In December 2023, the City Council adopted By-law 2397-1 on water conservation. The by-law included several changes to lawn watering rules. Since then, many residents have provided constructive feedback. The City Council has now tabled draft By-law 2397-2, which takes the feedback into account. The following table compares the rules in the current by-law with those in the new draft by-law.
| Current lawn watering rules Bylaw 2397-1, adopted in Dec. 2023 | Proposed lawn watering rules Draft bylaw 2397-2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Implementation date | April 1, 2024 | July 1, 2024 |
| Watering days – even addresses | Even calendar days, except on Mondays | Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday |
| Watering days – odd addresses | Odd calendar days, except on Mondays | Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday |
| Watering schedule: Portable sprinkler systems (flexible hose) | 6 pm to 11:30 pm | 6 pm to 11:30 pm |
| Watering schedule: In-ground automatic sprinkler systems | 1am to 5 am | 1am to 6 am |
| Watering time | 45 minutes | 45 minutes |
| Mandatory rain sensor | Yes, must be installed by April 1, 2024 | Yes, must be installed by July 1, 2024 |
| Handheld watering of flower and vegetable beds | No restrictions | No restrictions |
| Watering of newly installed sod | No restrictions for 15 days after the installation | No restrictions for 15 days after the installation |
| Driveways | Can be watered down once a week for 30 minutes | Can be watered down once a week for 30 minutes |
If you have additional feedback to share on the draft by-law, email the City at [email protected].