---
title: West Kelowna watering restrictions
question: "Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions?"
place: West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/west-kelowna
category: Water, sewer, roads and snow
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of West Kelowna
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/water-restrictions/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/water-restrictions.json"
---

# West Kelowna watering restrictions

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In the City of West Kelowna, Stage 1 watering restrictions apply all year unless Stage 2, 3 or 4 is declared. Sprinkling is never allowed from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check the City's Outdoor Watering Regulations page for the current stage before you water.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of West Kelowna, https://www.westkelownacity.ca)  
**Cost:** Not stated on the City's page. Fines are below.  
**Where:**
- Online: Outdoor Watering Regulations (shows the current stage), https://www.westkelownacity.ca/city-services/water/outdoor-watering-regulations/
- Phone: Bylaw Compliance (report overuse), 778-797-8810

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Stage 1 is in effect all year unless Stage 2, 3 or 4 is declared. The Director decides when each stage starts and gives notice to users. Four stages apply to all properties in the City except exempt users.
  - Source: [Water Regulation Bylaw No. 0274 (consolidated), ss. 11.1, 11.2.1](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/media/fvebag4q/0274-water-regulation-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The Director shall determine when the applicable stages of watering regulations will be" … "Stage 1 sprinkling regulations are continuously in effect throughout the year," … "Outdoor water use regulations apply to all properties within the City of West Kelowna, except exempt users"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Stage 1: even addresses on even dates, odd on odd dates. Stage 2: even Sat/Tue, odd Sun/Wed. Stage 3: even Sat, odd Sun. Stage 4: none. Never 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Automatic systems: midnight to 6 a.m. Manual sprinklers: midnight to 11 a.m. or 6 p.m. to midnight. One outlet at a time; no open hose.
  - Source: [Water Regulation Bylaw No. 0274 (consolidated), s. 11.2](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/media/fvebag4q/0274-water-regulation-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Sprinkling is not permitted between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. during" … "Even numbered addresses on Even Calendar Days" … "Even numbered addresses on Saturdays and Tuesdays" … "Odd numbered addresses on Sundays and Wednesdays" … "Even numbered addresses on Saturdays" … "Odd numbered addresses on Sundays" … "No person shall use water outdoors for any purpose." … "sprinkle between the hours of 12:00 midnight to 6:00 a.m." … "Only one outlet (outside tap) may be used at one time for sprinkling."
  - Source: [Outdoor Watering Regulations, Stage 1 to 4](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/city-services/water/outdoor-watering-regulations/)
  - Official wording: "Properties equipped with manually controlled sprinkling systems, including those attached to outside taps, may only operate between midnight and 11:00 a.m. or between 6:00 p.m. and midnight on the days permitted."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Allowed at any time:** Hand watering of garden plants, shrubs, trees and vegetable plantings is allowed, but not lawns, and not in Stage 4. The City page adds that hand watering is not allowed from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Exempt users: agriculture, fire protection, sports fields, cemeteries, spray parks, and some exterior building cleaning. (Sources differ: The bylaw puts the 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ban on sprinkling only; the City page applies it to hand watering as well. Bylaw 0274 s. 11.4 controls. Other exemptions may be allowed by the General Manager of Operations (City page).)
  - Source: [Water Regulation Bylaw No. 0274 (consolidated), ss. 11.2.1 f), 11.4](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/media/fvebag4q/0274-water-regulation-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Hand watering of all landscape plant materials and vegetable plantings, excluding" … "lawns, is permitted, except in Stage 4." … "a) Agricultural; b) Fire Use Protection; c) Sports Fields; d) Cemeteries; e) Spray Parks;"
  - Source: [Outdoor Watering Regulations, General outdoor watering regulations](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/city-services/water/outdoor-watering-regulations/)
  - Official wording: "Hand watering of gardens, planters, plants, shrubs and trees, excluding lawns, is permitted on any, except from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., as needed, except during Stage 4."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **New lawns:** New lawns and landscaping may be watered during installation and for 14 consecutive days after. No sprinkling 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on any day, and none in Stage 4.
  - Source: [Water Regulation Bylaw No. 0274 (consolidated), s. 11.3](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/media/fvebag4q/0274-water-regulation-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "New lawns and landscaping may be watered during installation and for a period of 14" … "is permitted between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on any day, or during a"
  - Source: [Outdoor Watering Regulations, Exemptions](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/city-services/water/outdoor-watering-regulations/)
  - Official wording: "New lawns and landscaping may be watered during installation and for a period of 14 consecutive days immediately following installation."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice, sprinkling stage breach: Stage 1 $25 first, $50 second; Stage 2 $50, $100; Stage 3 $100, $200; Stage 4 $200, $400; continuing offence $500 a day. Pool filling or vehicle washing in Stage 3: $100. Other breaches of Part 11: bylaw notice $500, municipal ticket $1,000.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 0093 (consolidated), Bylaw 0093, Schedule 9](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/n4hdhy3i/b0093-bylaw-dispute-adjudication-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "11.2.2 a) Stage 1 restriction violation - first offence $ 25.00" … "11.2.2 a) Stage 1 restriction violation - second offence $ 50.00" … "11.2.2 b) Stage 2 restriction violation - first offence $ 50.00" … "11.2.2 c) Stage 3 restriction violation - first offence $ 100.00" … "11.2.2 d) Stage 4 restriction violation - first offence $ 200.00" … "11.2.2 d) Stage 4 restriction violation - second offence $ 400.00" … "Fill pool, hot tub, pond, fountain $ 100.00" … "11.2.1 d) Use more than one outlet at one time $ 25.00" … "Use water contrary to Bylaw $ 500.00" … "11.5 Use water contrary to Bylaw $ 500.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 0095 (consolidated), Bylaw 0095, Schedule 9](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/dz1mghbc/b0095-municipal-ticket-information-utilization-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "11.5 Use water contrary to Bylaw $ 1,000.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of West Kelowna Water Regulation Bylaw No. 274, 2021 (Part 11, Outdoor Water Usage Regulations).
  - Source: [Water Regulation Bylaw No. 0274 (consolidated), s. 1](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/media/fvebag4q/0274-water-regulation-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "City of West Kelowna Water Regulation Bylaw" … "No. 274, 2021."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of West Kelowna sets four watering stages in [Water Regulation Bylaw No. 0274](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/media/fvebag4q/0274-water-regulation-bylaw-consolidated.pdf), Part 11. Stage 1 is in effect all year unless Stage 2, 3 or 4 is declared. The Director decides when each stage starts and gives notice to users. The stages apply to all properties in the City except exempt users. The current stage changes, so check the City's Outdoor Watering Regulations page.

