GovHandbook

Mission watering restrictions

Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?

Mission, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In Mission, Stage 1 water restrictions apply every year from May 1 to September 30. Residential lawns may be watered once a week: even street numbers on Saturdays, odd numbers on Sundays. The City Engineer can bring in a stricter stage (2, 3 or 4) at any time.

Key facts

When restrictions applyStage 1 applies every year from May 1 to September 30. The City Engineer can change the dates or bring in a stricter stage (2, 3 or 4) at any time of year, and a stage stays in effect until it is ended.Water Bylaw 6244-2023, s. 5.2; Water Restrictions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
are in effect each year from May 1 to September 30 inclusive
Terminate or bring into effect a more restrictive Stage at any time of year
Water restrictions start annually on May 1.
Sprinkling scheduleStage 1, residential lawns, once a week: even street numbers Saturdays, odd numbers Sundays. Automatic systems 5 to 7 a.m.; manual watering 6 to 9 a.m. Stages 2, 3 and 4: no lawn watering.Water Bylaw 6244-2023, Schedule E, s. 3(1), 5(1), 10(1); Seasonal Alerts, Stage 1 Water Restrictions return · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
i. when applying Automatic Watering on Saturdays between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.;
ii. when applying Manual Watering on Saturdays between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.;
i. when applying Automatic Watering on Sundays between the hours of 5:00 a.m.
when Stage 2 Restrictions are in force, no Person shall: (1) Water a Lawn;
when Stage 3 Restrictions are in force, no Person shall: (1) Water a Lawn;
When Stage 4 Restrictions are in force, no Person shall: (1) Water a lawn;
Stage 1 allows residential lawn watering once per week based on your address schedule. Even-numbered addresses: Saturdays - Automatic watering: 5 - 7 am
Allowed at any timeStages 1 and 2: trees, shrubs, decorative gardens and planters by hand, soaker hose or drip/micro spray at any time, or by automatic sprinkler 5 to 9 a.m.; edible plants. Stage 3: trees, shrubs and the like by hand or drip only; edible plants not restricted through Stage 3 (City chart). Stage 4: all outdoor watering banned. A hose must always have an automatic shut-off device.Sources differ: Stage 2: sprinklers on trees and shrubs 5 to 9 a.m. Stage 3: manual or drip only, no sprinkler or soaker hose. The City’s chart (a PDF titled 2025/2026) agrees with the bylaw on these points; its stage colour codes were not readable as text.Water Bylaw 6244-2023, Schedule E, s. 1(1), 2, 3(2)(a), 10(2), 15(3); Residential Water Restrictions chart, Watering trees, shrubs, and flowers · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Use a hose providing water without an equipped Automatic Shut-off Device at any time for any purpose;
trees, shrubs, decorative gardens and planters if carried out by Manual Watering, or by Soaker Hose or Drip/Micro Spray Irrigation;
(2) Edible Plants; and
applying Automatic Watering on properties zoned for residential between the hours of 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on any day;
if watering is carried out by Manual Watering;
Water Edible Plants;
Edible plants are exempt
from restrictions in Stages 1 to 3.
New lawnsApply to the City Engineer for a Sprinkling Permit if you have a new seeded or sodded lawn, new landscaping, or European chafer beetle nematode treatment. It lets you water during Stage 1 at the times on the permit; it expires 14 days after issue and must be posted facing the street. No new permits in Stage 2; no permit watering in Stages 3 and 4. Fee: $58 for May, June or September, $121 for July or August.Sources differ: The bylaw fee schedule describes permit hours of 6:00 to 8:00 a.m. daily for one week (May, June, September) or two weeks (July, August); the City web page says permits are valid for 2 consecutive weeks with automatic watering 5 to 7 a.m. and manual watering 6 to 9 a.m. daily. The bylaw says permits last 14 days. Fees agree. Permits are applied for by email to engineering@mission.ca and paid in person at 7337 Welton Street.Water Bylaw 6244-2023, s. 5.9; Schedule A; Water Restrictions, Watering Permits · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
has installed a new lawn, either by seeding or placing sod or turf
will expire, and be of no force or effect, 14 days after the date of issue
May, June, and September: Daily sprinkling permitted from 6:00 am to 8:00
Sprinkling Permit Fee
Permit Fees: $58 for May, June, or September or $121 for July or August.
During Stage 2, no new permits will be issued or renewed.
FineBylaw notice: Stage 1 or 2 $250 ($175 within 14 days, $325 after 28 days); Stage 3 or 4 $500 ($350 / $650). Municipal ticket: Stage 1 $250, Stage 2 $375, Stage 3 $500, Stage 4 $1,000. The City may also shut off service. The City web page says up to $250.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 5700-2018, Schedule 7, Schedule 7, s. 5.5; Water Bylaw 6244-2023, s. 5.5; Ticket Information Bylaw 2646-1993, Schedule 10, Ticket Information Bylaw 2646-1993, Schedule 10 (Water Bylaw 6244-2023) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Violate water restriction – Stage 1 5.5 $250 $175 $325 Yes
Violate water restriction – Stage 3 5.5 $500 $350 $650 Yes
the City may cause Service to the Person’s property to be shut off
Violate water restriction – Stage 2 5.5 $375.00
Violate water restriction – Stage 4 5.5 $1,000.00
BylawCity of Mission Water Bylaw 6244-2023 (Schedule E, Stages of Water Restrictions)Water Bylaw 6244-2023, Cover · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
ENACTS AS FOLLOWS: 1. This bylaw may be cited as "City of Mission Water Bylaw 6244-2023". 2. INTERPRETATION

