Lawn Watering


Sprinkler watering green grass

One hour of lawn watering uses as much water as 25 toilet flushes, five loads of laundry and five dishwasher loads combined, so in an effort to reduce drinking water consumption in warmer months, the City of Richmond works with Metro Vancouver every year to enact and enforce sprinkling regulations.

Lawn Watering Restrictions – Stage 1 (May 1 to Oct 15)

Stage 1 watering restrictions help conserve our drinking water supply during the warmer months. Lawn watering is only permitted on specific days based on your property type and address number.

Residential Properties

Allowed lawn watering days and times:
  • Even-numbered addresses: Saturdays
    Automatic watering: 5:00 – 7:00am
    Manual watering (sprinklers, hoses): 6:00 – 9:00am
  • Odd-numbered addresses: Sundays
    Automatic watering: 5:00 – 7:00am
    Manual watering: 6:00 – 9:00am
Trees, shrubs, and flowers:
  • May be watered with a sprinkler any day from 5:00 – 9:00am
  • May be watered any time by hand or with drip irrigation

Non-Residential Properties

Allowed lawn watering days and times:
  • Even-numbered addresses: Mondays
    Automatic watering: 4:00 – 6:00 am
    Manual watering: 6:00 – 9:00am
  • Odd-numbered addresses: Tuesdays
    Automatic watering: 4:00 – 6:00am
    Manual watering: 6:00 – 9:00 am
Trees, shrubs, and flowers:
  • May be watered with a sprinkler any day from 4:00 am – 9:00 am
  • May be watered any time by hand or with drip irrigation

Additional Information

  • Edible plants are exempt from watering restrictions.
  • These restrictions do not apply to the use of rainwater, grey water, or recycled water sources that are not part of the municipal drinking water system.

Learn more about lawn watering regulations.

Further watering restrictions may be enforced in case of summer drought conditions.

The City's Water Use Restriction Bylaw No. 7784 regulates watering and is enforced by the City of Richmond.

Water drops watermark