Quick answer
Surrey is on Stage 1 water restrictions until October 15, 2026. Homes can water the lawn one morning a week: even-numbered addresses on Saturday, odd-numbered addresses on Sunday. Automatic sprinklers can run 5am to 8am. Manual watering is 6am to 9am. Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle, drip irrigation and vegetable gardens are allowed any time. After October 15, no restriction stage is in force unless the City announces one.
Surrey's rules are based on Metro Vancouver's regional Drinking Water Conservation Plan, but Surrey sets and enforces its own version by bylaw, and the two can differ. For example, Surrey allows residential automatic lawn watering until 8am, while Metro Vancouver's page says 7am. In Surrey, follow the City's rules. All details were checked on surrey.ca and metrovancouver.org on September 25, 2026.
Can I water my lawn today?
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What stage is Surrey on right now?
As of September 1, 2026, Surrey is on Stage 1, the lightest level, until October 15. The City says it will adjust restrictions if weather or water demand changes. Under Surrey's bylaw:
- May 1 to October 15: Stage 1 is automatically in effect every year, unless the City announces a different stage.
- Stages 2, 3 and 4: the City Engineer can switch to a stricter stage by public announcement. The City considers Metro Vancouver's advice, but makes the final call for Surrey.
- October 16 to April 30: no restriction stage remains in force after October 15 unless the City announces otherwise.
2026 was unusual. A City report says Metro Vancouver started the season at Stage 2 on May 1, the earliest in over 30 years, mainly because of First Narrows water main work, low snowpack and a dry forecast. Many cities moved to Stage 3 on June 8, while Surrey stayed at Stage 2. The region returned to Stage 1 on September 1.
Stage 1 lawn watering days and times in Surrey
Lawn watering is allowed one morning a week. Your day depends on your address number and property type.
| Property type | Watering day | Automatic sprinkler | Manual sprinkler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential, even address | Saturday | 5am to 8am | 6am to 9am |
| Residential, odd address | Sunday | 5am to 8am | 6am to 9am |
| Non-residential, even address | Monday | 4am to 6am | 6am to 9am |
| Non-residential, odd address | Tuesday | 4am to 6am | 6am to 9am |
- Automatic watering means a system on a timer, sensor or controller that needs little supervision, such as an in-ground irrigation system.
- Manual watering means watering with a hose, sprinkler or other tool that a person holds or operates, without a timer or controller.
- Apartments and townhouses use the complex's street address, not the unit number.
- Non-residential includes businesses and mixed-use buildings, such as homes above shops.
What is allowed any time (Stage 1)
- Trees, shrubs and flowers: any day, any time by hand with a shut-off nozzle, a watering can, a soaker hose or drip irrigation. With a sprinkler, any day from 5am to 9am (homes) or 4am to 9am (non-residential).
- Vegetable gardens and other edible plants: any time.
- Washing a car or boat: any time with a handheld hose, on gravel or pavement where the wash water cannot get into storm drains.
- Pressure washing driveways, decks and other outdoor surfaces: any time.
- Filling or topping up a pool, hot tub, fountain or pond: allowed.
Every hose must have an automatic shut-off nozzle, the kind that stops the water when you let go. The rules only cover City drinking water. Rainwater, grey water and recycled water are not restricted.
Tip: The rules are enforced by day and time, so check that your irrigation controller shows the correct day and clock time, especially after a power outage.
Surrey lawn watering permit (new lawn or nematodes)
New sod, new seed, or a nematode treatment for European chafer beetle can qualify for a special sprinkling permit to water more often. Email lawnsprinklingpermits@surrey.ca with a copy of your receipt. The bylaw says the new-lawn permit has a fee and the nematode permit is free. The permit must be posted beside the main driveway, visible from the street.
Under Surrey's updated bylaw, permits can be issued in Stage 1 and Stage 2. No new permits are issued in Stage 3, although an existing one can be extended. All permits stop being valid in Stage 4.
