People walk on the beach during low tide in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, July 7, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
By The Canadian Press

Metro Vancouver to ban car washing and lawn watering next week under Stage 3 rules

Jun 2, 2026 | 8:59 AM

BURNABY — Metro Vancouver is imposing Stage 3 water restrictions next week after an early deployment of Stage 2 bans failed to curb high usage in the region.

The regional district says the tougher bans will begin next Monday, prohibiting all lawn watering including the use of sprinklers and soaker hoses, as well as pool filling and vehicle washing with few exceptions.

Metro Vancouver chair Mike Hurley says in a statement that the restrictions are being put in place due to a combination of warm and dry weather, low snowpack levels and the construction of a water supply tunnel in Stanley Park.

The region began Stage 2 restrictions early this year on May 1, but the district says water use in Metro Vancouver last month was higher than the same period in 2025 when only a Stage 1 ban was in place.

Join Our Daily Email

The district says about 1.2 billion litres of water is being used daily, with a spike of up to 50 per cent expected as warm June weather arrives.

Road rehabilitation
Chilliwack City Council to vote on repairing multiple city roads at cost of $2.7 million
24m ago
Curbside collection program
City of Chilliwack extends old bin pickup for a 2nd time
1h ago
Administrative penalty
Landscaping firm fined for having worker in tree near overhead power lines at Chilliwack worksite
1h ago

Metro Vancouver historically sees daily water usage exceed 1.4 billion litres in June, and the district says the tougher restrictions are hoped to keep levels below that to protect supply through July.

The lack of snowpack in the region is further exacerbating the situation, with Metro Vancouver saying levels are “well below normal” at less than 15 per cent of historical average levels.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2026.

The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

More Local News

Road rehabilitation
Chilliwack City Council to vote on repairing multiple city roads at cost of $2.7 million
24m ago
Curbside collection program
City of Chilliwack extends old bin pickup for a 2nd time
1h ago
Administrative penalty
Landscaping firm fined for having worker in tree near overhead power lines at Chilliwack worksite
1h ago
End of service life
Chilliwack councillors to vote on new synthetic turf replacement at Chilliwack Secondary
3h ago
Vancouver Canucks name Manny Malhotra new head coach
13h ago