{"title":"Creston watering restrictions","question":"Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Creston?","slug":"water-restrictions","place":{"path":"ca/bc/creston","name":"Creston","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"water-roads-and-snow","name":"Water, sewer, roads and snow"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Town of Creston","url":"https://www.creston.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. In Creston, Stage 1 watering restrictions apply every year from June 1 to September 30. In Stage 1, lawns may be watered only between 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. The Works Superintendent can impose stricter Stages 2, 3 and 4. Breaking the rules is a $275 bylaw notice.","aliases":["sprinkling restrictions creston","lawn watering creston","water stages creston","new sod watering creston"],"cost":"Bylaw notice for using water against the restrictions $275 ($250 if paid within 14 days, $300 if paid late).","how_long":"Stage 1 applies every year from June 1 to September 30. Stages 2, 3 and 4 are imposed on notice.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Water Restrictions page","value":"https://www.creston.ca/water-restrictions"},{"type":"phone","label":"Town Hall","value":"250-428-2214"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Water Restrictions chart (PDF)","url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-07/Water%20Restrictions.pdf"},{"title":"Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1439 (PDF)","url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/Water%20Rates%20%26%20Regulations-1439.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Creston bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/salmo","name":"Salmo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kimberley","name":"Kimberley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cranbrook","name":"Cranbrook","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fruitvale","name":"Fruitvale","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nelson","name":"Nelson","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/montrose","name":"Montrose","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/water-restrictions/"}],"topic":{"title":"Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions/"},"facts":{"in_effect":{"label":"When restrictions apply","value":"Stage 1 applies every year from June 1 to September 30. The Works Superintendent may impose Stages 2, 3 and 4 on notice, based on system demand, rainfall, reservoir capacity, weather and groundwater or stream levels.","short":"Stage 1: June 1 to September 30; stricter on notice","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/Water%20Rates%20%26%20Regulations-1439.pdf","title":"Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1439 (PDF) (consolidated to December 17, 2024)","section":"s. 2.04","quotes":["Stage 1 shall go into effect on June 1 st and continue until","September 30th in each year.","may impose","Stage 2, 3 and 4 of the Water Restrictions prescribed in Schedule “D” of this Bylaw."]},{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/water-restrictions","title":"Water Restrictions, Town of Creston","section":"Water Restrictions page","quotes":["These measures establish the mandatory restrictions of outdoor water use from June 1st until September 30th annually."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"schedule":{"label":"Sprinkling schedule","value":"Stage 1: lawns only between 7 p.m. and 10 a.m.. Stage 2: lawns only 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.. Stages 3 and 4: lawn watering prohibited. Gardens, trees and shrubs follow the same hours in Stages 1 and 2 and are prohibited in Stage 4 (Stage 3 keeps the Stage 2 hours).","short":"Stage 1: lawns 7 p.m. to 10 a.m.; none Stage 3 and 4","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-07/Water%20Restrictions.pdf","title":"Water Restrictions chart (PDF)","section":"Water Restrictions chart (cites Bylaw 1439, s. 2.04 and Schedule D)","quotes":["Watering of lawns","7 pm - 10 am","6 am – 10 am, and","8 pm – 10 pm","Prohibited"]},{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/Water%20Rates%20%26%20Regulations-1439.pdf","title":"Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1439 (PDF) (consolidated to December 17, 2024)","section":"Schedule D","quotes":["2.03 Disposal and Waste of Water ......................................................................................... 5 2.04 Water Use Restrictions ................................................................................................... 5 2.05 Back Flow Prevention ..................................................................................................... 6","SCHEDULE \"D\" Water Use Restrictions BL#1841 Mandatory Restrictions Activity Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exempt_watering":{"label":"Allowed at any time","value":"Drip irrigation, a watering can, or a hand-held hose that eliminates over-spray may be used at any time. Drip emitters must use under 7.6 L an hour at under 20 psi; soaker hoses and micro sprayers do not count.