The Town of Comox is part of the Comox Valley water system, which is operated by the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD).
CVRD News Release (June 16, 2026) - Stage 3 Water Restrictions in Effect June 23
Water Restrictions for the Comox Valley Water System
At glance, the drop down menus below provide more details on accepted and prohibited water use and links to the Comox Valley Regional District, the operator of the Comox Valley water system.
Even Address Odd Address Lawn and garden sprinkling is permitted between the hours of
5 am - 8 am and 7 pm -10 pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.Lawn and garden sprinkling is permitted between the hours
of 5 am - 8 am and 7 pm -10 pm on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.During Stage 1 Restrictions:
A person may only use a sprinkler to water a lawn or garden growing on a property with:
- An even numbered address – Between the hours of 5 am to 8 am and 7 pm to 10 pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. They may not use a sprinkler to water the lawn or garden on any other day or time.
- An odd numbered address – Between the hours of 5 am to 8 am and 7 pm to 10 pm on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. They may not use a sprinkler to water the lawn or garden on any other day or time.
- Local governments may use a sprinkler to water parks, ornamental lawns and grassed boulevards between the hours of 11 pm and 7 am on even-numbered days for even-numbered addresses and odd-numbered days for odd-numbered addresses.
To learn more about what is permitted during Stage 1 water restrictions, visit the Comox Valley Regional District website.
Even Address Odd Address Lawn and garden sprinkling is permitted between the hours
of 6 am - 7:30 am and 8 pm - 9:30 pm on Tuesday and Saturday.Lawn and garden sprinkling is permitted between the hours
of 6 am - 7:30 am and 8 pm - 9:30 pm on Wednesday and Sunday.During Stage 2 Restrictions
A person may only use a sprinkler to water a lawn and garden growing on a property with:
- An even numbered address – On Tuesday and Saturday between the hours of 6 am - 7:30 am and 8 pm - 9:30 pm. They may not use a sprinkler to water the lawn or garden on any other day or time
- An odd numbered address – On Wednesday and Sunday between the hours of 6 am - 7:30 am and 8 pm - 9:30 pm. They may not use a sprinkler to water the lawn or garden on any other day or time.
- Local government may use a sprinkler to water parks, ornamental lawns and grassed boulevards between the hours of 11 pm and 7 am on even numbered days for even numbered addresses and odd numbered days for odd numbered addresses.
To learn more about what your permitted to do in Stage 2 water restrictions, visit the Comox Valley Regional District website.
During Stage 3 Water Restrictions:
Do not:- water a lawn or boulevard;
- fill or add water to a swimming pool, hot tub or garden pond;
- fill or add water to or operate a decorative fountain at any time; or
- wash a vehicle or a boat with water.
An Individual May:
- Water trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables on any day at any time if watering is done using micro-irrigation or drip-irrigation, a hand-held container, or a hand-held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
- Water newly planted trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables using a hand-held container or a hand-held hose equipped with an automatic shutoff nozzle during installation and at any time during the following 24 hours after installation is completed.
- Water all-weather playing fields at any time, but only if failure to do so will result in a permanent loss of plant material.
- Use water to wash sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, exterior windows or exterior building surfaces, but only if necessary for applying a product such as paint, preservative or stucco, preparing a surface prior to paving or repointing bricks or if required by law to comply with health or safety regulations.
Exceptions to Stage 3 Restrictions:
- Nurseries, farms, turf farms and tree farms are exempt from the restrictions.
- Local government water parks and pools are exempt from the restrictions.
- Local government may use a sprinkler to water parks, ornamental lawns and grassed boulevards between the hours of 11 pm to 7 am on even numbered days for even numbered addresses and odd numbered days for odd numbered addresses.
- Owners or operators of golf courses may water:
- fairways at any time on not more than one day per week;
- trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables grown on golf courses in accordance with stage 3 sections 1 (b) (i), (ii), and (iii) of this schedule; and
- golf greens and tees on any day if failure to do so will result in permanent loss of plant material.
- Wading pools less than 200 centimetres in diameter may be filled with water up to a maximum depth of 30 centimetres.
- Vehicles and boats may be washed with water only at car dealerships and commercial car washes using less than 205 litres of water per vehicle wash, or 50 per cent recirculated water, as long as the total amount of water, excluding recirculated water, does not exceed 205 litres per vehicle wash.
To learn more about what is permitted in Stage 3 water restrictions, visit the Comox Valley Regional District website.
