{"title":"Houston watering restrictions","question":"Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Houston?","slug":"water-restrictions","place":{"path":"ca/bc/houston","name":"Houston","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":"District of Houston","url":"https://houston.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. In Houston, Stage 1 watering restrictions start automatically on May 1 each year, and Council can declare Stages 2, 3 or 4. Stages 1 and 2 allow lawn watering only on assigned days. All stages end on October 31 unless Council extends them.","aliases":["lawn watering houston","sprinkling restrictions houston bc","water stage houston","new lawn permit houston"],"cost":"New sod, seeded lawn or landscaping permit: application fee $57. Breaking a restriction: $150 bylaw notice (see Good to know).","how_long":"A new lawn permit lasts 21 days, with one extension to at most 42 days.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Office","value":"3367 12th Street, Houston, BC V0J 1Z0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed statutory holidays"},{"type":"phone","label":"Municipal Office","value":"250-845-2238","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."},{"type":"phone","label":"Water and sewer emergencies (after hours)","value":"250-845-8591"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Water and Sewer, District of Houston","url":"https://houston.ca/community/public-works-and-operations/water-and-sewer/"},{"title":"Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064, 2015 (PDF), District of Houston","url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145102/"}],"related":[{"slug":"garbage-collection","title":"Houston garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/garbage-collection/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Houston bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/telkwa","name":"Telkwa","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/smithers","name":"Smithers","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/burns-lake","name":"Burns Lake","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-hazelton","name":"New Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/hazelton","name":"Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/water-restrictions/"},{"place":"ca/bc/terrace","name":"Terrace","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/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 starts automatically on May 1 each year if no stage is in force. Council may declare Stage 2, 3 or 4, which take effect 48 hours after a public announcement. All stages end on October 31 unless Council extends them. Applies to anyone on the municipal water system.","short":"Stage 1 from May 1 to October 31; stricter by Council","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145102/","title":"Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064, 2015 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"ss. 2.1, 2.3, 3.7","quotes":["forty-eight (48) hours after a public announcement of the declaration is made.","Stage 1 Water","No Water Conservation Measures Stage remains in force after October"]},{"url":"https://houston.ca/community/public-works-and-operations/water-and-sewer/","title":"Water and Sewer, District of Houston","section":"Watering Restrictions","quotes":["Water restrictions automatically take effect annually on May 1."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"schedule":{"label":"Sprinkling schedule","value":"Stage 1 and 2: lawn watering only on assigned days, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. East of Buck Creek: even calendar days. West of Buck Creek: odd calendar days. Stage 3: no lawn watering. Stage 4: no outdoor watering at all.","short":"Stage 1 and 2: odd/even days, 6 to 10 a.m., 7 to 10 p.m.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.ca/community/public-works-and-operations/water-and-sewer/","title":"Water and Sewer, District of Houston","section":"Stage 1 Restrictions","quotes":["Even numbered calendar days only (i.e. May 2)","Odd numbered calendar days only (i.e. May 1)","Permitted times: 6:00 am–10:00 am and 7:00 pm–10:00 pm","Lawn watering is prohibited at all times"]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145102/","title":"Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064, 2015 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"ss. 3.0, 3.1","quotes":["MAY water on even calendar days between the hours of 6:00 am to 10:00 am","and 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm ONLY"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"exempt_watering":{"label":"Allowed at any time","value":"Stages 1 and 2: flower and vegetable gardens, decorative planters, shrubs and trees are not limited. Stage 3: hand watering of gardens, shrubs and trees with a hose that has an automatic shut-off, no sprinklers or soaker hoses. Drip irrigation is not \"watering\" in Stages 1 to 3. Stage 4 bans all of it, including drip.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145102/","title":"Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064, 2015 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"ss. 1.0, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5","quotes":["Water or Watering” used as a verb, mean the application or distribution of water","but does not include the method known as drip irrigation.","flower gardens, vegetable gardens, decorative planters, shrubs or trees,","water, or engage in drip irrigation of:"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"new_lawns":{"label":"New lawns","value":"Permit from the Director of Engineering for new sod, a seeded lawn or new landscaping; application fee $57 (Fees & Charges Bylaw, Schedule C-5). Lasts 21 days, with one extension to at most 42 days. Valid in Stages 1 to 3 only, not Stage 4. Display it where it can be seen from the street.