Watering Regulations

Outdoor Water Usage Regulations apply to all properties within the City of West Kelowna (except exempt users). Stage 1 watering regulations are continuously in effect throughout the year, except when any of Stages 2, 3, or 4 are in effect.

• Sprinkling is not permitted between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. during any day, due to increased evaporation during these times.

Only one outlet (outside tap) may be used at one time for sprinkling.

Using an open pipe or hose for irrigating purposes is prohibited.

Hand watering of all landscape plant materials and vegetable plantings, excluding lawns, is permitted, except in Stage 4.

Properties that have both unit numbers and street numbers will adhere to the following guidelines:

• Units that have control of their own irrigation systems may water based on their unit number.
• Common areas within a complex may water on the days that correspond with the street number of the complex.
• Large properties and large strata properties (more than one acre in size) may split their common area watering between odd and even days due to the large area they cover.

Stage 1

Sprinkling is only permitted as follows:

• Even numbered addresses on even calendar days
• Odd numbered addresses on odd calendar days

Automatically controlled sprinkling systems:

• Properties equipped with an automated time clock sprinkler system may only sprinkle between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m. on the days permitted.

Manually controlled sprinklers:

• Properties equipped with manually controlled sprinkling systems, including those attached to outside taps, may only operate between midnight to 11:00 a.m. or between 6:00 p.m. to midnight on the days permitted.

Stage 2 

Sprinkling is only permitted as follows:

• Even numbered addresses on Saturdays and Tuesdays
• Odd numbered addresses on Sundays and Wednesdays

Automatically controlled sprinkling systems:

• Properties equipped with an automated time clock sprinkler system may only sprinkle between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m. on the days permitted.

Manually controlled sprinklers:

• Properties equipped with only manually controlled sprinkling watering systems, including those attached to outside taps, may only operate between midnight to 11:00 a.m. or between 6:00 p.m. to midnight on the days permitted.

Stage 3

Sprinkling is only permitted as follows:

• Even numbered addresses on Saturdays
• Odd numbered addresses on Sundays

Automatically controlled sprinkling systems:

• Properties equipped with an automated time clock sprinkler system may only sprinkle between midnight and 6:00 a.m. on the day permitted.

Manually controlled sprinklers:

• Properties equipped with only manually controlled sprinkling systems, including those attached to outside taps, may only operate between midnight to 11:00 a.m. or between 6:00 p.m. to midnight on the day permitted.

Also prohibited are:

• Filling a swimming pool, hot tub, garden pond, or decorative fountain at any time
• Washing a vehicle, driveway and/or sidewalk.

Stage 4

• No watering is permitted outdoors for any purpose.

Water conservation tips

Learn more at:

• Make Water Work
• Okanagan Water Basin

To report sprinkling/watering violations, please call Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement at 778-797-8810.

• Summer hours are 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. seven days per week from May long weekend through September.
• Regular business hours are 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding holidays, for the remainder of the year.

Water Regulation Bylaw - exemptions

New lawns and landscaping

New lawns and landscaping may be watered during installation and for a period of 14 consecutive days immediately following installation.

• However, sprinkling is not permitted between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on any day, or during a Stage 4 water restriction.

Exempt users

The Outdoor Water Usage Regulations shall not apply to persons who own, operate, or carry on the following operations or activities that rely on the use of water:

• Agricultural
• Fire use protection
• Sports fields
• Cemeteries
• Spray parks
• Washing exterior building surfaces including windows, prior to the application of a product such as paint, preservative, stucco or preparation of a surface prior to paving or repainting of bricks or if required by law, to comply with health and safety regulations.

Other exemptions may apply at the discretion of the Director of Engineering and Operations. Please contact us for more information.