Lawn Watering
Summer is when Greater Vancouver uses the most water, receives the least amount of rain, and has the least amount of water in storage.
Metro Vancouver has amended the activation period for lawn sprinkling restrictions. Effective May 1 to October 15 lawn sprinkling is only permitted within the following time periods.
Residential Addresses
- Even-numbered addresses may water lawns Wednesday and Saturday mornings between 4:00 am to 9:00 am.
- Odd-numbered addresses may water lawns on Thursday and Sunday mornings between 4:00 am to 9:00 am
Non-Residential Addressed
- Even-numbered non-residential addresses may water lawns Monday mornings between 1:00 am and 6:00 am and Friday mornings between 4:00 am and 9:00 am
- Odd-numbered non-residential addresses may water lawns on Tuesday mornings between 1:00 am and 6:00 am and Friday mornings between 4:00 am and 9:00 am.
Public green spaces will be watered based on an approved Water Management Plan that follows in principle of Metro Vancouver's Drinking Water Conservation Plan.
The City encourages you to conserve water by reducing outdoor water consumption. The City's Water Use Restriction Bylaw No. 7784 regulates watering and is enforced by the City of Richmond.
Managing European Chafer Beetles
If you are treating your lawn with nematodes and need to water outside of the water restrictions, a permit is required and can be obtained at City Hall. Please bring a copy of receipt for the nematodes or a copy of the invoice from a company with the applicant's address. The permit fee is $35.75 per dwelling unit for non-metered residents; or $0.00 for metered residents.
Permits must be affixed to a post facing the street servicing the property, beside the principal driveway or if there is no driveway, in a visible location in the front yard of the property. The permit will be valid for a period of 21 days from the date of issue. Permits are only issued under Stage 1 and Stage 2 water restrictions. Permits issued under Stage 2 water restrictions will remain valid under Stage 3 water restrictions within the permit's validity period. Permits expire immediately if Stage 4 water restrictions are declared.
Permit holders are allowed to water on any day, but only within the restricted watering hours for each day. For residential lots, the watering hours are 4:00 am to 9:00 am. For non-residential lots, the water hours are 1:00 am to 9:00 am for Stage 1 and 1:00 am to 6:00 am for Stage 2 and 3.
Please visit the City's page on the Chafer Beetle for more information.
New Lawns
If you have installed a new lawn, either by placing sod or turf or by seeding, or new landscaping on a substantial part of the outdoor portion of a property and need to water outside of the water restrictions, a permit is required and can be obtained at City Hall. Please bring a copy of receipt for the new lawn or a copy of the invoice from a company with the applicant's address. The permit fee is $35.75 per dwelling unit.
Permits must be affixed to a post facing the street servicing the property, beside the principal driveway or if there is no driveway, in a visible location in the front yard of the property. The permit will be valid for a period of 21 days from the date of issue. Permits are only issued under Stage 1 and Stage 2 water restrictions. Permits issued under Stage 2 water restrictions will remain valid under Stage 3 water restrictions within the permit's validity period. Permits expire immediately if Stage 4 water restrictions are declared.
Permit holders are allowed to water on any day at any required time.
Other Ways to help your lawn
A healthy lawn only needs to be watered one hour a week, or less if it rains.
Leave grass clippings on your lawn. They will help trap moisture to reduce evaporation and break down to feed your lawn naturally.
Plant your new lawn in the spring or the fall. This will cut the amount of time you spend watering.
Think about replacing your lawn with ornamental grasses and other drought-resistant plants that require little or no watering.
Did you know?
- One hour of lawn watering uses as much water as 25 toilet flushes, 5 loads of laundry, and 5 dishwasher loads COMBINED.
Visit the City's water conservation programs and water saving tips page to learn more.