British Columbia Water Restrictions 2026
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By Fiona MacLeod · Western Canada Water Editor
Every major population centre in southern British Columbia is under mandatory watering restrictions in 2026, but no two are under the same ones. Metro Vancouver opened the season at Stage 2 for the first time in its history, escalated to Stage 3 in June and stepped back to Stage 2 on July 16. Greater Vernon is at Stage 3 and asking farmers for a 70% cut. Kamloops declared Drought Level 4 on July 20. Victoria, alone among them, is still at a routine Stage 1 with its reservoir near capacity.
Drought Level 4 on the South Thompson; Okanagan basins at or near record lows — Snowpack finished the 2026 season well below normal across southern B.C. — roughly 65% of average in the Okanagan Basin and 55% of normal in the South Thompson.
Conditions are tracked by the Canadian Drought Monitor (AAFC) and the B.C. Drought Information Portal, which rates basins on a 0–5 scale.
Who sets water restrictions in British Columbia
Nobody in Victoria decides whether you can water your lawn. In British Columbia, watering restrictions are set by municipalities and regional districts, each of which runs its own staged conservation plan under its own bylaw. The Province sets drought policy, monitors basin conditions and issues water licences under the Water Sustainability Act, but the ticket for watering on the wrong day comes from a local bylaw officer.
This produces the single most important thing to understand about restrictions in this province: the stage numbers are not comparable between cities. Stage 2 in Metro Vancouver bans lawn watering outright. Stage 2 in Penticton gives you two watering days a week. Stage 2 in Kelowna gives you assigned days with three separate permitted windows depending on how you water. Same number, three completely different rules.
The 2026 season across the province
Southern British Columbia entered 2026 with a poor snowpack, and every major population centre outside Greater Victoria has escalated at least once since May.
| Region | Current status | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| Metro Vancouver | Stage 2 since July 16 | Opened the season at Stage 2 on May 1 — a first — then went to Stage 3 on June 8 |
| Greater Vernon | Stage 3 since June 4 | 50% total-use reduction asked of all customers; 70% of farms |
| Kamloops | Drought Level 4 since July 20 | Lawn watering cut to one day a week, hand watering included |
| Kelowna | Stage 2 since June 4 | Okanagan Lake at a record low for the date |
| Penticton | Stage 2 since May 1 | Skipped Stage 1 entirely over early drought concerns |
| Greater Victoria | Stage 1, May 1 – Sept 30 | Reservoir near capacity; CRD does not expect to need Stage 2 |
Two drought scales, neither of which restricts anything
British Columbia rates each of its water basins on a 0 to 5 scale through the provincial drought information portal, describing the likelihood of adverse impacts to communities and ecosystems. Level 4 means adverse impacts are likely; Level 5 means they are near certain, and at that point the Province can temporarily suspend water licences to protect stream flows.
Separately, the Canadian Drought Monitor, run by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, maps national conditions monthly on a D0–D4 scale.
Neither triggers a municipal restriction automatically. They are inputs that utilities weigh alongside their own storage, demand and infrastructure. Kamloops aligns closely to the provincial rating for the South Thompson; Metro Vancouver's 2026 escalation was driven as much by a supply tunnel being out of service as by rainfall. If you want to predict what your utility will do next, watch its reservoir and its capital works, not just the drought map.
What restrictions mean for strata owners
British Columbia gives strata owners clearer protection than any other province. A strata corporation cannot enforce a bylaw that conflicts with an active municipal water restriction, and generally cannot penalise an owner for a lawn left dormant in order to comply while restrictions are in effect. Strata bylaws rank below municipal bylaws, and Strata disputes in British Columbia are handled by the Civil Resolution Tribunal.
If your strata council issues a lawn-appearance notice during restrictions, reply in writing citing the active stage, and ask the council to confirm which lawful watering method it expects you to use. Most notices are withdrawn at that point.
General information only, not legal advice. Strata disputes in British Columbia are handled by the Civil Resolution Tribunal.
Every British Columbia city we track
Emergency
- Vernon— Stage 3 — Greater Vernon Water, no lawn watering, No lawn watering at any hour
Mandatory
- Burnaby— Stage 2 — Metro Vancouver, no lawn watering, Sprinklers 5–9 a.m. (non-lawn only)
- Kamloops— Drought Level 4 — City of Kamloops, 1 day/week
- Kelowna— Stage 2 — City of Kelowna, Automatic 12–6 a.m.; manual 6–10 a.m. or 7 p.m.–12 a.m.
- Penticton— Stage 2 — City of Penticton, 2 days/week, Automatic 12–6 a.m.; manual 6–10 a.m. & 6–10 p.m.
- Richmond— Stage 2 — Metro Vancouver, no lawn watering, Sprinklers 5–9 a.m. (non-lawn only)
- Surrey— Stage 2 — Metro Vancouver, no lawn watering, Sprinklers 5–9 a.m. (non-lawn only)
- Vancouver— Stage 2 — Metro Vancouver, no lawn watering, Sprinklers 5–9 a.m. (non-lawn only)
- Victoria— Stage 1 — Capital Regional District, 7–10 a.m. or 7–10 p.m., max 2 hours
Other provinces
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