Osoyoos watering restrictions

Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Osoyoos?

Osoyoos, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

In Osoyoos, sprinkling is limited to set days all year, even at the Normal stage, with five stages from Normal to Stage 4. The Town sets the stage and posts it on its Water Restrictions page. Check there for the current stage before you water.

Key facts

When restrictions apply	Year-round: even at the Normal stage, sprinkling is limited to set days. Five stages: Normal, 1, 2, 3, 4. The CAO sets the stage from reservoir capacity, stream flow or precipitation and posts it on the Town website. Applies only to water from the Town domestic system.Water Conservation and Staged Restriction Bylaw No. 1273, 2011, s. 10, 11, 14; Water Restrictions; Water Conservation Tips, How to conserve water outdoors · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording The CAO shall determine the stage of restrictions based on the reservoir capacity, stream Notice under subsection 10 must be published on the Town’s website These restrictions are for water supplied by the Town of Osoyoos Domestic Water System only. Follow the Town of Osoyoos' year-round outdoor watering regulations
Sprinkling schedule	Manual sprinklers 6-10 a.m. and 7 p.m.-midnight; automatic timers midnight-4 a.m. Zone 1 is east of the Osoyoos Lake bridge, Zone 2 west of it and north of 62nd Ave, Zone 3 south of 62nd Ave. Normal/Stage 1: 3 days (Z1 Mon Thu Sat; Z2 Tue Thu Sun; Z3 Mon Wed Fri). Stage 2: 2 days (Mon Thu; Tue Fri; Wed Sun). Stage 3: 1 day (Mon; Fri; Wed). Stage 4: none.Water Conservation and Staged Restriction Bylaw No. 1273, 2011, Schedule A, lines A and B; Water Restrictions, Zones 1-3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Watering allowed between 6am-10am and 7pm-12am Watering allowed between 12am-4am up to 3 days per Zone 1 Monday, Thursday, Saturday Monday, Thursday, Saturday Monday & Thursday Monday Zone 2 Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday Tuesday & Friday Friday Zone 3 Monday, Wednesday, Friday Monday, Wednesday, Friday Wednesday & Sunday Wednesday aesthetic lawn and garden watering is prohibited. Zone 1 in the map includes all properties east of the bridge over Osoyoos Lake, extending to the northern, southern and eastern municipal boundaries. Zone 3 includes all properties south of 62nd Avenue, including the south side of 62nd Avenue and extending to the western and southern municipal boundaries.
Allowed at any time	Normal and Stage 1: drip or micro-jet and handheld (spring-loaded nozzle or can) any time. Stage 2: drip any day 7 p.m.-10 a.m. Stage 3: drip potted plants Tuesdays and Sundays, in-ground plants on the Stage 2 days, 6-10 a.m. and 7 p.m.-midnight; food gardens and fruit trees Tuesdays and Fridays. Stage 4: none.Water Conservation and Staged Restriction Bylaw No. 1273, 2011, Schedule A, lines C, D, F; Water Restrictions, Zone 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Garden Watering - Micro Anytime Anytime Watering allowed any day between 7pm-10am. 10am and 7pm to 12am, as required to maintain plant Use of water supplied by Town of Osoyoos prohibited. Tuesdays & Fridays or as required to maintain plant health Potted plants: Tuesdays & Sundays Tuesdays & Fridays
New lawns	A permit is required for sod or seeding starting no later than April 30 or after September 1, as the schedule words it. After installation, resume normal staged watering after 2 weeks for sod or 6 weeks for seeded lawns. No new permits are issued at Stage 3 or Stage 4.Water Conservation and Staged Restriction Bylaw No. 1273, 2011, Schedule A, line E; Water Conservation and Staged Restriction Bylaw No. 1273, 2011, s. 15 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Permit Required for sod or seeding starting no later than Apr 30 or after Sept. 1. After installation (2 weeks for No new permits issued for sod or seeded lawns. The CAO may designate the form of permit
Fine	Bylaw notice, first offence: Normal $100, Stage 1 $200, Stage 2 $300, Stage 3 or 4 $500; repeat offences in a calendar year $500. Municipal ticket, first offence: Normal $100, Stage 1 $200, Stage 2 $300, Stage 3 $300, Stage 4 $1,000; second and later offences $500 to $1,000.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1392, 2025, Schedule A, Water Conservation; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1279, 2011, Schedule 22 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 11 Fail to obey normal restrictions – $100 $100 $110 Yes 1st offence 11 Fail to obey stage 1 restrictions - $200 $200 $210 Yes 1st offence 11 Fail to obey stage 2 restrictions - $300 $300 $310 Yes 1st offence 11 Fail to obey stage 3 restrictions $500 $450 $500 No Fail to obey Stage 3 restrictions 1st offence 11 $300 $300 Fail to obey Stage 4 restriction 11 $1000 $1000
Bylaw	Water Conservation and Staged Restriction Bylaw No. 1273, 2011Water Conservation and Staged Restriction Bylaw No. 1273, 2011, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This Bylaw may be citied as “Water Conservation and Staged Restriction Bylaw No. 1273,

How it works

The Town of Osoyoos's Water Conservation and Staged Restriction Bylaw No. 1273 limits sprinkling on set days all year, even at the Normal stage. There are five stages: Normal, 1, 2, 3 and 4. The CAO sets the stage from reservoir capacity, stream flow or precipitation and posts it on the Town's Water Restrictions page. The rules apply only to water from the Town's domestic system. Rainwater, greywater and other non-Town water are not restricted.

Your day depends on your zone: Zone 1 is east of the bridge over Osoyoos Lake; Zone 2 is west of the bridge and north of 62nd Avenue; Zone 3 is south of 62nd Avenue.

Watering days

Manual sprinklers: 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to midnight. Automatic timers: midnight to 4 a.m.

Normal and Stage 1 (3 days): Zone 1 Monday, Thursday, Saturday; Zone 2 Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday; Zone 3 Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
Stage 2 (2 days): Zone 1 Monday, Thursday; Zone 2 Tuesday, Friday; Zone 3 Wednesday, Sunday.
Stage 3 (1 day): Zone 1 Monday; Zone 2 Friday; Zone 3 Wednesday.
Stage 4: no sprinkling.

Other watering

Normal and Stage 1: drip, micro-jet and handheld (spring-loaded nozzle or can) any time.
Stage 2: drip any day 7 p.m. to 10 a.m.
Stage 3: drip for potted plants Tuesdays and Sundays, in-ground plants on the Stage 2 days, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to midnight; food gardens and fruit trees Tuesdays and Fridays.
Stage 4: none.

Good to know

New lawns need a permit. No new permits are issued at Stage 3 or 4. After installing sod, resume normal staged watering after 2 weeks; after seeding, 6 weeks. The schedule's wording on dates is unclear, so ask the Town.
Rural water users (Systems 8 and 9) follow Zone 2 and Zone 3 days and a separate Osoyoos Water District bylaw.
Fines, first offence: a bylaw notice is $100 at Normal, $200 at Stage 1, $300 at Stage 2 and $500 at Stage 3 or 4; a municipal ticket is $100, $200, $300, $300 and $1,000 (Stage 4). Repeat offences are higher.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Keremeos · Midway · Penticton · Greenwood · Summerland · Grand Forks

Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Water Conservation and Staged Restriction Bylaw No. 1273, 2011, Town of Osoyoos (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Water Restrictions, Town of Osoyoos (read 2026-11-06)
Water Conservation Tips, Town of Osoyoos (read 2026-11-06)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1392, 2025, Town of Osoyoos (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1279, 2011, Town of Osoyoos (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)

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