What changes in Stages 2, 3 and 4
| Stage | Lawns | Trees, shrubs, flowers | Other key changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 2 | No watering (permit holders excepted) | Same as Stage 1: sprinkler 5am to 9am (homes), hand or drip any time | No filling or topping up fountains and ponds |
| Stage 3 | No watering (existing permits only) | Hand, container or drip only. No sprinklers or soaker hoses | Car washing only for windows, lights and plates. Surface washing only for safety or to prep for painting. No filling pools or hot tubs over 5,000 litres |
| Stage 4 | No watering, permits cancelled | No watering by any method, including vegetable gardens and drip | No filling pools or hot tubs. Vehicle washing by any method only for windows, lights and plates, including at commercial car washes. Pressure washing only if ordered by a regulator |
Vegetable gardens can be watered any time in Stages 1, 2 and 3, but not in Stage 4.
Stage 2 in one line: no lawn watering without a permit, but trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables can still be watered. Stage 3 in one line: no sprinklers at all, hand watering and drip only, and car washing only for safety.
Can I wash my car at home during water restrictions?
Yes, in most stages, including in your own driveway, but the rules tighten as the stage goes up. In every stage, the hose must have an automatic shut-off nozzle (one that stops the water when you let go).
- Stage 1: wash your car or boat any time with a shut-off hose. Wash on gravel or pavement where the water can't run into a storm drain.
- Stage 2: still allowed with a shut-off hose.
- Stage 3: only windows, lights and licence plates, or anything else needed to drive safely.
- Stage 4: the same safety-only washing, by any method, and this also applies at commercial car washes.
Can I pressure wash during water restrictions?
- Stage 1: yes, any time. A hose used to wash driveways, decks, walls or roofs needs an automatic shut-off nozzle.
- Stage 2: yes, with the same shut-off rule.
- Stage 3: only for health or safety reasons, or to prepare a surface for painting or sealing.
- Stage 4: only if a regulatory authority orders it.
Fines and how to report a violation
The City says violators get warnings, and repeat or serious offenders are fined. Surrey's ticketing bylaw sets these fines for unauthorized watering:
- Stage 1: $200
- Stage 2: $250
- Stage 3: $250
- Stage 4: $300
If the City takes a case to court instead of issuing a ticket, the Drinking Water Conservation Plan bylaw sets a fine of $3,000 to $10,000 on a first conviction. A City report says Surrey had issued more than 120 tickets by late June 2026.
To report a violation or ask about the rules, call 604-591-4340 (option 5 for water restrictions) or use the City's online Report a Problem form.
Water outage or water main break in Surrey
If there is no water, low pressure, or water pouring out of the ground or a boulevard:
- Business hours: call 604-591-4152 to report a water main or service connection break, or to ask for an emergency shut-off.
- After hours: call 604-591-4431 (weekdays after 4:30pm, and Saturday and Sunday).
Have your address, contact details and a short description ready.
The City's Water Quality page lists the areas where watermain flushing is currently happening, which can cause short-term pressure changes or cloudy water.
Brown, cloudy or discoloured water
The City says discoloured water or a slight odour is often caused by main flushing, main break repairs, new mains, or high demand such as firefighting.
- Run the cold water tap until the water clears.
- If it has not returned to normal after 30 minutes, report it to the City at 604-591-4152 or online.
Cloudy water is often just air bubbles, which clear as they are released, and is more common in cooler weather. White flakes clogging aerators or appliance screens can mean the dip tube in your hot water tank is breaking down; the City suggests calling a certified plumber.
For drinking water advisories or health concerns, contact Fraser Health at 604-870-7900.
Where does Surrey get its water?
Surrey's water comes from rain and snowmelt in the North Shore Mountains. Metro Vancouver stores it in three reservoirs, Capilano, Seymour and Coquitlam, treats it, and delivers it in bulk to Surrey. The City then distributes it through about 1,800 kilometres of water mains. A City report says most of Surrey's water comes from the Coquitlam and Seymour sources.
The City tests water weekly at 51 stations. It says Surrey's water meets all Canadian drinking water guidelines, does not need filtering at home, and has no fluoride added.
Hardness: Metro Vancouver's 2025 water quality report shows low average hardness in treated water: about 20.5 mg/L (as calcium carbonate) from Capilano, 20.2 mg/L from Seymour, and 2.4 mg/L from Coquitlam.
