Water restrictions and lawn sprinkling permits

Effective May 1 to October 15, 2023, lawn watering is permitted one day per week. 

Water use across the region 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 of water is also used to green our lawns, wash our decks or driveways, and for other lower-priority uses. Metro Vancouver's region-wide watering regulations are an effective way to help use our drinking water wisely.

When you can water under Metro's regulations

Metro's Water Conservation Plan is designed to reduce demand for drinking water through specific water restrictions, which are implemented in three stages (the higher the stage, the more restrictive). Summer restrictions take effect on May 1 each year, and remain in place until October 15.

Stage 1 Residential lawn watering allowed:

  • Even-numbered addresses on Saturdays
  • Odd-numbered addresses on Sundays

Automatic watering: 5:00 am - 7:00 am

Manual watering: 6:00 am - 9:00am

Watering trees, shrubs and flowers is permitted any day from 5:00 am to 9:00 am if using a sprinkler, or any time if hand watering or using drip irrigation. All hoses must have an automatic shut-off device.

Edible plants are exempt from regulations

Stage 1 Non-residential lawn watering allowed:

  • Even-numbered addresses on Mondays
  • Odd-numbered addresses on Tuesdays

Automatic watering: 4:00 am - 6:00 am

Manual watering: 6:00 am - 9:00 am

Watering trees, shrubs and flowers is permitted any day from 4:00 am to 9:00 am if using a sprinkler, or any time if hand watering or using drip irrigation. All hoses must have an automatic shut-off device.

Edible plants are exempt from regulations

See the full list of water use regulations for homes and businesses for Stages 1 to 4

Learn more about watering rules and restrictions

For complete details of Metro's water stages, and to find out more detail about what you can and can't do during each stage, review their Drinking Water Conservation Plan Summary:

Metro Vancouver's Drinking Water Conservation Plan Summary

Permit to water during summer lawn sprinkling restrictions

You can apply for a lawn sprinkling permit to water your lawn daily for three weeks (between 4am and 9am) during summer restrictions.

You qualify for a permit if you are:

  • installing a new lawn
  • applying nematodes to your lawn to treat a chafer beetle infestation
  • restoring your lawn following District-led street works

Permit fees

The permit costs $54 and is good for 21 days. The fee is waived if:

  • you have a receipt to show that you have purchased nematodes
  • your lawn is being restored following District-led street works

How to apply online

As District Hall and the Operation Centre is currently closed to visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you can apply for your lawn sprinkling permit online.

  $54 fee (new lawns)  Fee waived (nematodes or DNV restoration)
Step 1 Download the application form Download the application form
Step 2 Complete the application form and email it to us: enquiries@dnv.org Complete the application form and email it, along with an electronic copy of your nematode receipt if applicable (photo or scan) to: enquiries@dnv.org
Step 3 After receiving your application, we will email you a web link to pay the $54 fee online by credit card. Once we receive your payment, we will email your permit. This step can take 1-3 days. Within 1-3 days of receiving your application, we will email your permit

 

How to apply through the mail

If you do not have access to email, please print, fill out, and mail the documents below to District Hall.

355 W Queens Rd
North Vancouver, BC
V7N 4N5