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

# Coldstream watering restrictions

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Coldstream water is run by Greater Vernon Water (RDNO). Year-round restrictions at the Normal stage apply at all times: sprinkling lawns up to 3 days a week by odd or even address. The RDNO can tighten to Stages 1 to 4. Check rdno.ca/restrictions for the current stage.

**Who handles it:** Regional district (Regional District of North Okanagan, https://www.rdno.ca)  
**Cost:** Using water against the restrictions is "wasting water": RDNO bylaw notice $100 ($80 if paid early); repeat offence $400 ($320 early). RDNO ticket $100, repeat $400. On conviction in court $200 to $2,000 plus costs.  
**How long:** Irrigation season is April 15 to September 15, which the RDNO may change.  
**Where:**
- Online: Greater Vernon Water restrictions (current stage), https://www.rdno.ca/restrictions
- Phone: Regional District of North Okanagan (Greater Vernon Water), 250-550-3700
- Phone: Public Works after hours (water emergencies), 250-545-5304

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Coldstream water is regulated by Greater Vernon Water (RDNO). Year-round restrictions at the 'Normal' stage are the default at all times; the RDNO may move to Stage 1 (dry), 2, 3 or 4 (emergency) when supply is short. The irrigation season is April 15 to September 15, which the RDNO may change.
  - Source: [Water and Sewer, Water & Sewer](https://www.coldstream.ca/community-services/public-works-utilities/water-sewer)
  - Official wording: "Water (regulated by Greater Vernon Water)"
  - Source: [RDNO Greater Vernon Water Use and Regulation Bylaw No. 2545, 2014 (consolidated June 2026), s. J.1, s. 2 definitions; Schedule A](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/BL_2545_C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "is the default water restriction in place at all times," … "Irrigation Season means the five (5) month period from April 15th to September 15th" … "STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4"
  - Source: [Water Restrictions, Greater Vernon Water, RDNO, Greater Vernon Water Restrictions](https://www.rdno.ca/gvw/restrictions)
  - Official wording: "If you are a resident, business, or agricultural water user within the City of Vernon or District of Coldstream, then yes, this applies to you."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** At the Normal stage, lawn and aesthetic garden sprinkling is allowed up to 3 days a week. Manual sprinklers: 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 12 a.m.; odd addresses Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday; even addresses Wednesday, Friday, Sunday. Automatic timer systems: 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. on the same days.
  - Source: [RDNO Greater Vernon Water Use and Regulation Bylaw No. 2545, 2014 (consolidated June 2026), Schedule A (Normal column)](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/BL_2545_C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Watering allowed between 6am-10am" … "and 7pm-12am up to 3 days per week." … "Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday" … "Wednesday, Friday, Sunday" … "Watering allowed between 12am-6am"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** At the Normal stage, handheld sprinkling (spring-loaded nozzle on a hose, or a watering can) and micro jet or drip irrigation are allowed at any time. Food gardens and fruit trees follow the same sprinkling restrictions as lawns for the system in use. Higher stages are stricter.
  - Source: [RDNO Greater Vernon Water Use and Regulation Bylaw No. 2545, 2014 (consolidated June 2026), Schedule A (Normal column)](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/BL_2545_C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Anytime" … "Follow Lawn and Aesthetic Garden" … "Watering restrictions, as noted above"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** Normal and Stage 1: follow the supplier's watering schedule, then resume the regular restrictions after 2 weeks (sod) or 6 weeks (seed). Stage 2: an RDNO sprinkling permit is required (2 weeks for sod; 6 weeks for seed, started before April 30 or after Sept. 1). Stage 3 and 4: no new permits issued.
  - Source: [RDNO Greater Vernon Water Use and Regulation Bylaw No. 2545, 2014 (consolidated June 2026), Schedule A, line E](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/BL_2545_C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Follow supplier recommended watering schedule." … "resume watering as per Lawn &" … "RDNO sprinkling permit required." … "STAGE 2 (VERY DRY): RDNO sprinkling permit required. Sod requires 2 week permit to be displayed on lawn." … "STAGE 3 (EXTREMELY DRY): No new permits issued or renewed for lawns." … "NORMAL: Follow supplier recommended watering schedule."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Using water against the restrictions is listed as 'wasting water': RDNO bylaw notice $100 ($80 if paid early); repeat offence $400 ($320 early). RDNO ticket: $100, repeat $400. On conviction in court: $200 to $2,000 plus costs.
  - Source: [RDNO Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2909, Appendix 6 (Bylaw 2909)](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2909_C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Wasting Water H.3.a, $100.00 $80.00 Yes" … "Repeat offence L $400.00 $320.00 No"
  - Source: [RDNO Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 2908, Schedule G (Bylaw 2908)](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2908_C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Wasting Water H.3.b and $100.00 $400.00"
  - Source: [RDNO Greater Vernon Water Use and Regulation Bylaw No. 2545, 2014 (consolidated June 2026), s. H.3.a, s. Q.1](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/BL_2545_C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "use water in contravention of Schedule “A” – Greater Vernon Water – Water Use" … "not less than $200.00 and not more than $2000.00 for each offence"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Regional District of North Okanagan Greater Vernon Water Use and Regulation Bylaw No. 2545, 2014 (Schedule A: Water Use Restriction Stages).
  - Source: [RDNO Greater Vernon Water Use and Regulation Bylaw No. 2545, 2014 (consolidated June 2026), title](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/BL_2545_C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A Bylaw to Regulate the Use of Water in the" … "Greater Vernon Water Service Area"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Coldstream water is regulated by Greater Vernon Water, run by the RDNO under its [Water Use and Regulation Bylaw 2545](<https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/BL_2545_C.pdf>). The Normal stage is the default at all times. When supply is short the RDNO can move to Stage 1 (dry), 2, 3 or 4 (emergency), which cut the allowed days and methods.