Note that White Rock does not receive Metro Vancouver water, so these rules and numbers apply to Surrey, not White Rock.
How to shut off your own water
The City advises every homeowner to know where the main water valve inside the house is, and to make sure it works so you can turn the water off quickly.
- Burst pipe inside the house: turn off the main valve, then call a plumber.
- Frozen pipe: turn off the main valve and warm the exposed pipe with a heat lamp or hair dryer, or call a plumber.
- Break between the street and your house: call the City at 604-591-4152 to ask for an emergency turn-off at the curb stop at the property line.
- Planned work: for a temporary or permanent turn-off, contact Engineering Front Counter Services at 604-591-4340. Fees apply.
Safety: Never thaw a frozen pipe with an open flame such as a propane torch. The City warns it can damage the pipe and start a fire.
Repairs on your side of the property line are the owner's responsibility. If a leak pushed up your metered bill, see our guide to the Surrey utility bill for leak adjustments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I water my lawn in Surrey today?
Until October 15, 2026, only on your day: Saturday for even-numbered homes, Sunday for odd-numbered homes. Automatic sprinklers 5am to 8am, manual sprinklers 6am to 9am.
Can I wash my car during Surrey water restrictions?
In Stages 1 and 2, yes, with a hose that has an automatic shut-off nozzle. In Stages 3 and 4, only windows, lights and licence plates can be washed, and in Stage 4 that limit applies at commercial car washes too.
Can I pressure wash my driveway during water restrictions in Surrey?
In Stages 1 and 2, yes, with a hose or pressure washer that has an automatic shut-off. In Stage 3, only for health or safety or to prep a surface for painting. In Stage 4, only if a regulator orders it.
What are Surrey's Stage 3 water restrictions?
No lawn watering (except an existing permit), no sprinklers or soaker hoses for trees, shrubs or flowers, hand watering or drip only, car washing only for safety, and no filling pools or hot tubs over 5,000 litres. Vegetable gardens can still be watered.
Do I need a permit to water a new lawn in Surrey?
Only if you want to water it more often than your normal lawn watering day. Email lawnsprinklingpermits@surrey.ca with your sod, seed or nematode receipt. Permits are issued in Stages 1 and 2 only.
Is there a map of water restrictions in Surrey?
You don't need one. The same stage applies to the whole city, and your day depends only on whether your address number is even or odd and whether the property is a home or a business. Use the checker at the top of this page, or the City's water restrictions page for the current stage.
Are there water restrictions in Surrey in winter?
No restriction stage is in force after October 15 unless the City announces one. Stage 1 starts again automatically on May 1.
Can I hand water during restrictions?
Yes, for trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables, any time in Stages 1 to 3, using a shut-off nozzle or watering can. Lawns follow the lawn rules, even by hand.
Why are Surrey's hours different from Metro Vancouver's?
Council updated Surrey's bylaw on May 25, 2026, extending Stage 1 residential automatic watering from 5am to 7am to 5am to 8am.
What is the fine for watering on the wrong day in Surrey?
The ticket fine is $200 in Stage 1, $250 in Stages 2 and 3, and $300 in Stage 4. The City says it usually gives warnings first.
Who do I call about a water main break in Surrey?
604-591-4152 during business hours, or 604-591-4431 after 4:30pm on weekdays and on weekends.
Official sources
- Water Restrictions — City of Surrey
- Surrey updates bylaw on water restrictions (May 2026) — City of Surrey
- Drinking Water Conservation Plan By-law No. 15454 (PDF) — City of Surrey
- Ticket Fines By-law No. 12508 (PDF) — City of Surrey
- Water Restrictions Update, Report R142 (PDF) — City of Surrey
- Report a Problem or Submit a Request — City of Surrey
- Water — City of Surrey
- Water Quality — City of Surrey
- Frozen Water Lines — City of Surrey
- Drinking Water Connections — City of Surrey
- Lawn Watering Restrictions — Metro Vancouver
- Drinking Water Conservation Plan Summary (PDF) — Metro Vancouver
- Watersheds and Reservoirs — Metro Vancouver
- 2025 Water Quality Annual Report (PDF) — Metro Vancouver
General information only, not professional advice. Rules and prices change, so check the official sources above before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.