Kent watering restrictions
Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Kent?
Short answer
In Kent, the Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw lets Council restrict water use when supply is short. Stages apply only when restrictions are implemented. Under Stage 2, sprinkling is limited to set days and hours between May 1 and September 30. Check with the District for current status.
Key facts
| When restrictions apply | When supply is short, Council may issue a notice restricting water use. If restrictions are implemented: Stage 1 has none from October 1 to April 30; Stage 2 sprinkling limits apply May 1 to September 30; Stage 3, by the Engineer's order, bans all lawn sprinkling and garden irrigation; Stage 4 adds other limits.District of Kent Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw No. 1679, 2021, s. 22 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingIn the event of a water supply shortage due to any reason whatsoever, the Council may issue a notice prohibiting, restricting or limiting the use of water There are no watering restrictions from October 1 to April 30 between May 1 and September 30 of each year lawn sprinkling of any kind is prohibited In the event that water restrictions are implemented, the following stages shall be applicable: |
|---|---|
| Sprinkling schedule | Stage 2, May 1 to September 30: even-numbered addresses Wednesdays and Saturdays; odd-numbered addresses Thursdays and Sundays; 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Hoses need spring-loaded shut-off devices.District of Kent Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw No. 1679, 2021, s. 22(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPremises with even-numbered municipal street addresses may only carry out sprinkling on Wednesdays and Saturdays between the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 pm. Premises with odd-numbered municipal street addresses may only carry out sprinkling on Thursdays and Sundays all hoses must be equipped with spring-loaded shut-off devices |
| Allowed at any time | Stage 2: garden irrigation, watering flowers, shrubs and vegetables, and car washing on grass or gravel may be done with a hand-held wand or a hose with a spring-loaded shut-off device. Stage 3 (Engineer's order) bans all lawn sprinkling and garden irrigation and hosing of outdoor surfaces.District of Kent Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw No. 1679, 2021, s. 22(c)(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinggarden irrigation, watering of flowers, shrubs and vegetables and car washing on grass or gravel areas may be carried out using a hand-held wand or a hose equipped with spring-loaded shut off device prohibiting all lawn sprinkling and garden irrigation and imposing additional and other restrictions on water use |
| New lawns | Under Stage 2, a newly seeded or sodded lawn needs a permit from the District to be sprinkled 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. daily for two weeks.District of Kent Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw No. 1679, 2021, s. 22(c)(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingmust first make application for and obtain a Permit from the District in order to carry out sprinkling of the new lawn between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. daily for a two week period |
| Fine | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| Bylaw | Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw No. 1679, 2021District of Kent Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw No. 1679, 2021, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingWater Regulation and Rates Bylaw No. 1679, |
How it works
Kent's Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw 1679 lets Council issue a notice restricting water use when supply is short. These stages apply only when restrictions are implemented. This answer does not show a current stage: call the District or check its website for the current status.
Stages, when implemented
- Stage 1: no restrictions from October 1 to April 30.
- Stage 2 (May 1 to September 30): even-numbered addresses may sprinkle Wednesdays and Saturdays; odd-numbered addresses Thursdays and Sundays; 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. This covers hose-connected sprinklers, soaker hoses and automatic in-ground sprinklers. Hoses need spring-loaded shut-off devices.
- Stage 3, by the Engineer's order: bans all lawn sprinkling and garden irrigation and hosing of outdoor surfaces.
- Stage 4 adds other limits.
Good to know
- Under Stage 2, garden irrigation, watering flowers, shrubs and vegetables, and car washing on grass or gravel may be done with a hand-held wand or a hose with a spring-loaded shut-off device.
- Under Stage 2, a newly seeded or sodded lawn needs a permit from the District to be sprinkled 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. daily for two weeks.
- Breaking the bylaw can bring a court penalty of up to $10,000 plus costs. No ticket amount was found.
- District Hall: 604-796-2235.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Harrison Hot Springs · Chilliwack · Hope · Abbotsford · Mission · Maple Ridge
Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- District of Kent Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw No. 1679, 2021 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Enforcement, District of Kent (read 2026-11-06)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.