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Houston watering restrictions

Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Houston?

Houston, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

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.

Key facts

When restrictions applyStage 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.Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064, 2015, ss. 2.1, 2.3, 3.7; Water and Sewer, Watering Restrictions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
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
Water restrictions automatically take effect annually on May 1.
Sprinkling scheduleStage 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.Water and Sewer, Stage 1 Restrictions; Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064, 2015, ss. 3.0, 3.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
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
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
Allowed at any timeStages 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.Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064, 2015, ss. 1.0, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
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:
New lawnsPermit 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.Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064, 2015, Part 4, ss. 4.0, 4.1, 4.4, 4.6, 4.7; Comprehensive Fees & Charges Amending Bylaw No. 1182, 2023, Schedule A-2, Schedule C-5, 3. Water Conservation Exceptions Permit · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
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
3. Water Conservation Exceptions Permit
Permit Application per application 57.00 57.00 57.00 57.00 57.00
FineBylaw 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A, Schedule A, Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064, 2015; Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064, 2015, s. 6.1; Water and Sewer, Offenses & Penalties · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Contravention of Stage 1
3.0 Restrictions $150.00 $112.50 $187.50
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.
you may be liable to a fine between $75.00 and $500.00 depending on the severity of the offense.
BylawWater Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064, 2015.Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064, 2015, s. 8.0 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as "Water Conservation

How it works

The Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064 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.

The stages

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stage 4: no outdoor watering at all, including drip.
  • Drip irrigation is not "watering" in Stages 1 to 3.

New lawns

Apply 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.

Good to know

  • 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.
  • 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.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Telkwa · Smithers · Burns Lake · New Hazelton · Hazelton · Terrace

Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Water and Sewer, District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Water Conservation Measures Bylaw No. 1064, 2015 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Comprehensive Fees & Charges Amending Bylaw No. 1182, 2023, Schedule A-2 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
  5. Contact Us, District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.