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/Water%20Rates%20%26%20Regulations-1439.pdf","title":"Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1439 (PDF) (consolidated to December 17, 2024)","section":"Schedule D","quotes":["Watering using drip irrigation*, a watering can, and or hand held hose, which","eliminates over-spray is permitted at any time.","This does not include soaker hoses or micro sprayers."]},{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-07/Water%20Restrictions.pdf","title":"Water Restrictions chart (PDF)","section":"Water Restrictions chart","quotes":["Watering using drip irrigation*, a watering can, and or hand held hose, which"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"new_lawns":{"label":"New lawns","value":"New lawns (seed within 45 days or sod within 21 days of installation) may be watered Stage 1 between 7 p.m. and 10 a.m., Stages 2 and 3 between 6-10 a.m. and 8-10 p.m., and not in Stage 4 unless the Works Superintendent permits.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/Water%20Rates%20%26%20Regulations-1439.pdf","title":"Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1439 (PDF) (consolidated to December 17, 2024)","section":"Schedule D","quotes":["Watering of new","(seed within 45 days","and sod within 21 days","Except where"]},{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-07/Water%20Restrictions.pdf","title":"Water Restrictions chart (PDF)","section":"Water Restrictions chart","quotes":["Watering of new lawns"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: use of water contrary to restrictions $275 ($250 if paid within 14 days; $300 if paid late). Improper use or waste of water is also $275.","short":"Notice $275 ($250 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw rows","quotes":["1439 2.04 Use of water contrary to restrictions $275.00 $250.00 $300.00 Yes","1439 2.03 Improper use of water or waste of water $275.00 $250.00 $300.00 Yes"]},{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-05/Water%20Restriction%20Brochure.pdf","title":"Water Restriction Brochure (PDF)","section":"Water Restriction Brochure","quotes":["Customers who violate water restrictions may be"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1439, 1998 (s. 2.04 and Schedule D)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/Water%20Rates%20%26%20Regulations-1439.pdf","title":"Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1439 (PDF) (consolidated to December 17, 2024)","section":"title","quotes":["December 17, 2024 BYLAW 1439 A Bylaw to regulate the operation, maintenance, and use of the Town's waterworks system.","2.03 Disposal and Waste of Water ......................................................................................... 5 2.04 Water Use Restrictions ................................................................................................... 5 2.05 Back Flow Prevention ..................................................................................................... 6"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1439](<https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/Water%20Rates%20%26%20Regulations-1439.pdf>), Stage 1 restrictions apply every year from June 1 to September 30. The Works Superintendent may impose Stages 2, 3 and 4 on notice, based on system demand, rainfall, reservoir capacity, weather and groundwater or stream levels. The hours apply every day; there is no odd/even-day schedule.\n\n- **Stage 1:** lawns only between 7 p.m. and 10 a.m.\n- **Stage 2:** lawns only 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.\n- **Stages 3 and 4:** lawn watering prohibited.\n- **Gardens, trees and shrubs:** same hours as lawns in Stages 1 and 2, the Stage 2 hours in Stage 3, and prohibited in Stage 4.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. To find the current stage, check the Town's news feed on its home page, 94.1 JUICE FM, Facebook or Instagram.\n2. Water only in the hours your stage allows.\n3. For a new lawn, see the exception below.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Drip irrigation, a watering can, or a hand-held hose that eliminates over-spray may be used at any time. Drip emitters must use under 7.6 L an hour at under 20 psi; soaker hoses and micro sprayers do not count.\n- New lawns (seeded within 45 days or sodded within 21 days of installation) may be watered in Stage 1 between 7 p.m. and 10 a.m., in Stages 2 and 3 between 6 and 10 a.m. and 8 and 10 p.m., and not in Stage 4 unless the Works Superintendent permits.\n- Watering of commercial agricultural products is also allowed in Stages 1 to 3.\n- Using water contrary to the restrictions, or improper use or waste of water, is a $275 bylaw notice.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/water-restrictions","title":"Water Restrictions, Town of Creston","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/Water%20Rates%20%26%20Regulations-1439.pdf","title":"Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1439 (PDF) (consolidated to December 17, 2024)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-07/Water%20Restrictions.pdf","title":"Water Restrictions chart (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-05/Water%20Restriction%20Brochure.pdf","title":"Water Restriction Brochure (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/water-restrictions/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/water-restrictions.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/water-restrictions.json"}}