STAGE 4 WATER RESTRICTIONS - EXTREME CONDITIONS
Stage 4 restrictions implement stricter water conservation measures to maintain water supply during severe drought conditions or other water shortage.
In addition to the following water restrictions, further measures may be implemented under this stage, if necessary, to maintain supplies during a period of critical water shortage.Prohibited uses include:
- All lawn watering regardless of method
- Watering of new grass plantings (sod or seed). All local government permits issued for lawn watering are invalidated.
- For residents only: Wash sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, exterior windows, or exterior building surfaces
- General washing of vehicles and boats (see restrictions below)
- Fill or add water to a swimming pool, hot tub, garden pond or operate a decorative fountain (see restrictions below)
Restrictions include:
- Watering trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables
- Watering by micro-irrigation or drip irrigation systems or by hand-held container or a hand-held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle. Provided residents work to minimize water use and use water only to the extent reasonably necessary to keep their plants alive.
- Watering newly planted trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables
- At any time during the following 24 hours after installation using a hand held container or a hand held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle.;
- Wash sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, exterior windows, or exterior building surfaces
- Businesses can seek exceptions from the CVRD
- Exception as necessary for applying a product such as paint, preservative and stucco, preparing a surface prior to paving or repointing bricks, or if required by law to comply with health or safety regulations.
- Washing vehicles and boats:
- Only clean windows, lights, mirrors, license plates, and engines for safety reasons.
- Allowed at at car dealerships and commercial car washes using less than 205 litres of water per vehicle wash or 50 percent recirculated water as long as the total amount of water, excluding recirculated water, does not exceed 205 litres per vehicle wash.
- Filling of wading pools allowed if less than 200 centimeters in diameter may be filled
with water up to a maximum depth of 30 centimeters.
Where reasonably possible, swimming pools, hot tubs, fountains and ponds should be drained for health and safety purposes and such water used for irrigation.
No new lawn permit shall be issued during Stage 4, and no new lawn permit, whenever issued, shall be valid during Stage 4.
Exceptions to Stage 4 Restrictions:
- Nurseries, farms, turf farms, and tree farms provided they employ best practices to minimize water use and use water only to the extent reasonably necessary.
- Local government water parks and pools.
- A business undertaking exterior commercial washing can apply for an exception to operate under Stage 4 through written request to the Regional District describing:
- the specific washing activity requested;
- the nature of the severe financial impact of deferring the work;
- the estimated volume of water to be used; and
- water-saving measures proposed.
- The Regional District may approve, deny, limit, suspend, or revoke an exception to exterior commercial washing at any time, including where water supply conditions worsen or where the business fails to comply with the terms of approval.
To learn more about Stage 4 and all the prohibited activities, visit the Comox Valley Regional District website.
During stage 5 water restrictions, all use of water for any purpose other than drinking, food preparation and personal hygiene is strictly prohibited.
Stage 5 restrictions are implemented when no spare water is available. Severe water
restrictions limit indoor and outdoor water uses as much as possible and are
intended to maintain critical supply.
Stage 5 is activated based on the rare occurrence of a significant emergency, such as
an earthquake, flood, wild land and interface fire, severe weather, or a prolonged
power outage that causes significant impacts to the water system infrastructure.Stage 5 restrictions apply to businesses in exactly the same way as they do to residential use. If your business uses water as a regular part of its operations, you may need to make adjustments to comply with these restrictions as no permits or exemptions will be issued.
In addition to the following water restrictions, further measures may be
implemented under this stage, if necessary, to maintain community health.Prohibited uses include:
- ALL WATER USE
- Any water use is prohibited except for human and animal consumption, hygiene, safety, food and beverage preparation, use in firefighting, and by order of a regulatory authority having jurisdiction for health or safety.
For clarity, the following water uses are specifically prohibited unless required for health, safety or sanitary purposes:
- watering lawns, gardens, plants and trees
- washing motor vehicles, boats and other recreational vehicles
- washing outdoor surfaces, exterior windows, or exterior building surfaces
- filing or topping off of pools, hot tubs, ponds or fountains
- mixing concrete
- mechanical services
- spa services
- manufacturing processes
Where reasonably possible, swimming pools, hot tubs, fountains and ponds should be drained for health and safety purposes and such water used for irrigation.
No new lawn permit shall be issued during Stage 5 and no new lawn permit, whenever issued, shall be valid during Stage 5.
There are No Exceptions to Stage 5 Restrictions
To learn more about Stage 5 and all the prohibited activities, visit the Comox Valley Regional District website.
- ALL WATER USE