Chilliwack Watering Restrictions: Your Lawn Days, Hours and Stages

Chilliwack is in Stage 1 watering restrictions. They run every year from May 1 to October 15, and the City's page still showed Stage 1 on October 1. Even addresses can sprinkle lawns on Wednesday and Saturday. Odd addresses can sprinkle on Thursday and Sunday. Watering is allowed from 5 to 8 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m. on those days.

Who do Chilliwack's watering rules apply to?

The rules cover homes on the City's water system. The City says its restrictions "apply only to the users of water supplied by the municipal water system." So if your home runs on a private well, these days and hours don't bind you.

The City's water comes from the Sardis-Vedder Aquifer. That's an underground store of water below the valley. The City says it fills from the Vedder River, rain and snow soaking into the ground. It also feeds the Atchelitz, Chilliwack and Luckakuck Creeks.

Live in an apartment, townhouse or strata? Use the complex address, not your unit number. If the complex address is even, every unit in it waters on even days.

Cultus Lake and the Chilliwack River Valley sit outside City limits. They're in the Fraser Valley Regional District, so City water rules don't cover them.

What day can I water my lawn in Chilliwack?

Look at the last digit of your street address. If it ends in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8, you're even. If it ends in 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9, you're odd.

Stage	Even addresses	Odd addresses	Hours
Stage 1 (in effect now)	Wednesday and Saturday	Thursday and Sunday	5 to 8 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m.
Stage 2	Wednesday	Thursday	5 to 8 a.m. only
Stage 3	No lawn watering with treated drinking water

So if you live at 4528, you're even. Under Stage 1, your lawn days are Wednesday and Saturday.

Missed your day because you were away? You can't swap to another day. The City's answer is plain: residents can only water on their permitted days.

Why only 5 to 8 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m.?

The City picked those hours to cut waste. Less water is lost to evaporation when it's cool. The City also says grass can burn if you water outside these hours on a sunny day.

If you have a timer, check it now. A controller set in May may still run on the wrong days. Point the heads at the grass, too. The City says watering sidewalks, driveways and roads wastes treated drinking water.

Can I water my garden beds on other days?

Yes, under Stage 1. Gardens, flowers, shrubs and trees can get water at any time of day. You just need the right tool:

• a hand-held container, like a watering can
• a hose with a spring-loaded shut-off nozzle
• a soaker hose
• drip irrigation

Stage 2 tightens this. Garden watering is then limited to a hand-held container, a hose with a shut-off device or a soaker hose.

What do the stages mean in Chilliwack?

The City has four stages in its water conservation plan. It enters Stage 1 on its own every May 1. After that, the stage depends on the aquifer's water level. The City says stages "can be changed at anytime, and in any order."

Stage 2 is turned on at the discretion of the Director of Engineering. It cuts lawn sprinkling to one morning a week. At Stage 3, all lawn watering with treated drinking water stops.

The City says the plan keeps enough water for drinking, showers, toilets and laundry in the summer. Following the rules keeps the aquifer high. That lowers the risk of moving to the next stage later in the season.

The legal power sits in Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 2004, No. 2995. Section 61 lets the City Engineer limit lawn and garden watering. You can report a problem to the Engineering Department at 604-793-2907.

Can I hose off my driveway after mowing?

Yes, in Stage 1, with a hand-held container or a hose with a spring-loaded shut-off nozzle. An open hose running on the drive isn't allowed.

In Stage 2, washing driveways, sidewalks and buildings just for looks isn't allowed. It's only okay for painting prep or health and safety.

A broom or blower is easier anyway. A good crew blows clippings back onto the grass, not into the street or a ditch. That's part of a proper trimming and edging visit.

How much water does a Chilliwack lawn need?

The City says your lawn only needs 2.5 cm (1 inch) of water a week. Its watering page puts it simply: water one hour per week, whether by sprinkler or rain. Rain counts. If a wet week already gave the lawn its inch, skip the sprinkler.

The City also says to water early in the morning. That cuts evaporation. Our guide to the best time to water your lawn explains why morning works best for mowing, too.

How should I mow when watering is limited?

Mowing height does a lot of the work. The City's yard tips match what most lawns need here:

• Mow high. Raise the blades so they leave grass about 7 to 8 cm (3 inches) tall. The City says this helps shade the deep roots that hold water.
• Keep blades sharp. The City lists sharp blades in its lawn tips.
• Skip the extremes. The City says don't mow when the lawn is very dry or very wet.
• Leave the clippings. They add nutrients back to the soil. Our post on leaving grass clippings shows how.

A dry lawn grows slower, so it may need fewer cuts. Our FAQ on how often to mow in Canada helps you set the schedule.

Is a golden lawn in Chilliwack a dead lawn?

Usually not. The City says lawns that aren't watered in summer go dormant and "golden." It says they rebound once the fall rains come.

Chilliwack's rain pattern backs that up. Environment Canada's normals for the Chilliwack station show about 48 mm of rain in July. September brings about 75 mm. October jumps to about 179 mm, and November to about 284 mm. A full year gets about 1,668 mm of rain and snow.

So the dry stretch is short. By mid-October, the sky is doing most of the watering.

Can I water new sod or seed more often?

Yes, with a Water Restriction Exemption Certificate. Under Stage 1, it allows watering any day from 5 to 8 a.m. or 7 to 10 p.m. The Stage 1 plan says it's a three-week permit. Under Stage 2, new lawns can only be watered from 5 to 8 a.m., on a two-week permit.

To apply, email the City through its watering page. Include the receipt for the sod or seed, a photo of the new lawn, your name, address and phone number. Water outside the allowed hours and the City can revoke the certificate and fine you.

The City suggests putting new sod or seed down in spring or fall, so roots get set before summer.

What happens after October 15?

The yearly restriction season ends on October 15. By then, Chilliwack's fall rain is usually doing the job. Environment Canada's normals put the average first fall frost around November 1, so the grass keeps growing a while yet.

That means a few more cuts, plus leaves. A wet mat of leaves can smother grass that's still coming back from a dry summer. A fall cleanup clears them and gives the lawn a tidy last cut.

Weeds can creep into thin spots after a dry summer. Our partner crews don't spray.

Who can keep my Chilliwack lawn on track?

Golden Oak Lawn Care matches you with a vetted, insured local crew in Chilliwack. They do the work. We stand behind it with the Golden Oak Guarantee.

With the Worry-Free Lawn Season, the same crew comes every visit. They text you a photo after every cut. If they miss your scheduled window, that cut is free. Your crew handles the lawn mowing at the right height. Watering on your days stays with you. Next door? We also serve Abbotsford and other B.C. cities.

Want it handled? Get your price in 60 minutes, or call 1-866-904-LAWN.

Chilliwack Watering Restrictions Questions

Rules change, so check with the City before you plan. Sources: Chilliwack summer watering restrictions, Water conservation stage triggers, Stage 1 plan, Stage 2 plan, Stage 3 plan, Waterworks Regulation Bylaw No. 2995, In the Yard tips, Climate normals, Chilliwack.