---
title: Kamloops watering restrictions
question: "What are the watering restrictions in Kamloops?"
place: Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/kamloops
category: Water, sewer, roads and snow
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Kamloops
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/water-restrictions/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/water-restrictions.json"
---

# Kamloops watering restrictions

**Question:** What are the watering restrictions in Kamloops?

**Short answer:** Kamloops sets its own watering rules under its Waterworks Bylaw. The default stage allows sprinklers 3 days a week by the last two digits of your street address, and irrigation is never allowed from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The City can move to Heightened (1 day a week) or Severe stages.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Kamloops, https://www.kamloops.ca)  
**Cost:** Fine for watering contrary to the restrictions: $100 for a first offence and $200 for each later offence. No permit fee is stated in the pages read.  
**Where:**
- Online: Water Use page (current stage and exemption permit), https://www.kamloops.ca/our-community/environment-sustainability/water-use
- Phone: Civic Operations Centre (permit help), 250-828-3461

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Normal stage (provincial drought levels 0-3 for the South Thompson River) is the default all year. The Utility Services Manager may declare Heightened (level 4) or Severe (level 5); a higher stage starts 24 hours after it is announced on the City's webpage. Irrigation is not permitted from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on any day.
  - Source: [Waterworks Bylaw No. 12-31, section 29A and Schedule I, s. 29A(a), (b), (e); Schedule I](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8508)
  - Official wording: "Normal Stage is the default water restriction stage that remains in effect year-round unless an elevated restriction stage is declared by the Utility Services Manager or designate;" … "will come into effect twenty-four (24) hours after the elevated stage is announced on the city’s webpage" … "Irrigation is not permitted on any day between the hours of 11:00 am and 7:00 pm;"
  - Source: [Water Use, page](https://www.kamloops.ca/our-community/environment-sustainability/water-use)
  - Official wording: "Changes in water use restriction stages will be announced on the City’s website and come into effect 24 hours after posting."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Normal (3 days a week) by last two digits of the street address: 00-30 Sun, Tue, Fri; 31-60 Mon, Wed, Sat; 61-99 Sun, Tue, Thu. Heightened (1 day a week): Tue, Wed, Thu respectively. Severe: lawn and plant sprinklers not permitted. Never between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.; preferred time for automated systems is 12 a.m. to 7 a.m.
  - Source: [Waterworks Bylaw No. 12-31, section 29A and Schedule I](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8508)
  - Official wording: "Group A: addresses ending in 00–30 Sun, Tue, Fri Tue" … "Group B: addresses ending in 31–60 Mon, Wed, Sat Wed" … "Group C: addresses ending in 61–99 Sun, Tue, Thu Thu" … "Sprinkler use (automated or manual) 3 days/week 1 day/week Not permitted"
  - Source: [Water Use, page](https://www.kamloops.ca/our-community/environment-sustainability/water-use)
  - Official wording: "Irrigation is not permitted between 11 am and 7 pm." … "The preferred time for automated irrigation is 12 am to 7 am."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** Hand watering of trees, shrubs, plants, flowers and food-producing plants with a spring-loaded nozzle or watering can has no day restrictions at any stage. Drip irrigation is limited (3 days a week; 1 day at Severe). Hoses must have a working spring-loaded nozzle. Lawn hand watering is limited: 3 days a week normally, 1 day at Heightened, and not permitted at Severe under the bylaw. (Sources differ: At Severe the City web page says lawn hand watering is 'Allowed 1 day per week'; the Waterworks Bylaw Schedule I says 'Not permitted'. The bylaw is followed. Filling pools and hot tubs is unrestricted at Normal and Heightened, not permitted at Severe.)
  - Source: [Waterworks Bylaw No. 12-31, section 29A and Schedule I, Schedule I; s. 29A(g)](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8508)
  - Official wording: "Hand watering (spring-loaded nozzle or watering can) No restrictions No restrictions No restrictions" … "Hand watering (spring-loaded nozzle or watering can) 3 days/week 1 day/week Not permitted" … "All outdoor hand use of hoses other than filling swimming pools and/or hot tubs shall be equipped with a working spring-loaded nozzle;"
  - Source: [Water Use, page](https://www.kamloops.ca/our-community/environment-sustainability/water-use)
  - Official wording: "Allowed at any time using a spring-loaded nozzle or watering can." … "Allowed 1 day per week using a spring-loaded nozzle or watering can."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** New lawns (seed or sod) and new trees or shrubs may be watered beyond the schedule only with a City Water Use Exemption Permit from the Utility Services Manager. Standard permits last 21 days and most are processed in 5 business days or less. At Severe no new permits are issued.
  - Source: [Waterworks Bylaw No. 12-31, section 29A and Schedule I, s. 29A(f); Schedule I](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8508)
  - Official wording: "Permits allowing water use contrary to Schedule “I” Water Use Restriction Plan may be applied for by submitting a request to the Utility Services Manager:" … "New lawns (sod or seed) (City permit is required) As per permit As per permit No new permits issued"
  - Source: [Water Use, FAQ](https://www.kamloops.ca/our-community/environment-sustainability/water-use)
  - Official wording: "Standard permits will be issued for 21 days." … "Most applications will be processed in 5 business days or less."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** $100 for a first offence of watering contrary to the restrictions and $200 for each later offence.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw, Schedule U](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/71966)
  - Official wording: "Watering contrary to water restrictions – First offence 29A $100.00" … "Water contrary to water restrictions – Subsequent 29A $200.00"
  - Source: [Waterworks Bylaw No. 12-31, section 29A and Schedule I, s. 29A(i)](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8508)
  - Official wording: "liable to a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), and for each subsequent offence a fine of not less than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Waterworks Bylaw No. 12-31, 1983 (s. 29A and Schedule I, Water Use Restriction Plan)
  - Source: [Waterworks Bylaw No. 12-31, section 29A and Schedule I, s. 1](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8508)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the “City of Kamloops Waterworks"
  - Source: [Waterworks Bylaw No. 12-31, section 29A and Schedule I, s. 29A](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8508)
  - Official wording: ""H" Bylaw No. 12-74 - replaces Section 29A Water Use Restrictions April 9, 2024 by amending text and adding Schedule "I"" … "CITY OF KAMLOOPS WATERWORKS BYLAW NO. 12-31 Effective Date - 1983 December 30"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The rules in the [Waterworks Bylaw No. 12-31](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8508) (section 29A and Schedule I) apply to customers on the City of Kamloops potable water system. Normal stage (provincial drought levels 0 to 3 for the South Thompson River) is the default all year. The Utility Services Manager may declare Heightened (level 4) or Severe (level 5). A higher stage starts 24 hours after it is announced on the City's Water Use page, which shows the stage now in effect. Strata and complexes use the complex's street address, not the unit number.

