---
title: Kelowna watering restrictions
question: "Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Kelowna?"
place: Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/kelowna
category: Water, sewer, roads and snow
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Kelowna
sources_read: 2026-11-09
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/water-restrictions/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/water-restrictions.json"
---

# Kelowna watering restrictions

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

**Short answer:** Use Kelowna’s address lookup to identify your water provider, then check its current restriction stage and watering schedule. The City identifies the Glenmore-Ellison service area separately and directs Lake Country customers to their own utility.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Kelowna, https://www.kelowna.ca)  
**Cost:** No charge for the City utility’s new-lawn exemption.  
**Where:**
- Phone: City Hall, 250-469-8500

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Use the City’s address lookup and the current restrictions for your provider. Lake Country water customers follow Lake Country’s rules.
  - Source: [Water restrictions, Water restrictions / STAGE 2 WATER RESTRICTIONS IN EFFECT](https://www.kelowna.ca/city-services/water-wastewater/city-water-utility/water-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "Learn about current watering restrictions and your assigned watering day ### STAGE 2 WATER RESTRICTIONS IN EFFECT Customers serviced by the City of Kelowna and the Glenmore-Ellison service area (GEID) ImageView restrictions for residential water customers." … "*Customers connected to the District of Lake Country Water system should follow the restrictions outlined at lakecountry.bc.ca/waterconservation. ### Find your water provider Not sure who supplies your water? Check your provider based on your address."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Sprinkling schedule:** When the City utility is at Stage 2, odd addresses water Tuesday and Saturday, even addresses Wednesday and Sunday. Permitted hours depend on the irrigation system. Check the current stage for your supplier.
  - Source: [City of Kelowna moves to Stage 2 water restrictions, August 6, 2026 notice, Stage 2 days](https://www.kelowna.ca/our-community/news-events/news/city-kelowna-moves-stage-2-water-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "Due to ongoing dry conditions and increased water demand, the City of Kelowna is implementing Stage 2 water restrictions effective immediately. The restrictions are intended to reduce outdoor water use and protect available water supplies as drought conditions continue throughout the region." … "Under Stage 2 restrictions, outdoor watering is limited to designated days and times: * Odd numbered addresses: Tuesday & Saturday * Even numbered addresses: Wednesday & Sunday Depending on the type of irrigation system in place, residents are restricted to specific times for watering on their assigned days. Phase 2 water restrictions also include guidelines for food gardens and fruit trees, pool refilling, washing of vehicles, cleaning of outdoor surfaces and more. For a full residential guide to outdoor water restrictions, please visit kelowna.ca/waterrestrictions"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Allowed at any time:** Not confirmed. Checked Water restrictions; not found there.
- **New lawns:** City utility customers planting new seed or sod may apply for a free temporary exemption for up to two weeks, depending on drought conditions. Supply the address, owner’s name, requested date and reason.
  - Source: [Water restrictions, Apply for an exemption](https://www.kelowna.ca/city-services/water-wastewater/city-water-utility/water-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "## Apply for an exemption As per Water Regulation Bylaw 10480, customers of the Kelowna Utility may apply for a temporary exemption (permit) from the water restrictions for the purpose of the planting of new grass seed or sod. There is no cost to the permit and is allowed for up to two weeks, depending on the current state of drought conditions. To apply, please email [email protected] the following information: * Property address * Property owner name * Date of exemption requested * Reason for exemption"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Fine:** On the City's water system the penalty is $50 at normal or Stage 1 ($35 early, $60 late), $200 at Stage 2 ($175 early, $225 late), and $400 at Stage 3 or 4 ($350 early, $500 late). Check the provider for the address.
  - Source: [Water restrictions, City Water Utility Bylaw penalties by stage, normal through Stage 4](https://www.kelowna.ca/city-services/water-wastewater/city-water-utility/water-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "View penalties by stage Water restrictions are governed and enforced under the Water Utility Bylaw. While we strive to take an education-first approach, it's important that we all do our part so that there are penalties for violations depending on the stage of water restriction. Stage | Penalty | Early Payment | Late Payment Normal / Stage 1 | $50.00 | $35.00 | $60.00 Stage 2 | $200.00 | $175.00 | $225.00 Stage 3 / Stage 4 | $400.00 | $350.00 | $500.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Bylaw:** Not confirmed. Checked Water restrictions; not found there.

## How it works

The service boundary matters in Kelowna. Look up the supplier for the civic address first. When the City utility is at Stage 2, odd addresses water Tuesday and Saturday, even addresses Wednesday and Sunday. Permitted hours depend on the irrigation system. Check the current stage for your supplier.

## Steps

1. Check the current local instructions in [Water restrictions](https://www.kelowna.ca/city-services/water-wastewater/city-water-utility/water-restrictions). Identify the current stage, the property address and whether the watering is automatic or manual. Use the schedule for that combination.
2. Check the permitted day and time before programming a controller. If there is a temporary restriction, read the notice for its dates and the uses it covers.

## Good to know

- City utility customers planting new seed or sod may apply for a free temporary exemption for up to two weeks, depending on drought conditions. Supply the address, owner’s name, requested date and reason.
- On the City's water system the penalty is $50 at normal or Stage 1 ($35 early, $60 late), $200 at Stage 2 ($175 early, $225 late), and $400 at Stage 3 or 4 ($350 early, $500 late). Check the provider for the address.
- For a new lawn or another special circumstance, check the conditions before watering outside the ordinary schedule. Keep any approved permit with the irrigation schedule.
- For a question about the water supplier, restriction stage and type of irrigation, call City Hall at 250-469-8500. For a multi-unit property, use the service address on the water account.

## Related questions

- [Kelowna garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/garbage-collection.md)
- [Kelowna yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/yard-waste.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/water-restrictions.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/water-restrictions.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/water-restrictions.md)
- [Coldstream](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/water-restrictions.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/water-restrictions.md)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Water restrictions](https://www.kelowna.ca/city-services/water-wastewater/city-water-utility/water-restrictions) (read 2026-11-09)
- [City of Kelowna moves to Stage 2 water restrictions](https://www.kelowna.ca/our-community/news-events/news/city-kelowna-moves-stage-2-water-restrictions) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Kelowna municipal office contact information](https://www.kelowna.ca/parks-recreation/recreation-facilities/city-hall) (read 2026-11-09)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Kelowna. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/water-restrictions/_