. The region-wide watering regulations are an effective way to help us use our drinking water wisely.
Lawn Watering Regulations are in effect May 15 to October 15
Residential lawn Watering allowed:
Even-numbered addresses Monday, Wednesday, Saturday mornings 4 am to 9 am
Odd-numbered addresses Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday mornings 4 am to 9 am
Non-residential lawn Watering allowed:
Even-numbered addresses Monday, Wednesday mornings 1 am to 6 am
Odd-numbered addresses Tuesday, Thursday mornings 1 am to 6 am
All non-residential addresses Friday mornings, 4 am to 9 am
An hour of rain or watering per week is all you need for a healthy lawn.
Municipal contact information for enforcement and watering regulations
|
Contact |
Municipality |
Number |
|---|
| General Enquiries | Anmore | 604-469-9877 |
| General Enquiries | Belcarra | 604-937-4100 |
| Engineering | Burnaby | 604-293-6528 |
| Engineering & Public Works | Coquitlam | 604-927-3500 |
| Lawn Watering Regulation Information & Complaints | Delta | 604-946-4141 |
| General Enquiries | UEL | 604-660-1808 |
| Engineering | Langley City | 604-514-2997 |
| Engineering | Langley Township | 604-533-6006 |
| Operations | Maple Ridge | 604-463-9581 |
| Engineering Operations | New Westminster | 604-526-4691 |
| Engineering, Parks & Environment | North Vancouver City | 604-983-7333 |
| General Enquiries | North Vancouver District | 604-990-2311 |
| Bylaw Enforcement | Pitt Meadows | 604-465-2445 |
| Engineering | Port Coquitlam | 604-927-5420 |
| Bylaw Enforcement | Port Moody | 604-469-4697 |
| Lawn Watering Regulation Information and Complaints | Richmond | 604-276-4355 |
| By-law Call Centre (active violations) | Surrey | 604-591-4370 |
| Engineering Department (past violations, general information) | Surrey | 604-591-4340 |
| General Enquiries | Tsawwassen First Nation | 604-943-2112 |
| General Enquiries | Vancouver | 604-873-7000 |
| Engineering | West Vancouver | 604-925-7020 |
|
Other municipalities that don't receive Metro Vancouver water |
| | Bowen Island | 604-947-4255 |
| | Lions Bay | 604-921-9333 |
| City of White Rock | White Rock | 604-541-2181 |
In addition to lawn watering regulations, there are other water use restrictions when Stage 1 of the Water Shortage Response Plan is active.
Some examples are:
- Outdoor car washing and boat washing with a hose with spring-loaded shut off nozzle only
- Golf course operators requested to cut water use on fairways as much as possible
- Artificial turf and outdoor tracks hosed for health and safety only
- Cemetery lawn operators to use non-residential lawn watering times posted above
These restrictions do not apply to the use of rain water, gray water, any forms of recycled water, or other sources of water outside the GVWD/municipal water supply system.
An hour of rain or watering per week is all the water you need for a healthy lawn. Find more information about how to maintain a healthy lawn throughout the year, while following the lawn watering regulations, with Metro Vancouver's
lawn care guide.
A healthy lawn is the best defence against chafer beetle, an invasive insect that has damaged lawns throughout the region.
Learn more about chafer beetle and how to treat it within the lawn watering regulations.