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145102/","title":"Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064, 2015 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Part 4, ss. 4.0, 4.1, 4.4, 4.6, 4.7","quotes":["An application for a permit must be accompanied by an application fee of $50.00.","A permit does not exempt the holder from Stage 4 Water Conservation Measures.","A permit expires and is of no force or effect 21 days after the date of its issue"]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145026/","title":"Comprehensive Fees & Charges Amending Bylaw No. 1182, 2023, Schedule A-2 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Schedule C-5, 3. Water Conservation Exceptions Permit","quotes":["3. Water Conservation Exceptions Permit","Permit Application per application 57.00 57.00 57.00 57.00 57.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: $150 for breaking a Stage 1, 2, 3 or 4 restriction ($112.50 within 14 days; $187.50 after 28 days). The bylaw itself says a first offence gets a written warning, a second a $75 municipal ticket, and a third or later a court fine of $100 to $500.","short":"Notice $150 ($112.50 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144929/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Schedule A, Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064, 2015","quotes":["Contravention of Stage 1","3.0 Restrictions $150.00 $112.50 $187.50"]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145102/","title":"Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064, 2015 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"s. 6.1","quotes":["for a first offense, a written warning will be issued by District staff;","a municipal ticket in the amount of $75.00 will be issued by","not less than $100.00 and not more than $500.00."]},{"url":"https://houston.ca/community/public-works-and-operations/water-and-sewer/","title":"Water and Sewer, District of Houston","section":"Offenses & Penalties","quotes":["you may be liable to a fine between $75.00 and $500.00 depending on the severity of the offense."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064, 2015.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145102/","title":"Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064, 2015 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"s. 8.0","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as \"Water Conservation"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145102/) applies to anyone on the municipal water system. Stage 1 starts automatically on May 1 each year if no stage is in force. Council may declare Stage 2, 3 or 4, which take effect 48 hours after a public announcement. All stages end on October 31 unless Council extends them. For the current stage, check the notices on the District's website.\n\n## The stages\n\n- **Stages 1 and 2:** lawn watering only on assigned days, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. East of Buck Creek, water on even calendar days. West of Buck Creek, odd calendar days. Flower and vegetable gardens, decorative planters, shrubs and trees are not limited. Stage 2 also bans washing sidewalks and other outdoor surfaces with a hose unless it has a shut-off device and the purpose is allowed.\n- **Stage 3:** no lawn watering. Hand watering of gardens, shrubs and trees is allowed with a hose that has an automatic shut-off, with no sprinklers or soaker hoses.\n- **Stage 4:** no outdoor watering at all, including drip.\n- Drip irrigation is not \"watering\" in Stages 1 to 3.\n\n## New lawns\n\nApply to the Director of Engineering for a permit for new sod, a seeded lawn or new landscaping. The application fee is $57. It lasts 21 days, with one extension to at most 42 days, is valid in Stages 1 to 3 only, and must be displayed where it can be seen from the street.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Some public sports fields, school yards, turf farms and golf course playing surfaces are exempt in Stages 1 to 3. Commercial nurseries and tree farms are exempt in Stage 3.\n- **Fines:** the bylaw notice schedule lists $150 for breaking a Stage 1, 2, 3 or 4 restriction ($112.50 within 14 days; $187.50 after 28 days). The bylaw itself and the District's page say a first offence gets a written warning, a second a $75 municipal ticket, and a third or later a court fine of $100 to $500. Confirm with the Municipal Office at 250-845-2238.","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.ca/community/public-works-and-operations/water-and-sewer/","title":"Water and Sewer, District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145102/","title":"Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064, 2015 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145026/","title":"Comprehensive Fees & Charges Amending Bylaw No. 1182, 2023, Schedule A-2 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144929/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.ca/contact/","title":"Contact Us, District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","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/houston/water-restrictions/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/water-restrictions.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/water-restrictions.json"}}