---
title: Creston watering restrictions
question: "Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Creston?"
place: Creston, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/creston
category: Water, sewer, roads and snow
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Creston
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/water-restrictions/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/water-restrictions.json"
---

# Creston watering restrictions

**Question:** Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Creston?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Creston, https://www.creston.ca)  
**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:**
- Online: Water Restrictions page, https://www.creston.ca/water-restrictions
- Phone: Town Hall, 250-428-2214

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** 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.
  - Source: [Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1439 (consolidated to December 17, 2024), s. 2.04](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/Water%20Rates%20%26%20Regulations-1439.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Water Restrictions, Water Restrictions page](https://www.creston.ca/water-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "These measures establish the mandatory restrictions of outdoor water use from June 1st until September 30th annually."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** 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).
  - Source: [Water Restrictions chart, Water Restrictions chart (cites Bylaw 1439, s. 2.04 and Schedule D)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-07/Water%20Restrictions.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Watering of lawns" … "7 pm - 10 am" … "6 am – 10 am, and" … "8 pm – 10 pm" … "Prohibited"
  - Source: [Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1439 (consolidated to December 17, 2024), Schedule D](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/Water%20Rates%20%26%20Regulations-1439.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** 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.
  - Source: [Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1439 (consolidated to December 17, 2024), Schedule D](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/Water%20Rates%20%26%20Regulations-1439.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Water Restrictions chart](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-07/Water%20Restrictions.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Watering using drip irrigation*, a watering can, and or hand held hose, which"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** 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.
  - Source: [Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1439 (consolidated to December 17, 2024), Schedule D](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/Water%20Rates%20%26%20Regulations-1439.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Watering of new" … "(seed within 45 days" … "and sod within 21 days" … "Except where"
  - Source: [Water Restrictions chart](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-07/Water%20Restrictions.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Watering of new lawns"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760, Schedule A, Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw rows](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Water Restriction Brochure](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-05/Water%20Restriction%20Brochure.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Customers who violate water restrictions may be"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1439, 1998 (s. 2.04 and Schedule D)
  - Source: [Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1439 (consolidated to December 17, 2024), title](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/Water%20Rates%20%26%20Regulations-1439.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under 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.

- **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:** same hours as lawns in Stages 1 and 2, the Stage 2 hours in Stage 3, and prohibited in Stage 4.

## Steps

1. To find the current stage, check the Town's news feed on its home page, 94.1 JUICE FM, Facebook or Instagram.
2. Water only in the hours your stage allows.
3. For a new lawn, see the exception below.

## Good to know

- 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.
- 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.
- Watering of commercial agricultural products is also allowed in Stages 1 to 3.
- Using water contrary to the restrictions, or improper use or waste of water, is a $275 bylaw notice.

## Official forms and pages

- [Water Restrictions chart (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-07/Water%20Restrictions.pdf)
- [Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1439 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/Water%20Rates%20%26%20Regulations-1439.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Creston bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/water-restrictions.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/water-restrictions.md)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/water-restrictions.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/water-restrictions.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/water-restrictions.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Water Restrictions, Town of Creston](https://www.creston.ca/water-restrictions) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1439 (PDF) (consolidated to December 17, 2024)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/Water%20Rates%20%26%20Regulations-1439.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Water Restrictions chart (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-07/Water%20Restrictions.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Water Restriction Brochure (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2024-05/Water%20Restriction%20Brochure.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Creston. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/water-restrictions/_