## Steps

1. Find your days by the last two digits of your street address.
2. Normal stage (3 days a week): 00 to 30 Sunday, Tuesday, Friday; 31 to 60 Monday, Wednesday, Saturday; 61 to 99 Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday.
3. Heightened stage (1 day a week): Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday respectively. Severe: lawn and plant sprinklers are not permitted.
4. Never water between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. The preferred time for automated systems is 12 a.m. to 7 a.m.
5. For a new lawn (seed or sod) or new trees or shrubs, apply for a City Water Use Exemption Permit from the Utility Services Manager. Standard permits last 21 days and most are processed in 5 business days or less. At Severe no new permits are issued. Call 250-828-3461 for help.

## Good to know

- Hand watering trees, shrubs, plants, flowers and food plants with a spring-loaded nozzle or watering can has no day restrictions at any stage. Hoses need a working spring-loaded nozzle.
- Drip irrigation: 3 days a week normally, 1 day at Severe.
- Lawn hand watering: 3 days a week normally, 1 day at Heightened, not permitted at Severe under the bylaw. The City page says 1 day a week at Severe, so check before relying on it.
- Filling pools and hot tubs is unrestricted at Normal and Heightened, and not permitted at Severe.
- Tickets are $100 for a first offence and $200 for each later one.

## Official forms and pages

- [Water Use, City of Kamloops](https://www.kamloops.ca/our-community/environment-sustainability/water-use)
- [Waterworks Bylaw No. 12-31 (PDF)](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8508)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Sun Peaks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/water-restrictions.md)
- [Chase](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chase/water-restrictions.md)
- [Barriere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/water-restrictions.md)
- [Logan Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/logan-lake/water-restrictions.md)
- [Ashcroft](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/water-restrictions.md)
- [Merritt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Water Use, City of Kamloops](https://www.kamloops.ca/our-community/environment-sustainability/water-use) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Waterworks Bylaw No. 12-31, section 29A and Schedule I (PDF)](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8508) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw, Schedule U (PDF)](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/71966) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Kamloops. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/water-restrictions/_