How it works

Under the Water Bylaw 6244-2023, Stage 1 applies every year from May 1 to September 30. The City Engineer can change the dates or bring in a stricter stage (2, 3 or 4) at any time of year, and a stage stays in effect until it is ended. To see the stage in effect now, check the City's alerts page at mission.ca or call 604-820-3736.

Steps

  1. Stage 1, residential lawns, once a week: even street numbers on Saturdays, odd numbers on Sundays. Automatic systems 5 to 7 a.m.; manual watering 6 to 9 a.m.
  2. Stages 2, 3 and 4: no lawn watering.
  3. Always use a hose with an automatic shut-off device.
  4. For a new seeded or sodded lawn, new landscaping, or European chafer beetle nematode treatment, apply to the City Engineer for a Sprinkling Permit at engineering@mission.ca. Pay in person at 7337 Welton Street. The fee is $58 for May, June or September and $121 for July or August.

Good to know

  • Trees, shrubs, decorative gardens and planters in Stages 1 and 2: by hand, soaker hose or drip/micro spray at any time under the bylaw, or by automatic sprinkler 5 to 9 a.m. The City's chart instead groups soaker hoses with sprinklers (5 to 9 a.m.) in Stages 1 and 2. In Stage 3, by hand or drip only (no sprinkler or soaker hose). Check with the City if unsure.
  • Edible plants are not restricted through Stage 3 (City chart). Stage 4 bans all outdoor watering.
  • A permit expires 14 days after issue and must be posted facing the street. No new permits in Stage 2; no permit watering in Stages 3 and 4. The bylaw fee schedule and the City web page describe permit hours differently; check your permit.
  • A bylaw notice is $250 for Stage 1 or 2 ($175 within 14 days, $325 after 28 days) and $500 for Stage 3 or 4 ($350 / $650). A municipal ticket is $250 for Stage 1, $375 for Stage 2, $500 for Stage 3 and $1,000 for Stage 4. The City may also shut off service. The City web page says up to $250.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Abbotsford · Township of Langley · Maple Ridge · Langley City · Pitt Meadows · Chilliwack

Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Water Bylaw 6244-2023 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Water Restrictions, City of Mission (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Residential Water Restrictions chart (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Seasonal Alerts, City of Mission (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 5700-2018, Schedule 7 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  6. Ticket Information Bylaw 2646-1993, Schedule 10 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)

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.