## Steps

1. Check the current stage on the City's Outdoor Watering Regulations page.
2. Water on your allowed days:
   - Stage 1: even addresses on even dates, odd addresses on odd dates
   - Stage 2: even addresses Saturday and Tuesday; odd Sunday and Wednesday
   - Stage 3: even addresses Saturday; odd Sunday
   - Stage 4: no watering
3. Never sprinkle from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Automatic systems: midnight to 6 a.m. Manual sprinklers: midnight to 11 a.m. or 6 p.m. to midnight. Use one outlet at a time and no open hose.

## Good to know

- Hand watering of garden plants, shrubs, trees and vegetable plantings is allowed, but not lawns, and not in Stage 4. The City page also bans hand watering from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; the bylaw applies that ban to sprinkling only. Confirm with Bylaw Compliance.
- New lawns and landscaping may be watered during installation and for 14 consecutive days after, but not from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and not in Stage 4.
- Exempt users: agriculture, fire protection, sports fields, cemeteries, spray parks, and some exterior building cleaning.
- Fines (bylaw notice, first and second offence): Stage 1 $25, $50; Stage 2 $50, $100; Stage 3 $100, $200; Stage 4 $200, $400; a continuing offence is $500 a day. Pool filling or vehicle washing in Stage 3 is $100. Other breaches of Part 11 are $500 as a bylaw notice and $1,000 as a municipal ticket.
- To report overuse, call Bylaw Compliance at 778-797-8810.

## Official forms and pages

- [Water Regulation Bylaw No. 0274 (consolidated PDF)](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/media/fvebag4q/0274-water-regulation-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)

## The same question elsewhere

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

## Sources

- [Outdoor Watering Regulations, City of West Kelowna](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/city-services/water/outdoor-watering-regulations/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Water Regulation Bylaw No. 0274 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/media/fvebag4q/0274-water-regulation-bylaw-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 0093 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/n4hdhy3i/b0093-bylaw-dispute-adjudication-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 0095 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/dz1mghbc/b0095-municipal-ticket-information-utilization-consolidated.pdf) (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 West Kelowna. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/water-restrictions/_