**At the Normal stage:**
- Lawn and aesthetic garden sprinkling is allowed up to 3 days a week.
- Manual sprinklers: 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. Odd addresses Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday; even addresses Wednesday, Friday, Sunday.
- Automatic timer systems: 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. on the same days.

## Steps

1. Check the current stage at rdno.ca/restrictions before you water.
2. Water by your address (odd or even) on the days and in the hours above, or the stricter ones for the current stage.
3. For new sod or seed, see below, and confirm with Greater Vernon Water at 250-550-3700.

## Good to know

- At the Normal stage, handheld sprinkling (a spring-loaded nozzle on a hose, or a watering can) and micro jet or drip irrigation are allowed at any time. Food gardens and fruit trees follow the same sprinkling restrictions as lawns for the system in use. Higher stages are stricter.
- **New lawns:** at Normal and Stage 1, follow the supplier's watering schedule, then resume the regular restrictions after 2 weeks (sod) or 6 weeks (seed). At Stage 2 an RDNO sprinkling permit is required (2 weeks for sod; 6 weeks for seed, started before April 30 or after Sept. 1). At Stage 3 and 4 no new permits are issued.
- Irrigation season is April 15 to September 15, which the RDNO may change.
- The District does not ticket water offences. The RDNO enforces the bylaw: a bylaw notice for wasting water is $100 ($80 if paid early), or $400 ($320 early) for a repeat; the RDNO ticket is $100, or $400 for a repeat. The GVW page says stage restrictions are enforced with warnings, fines or shut-off.

## Official forms and pages

- [Greater Vernon Water restrictions, RDNO](https://www.rdno.ca/gvw/restrictions)
- [Greater Vernon Water Use and Regulation Bylaw No. 2545, 2014 (PDF)](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/BL_2545_C.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/water-restrictions.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/water-restrictions.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/water-restrictions.md)
- [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/water-restrictions.md)
- [Armstrong](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/water-restrictions.md)
- [Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Water Restrictions, Greater Vernon Water, RDNO](https://www.rdno.ca/gvw/restrictions) (read 2026-11-06)
- [RDNO Greater Vernon Water Use and Regulation Bylaw No. 2545, 2014 (consolidated June 2026) (PDF)](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/BL_2545_C.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Water and Sewer, District of Coldstream](https://www.coldstream.ca/community-services/public-works-utilities/water-sewer) (read 2026-11-06)
- [RDNO Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 2908 (PDF)](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2908_C.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [RDNO Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2909 (PDF)](https://www.rdno.ca/sites/default/files/2025-03/BL_2909_C.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 Regional District of North Okanagan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/water-restrictions/_