Kingston Watering Rules and Your Lawn: Days, Hours and Permits

In Kingston, watering rules apply every year from June 15 to September 15. If your address ends in an odd number, you water on odd dates. If it ends in an even number, you water on even dates. Sprinklers can only run from 5 to 10 a.m. on your day. A hand-held hose, can or bucket is fine any time on your day. Outside those dates, the standard rules don't apply.

What are Kingston's watering restrictions?

The rules come from the City's Water By-law, number 2006-122. It was passed in 2006 and last amended in 2021. Utilities Kingston runs the water system and enforces the outdoor rules.

Here's the short version for a home lawn:

• When: June 15 to September 15, every year.
• Which days: addresses ending in 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 water on odd dates. Addresses ending in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8 water on even dates.
• Sprinklers: only from 5 to 10 a.m. on your day.
• Hand watering: a hose you hold, a watering can or a bucket is fine any time on your day.
• Where: every part of the City served by City water.

The by-law calls this "external use of water." That means any water used outside the walls of your home. So it covers more than lawns. Washing the car or filling a kiddie pool from the outdoor tap counts too.

The City says the rules exist because warm weather pushes up demand. That puts low reserves at risk. It also cuts into the water the system needs to fight fires.

Are there watering rules in Kingston in October?

Not the standard ones. The odd and even schedule ended on September 15. From now until June 15 next year, the date and hour limits don't apply.

There's one catch. The by-law lets Utilities Kingston add extra rules at any time. It can cut the hours further. It can also ban outdoor watering completely. If it does, it has to post notice in a local newspaper on three days in a row. The City says it also shares those notices on social media.

In the fall, most Kingston lawns don't need a hose anyway. Cooler nights and fall rain do most of the work. The average first fall frost at the Kingston Pumping Station is October 12, based on Environment and Climate Change Canada normals.

How does the odd and even schedule work in summer?

Look at the last digit of your street number. That's all that counts. Then match it to the date on the calendar.

Your address ends in	You water on	Sprinkler hours
1, 3, 5, 7 or 9	Odd dates (1st, 3rd, 5th ...)	5 to 10 a.m.
0, 2, 4, 6 or 8	Even dates (2nd, 4th, 6th ...)	5 to 10 a.m.

Watch the end of July and August. July 31 and August 1 are both odd dates. So are August 31 and September 1. Odd addresses get two days in a row. Even addresses wait from July 30 to August 2, and again from August 30 to September 2.

If a hot spell hits then, give the lawn a good soak on the last even day before the gap.

How much water does a Kingston lawn need?

Less than most people think. The City says a lawn needs about 3 cm (about 1 1/4 inches) of water a week. A standard sprinkler gives that in about an hour.

That fits the rules well. You only need one good morning soak on one of your days, plus whatever rain falls. You don't need to water on every allowed day.

The City also says to water early in the morning. Less water is lost to the sun, and the grass dries off during the day. That lowers the chance of disease. The 5 to 10 a.m. sprinkler window lines up with that advice.

A quick way to check: set an empty tuna can on the lawn before you water. When it's about 3 cm deep, you're done for the week.

Why do some Kingston lawns dry out so fast?

Kingston is the Limestone City, and that goes for the ground too. A federal soil survey of Frontenac County found a thin layer of soil over limestone across much of the old Kingston Township. Some spots had only 4 inches (10 cm) of soil. The survey said even 12 inches (30 cm) doesn't hold enough moisture.

Utilities Kingston says a lawn should grow on about 30 cm (1 foot) of soil that holds water. Many yards here have less. Thin spots over rock brown out first in July. Watering those spots more won't fix the soil depth. It just runs off or drains away.

Is a brown lawn in August dead?

Usually not. Utilities Kingston says grass that goes brown in a dry spell isn't dead or dying. It's dormant. It's resting until rain comes back.

You can let it go dormant and skip the sprinkler. Or you can keep it green with one soak a week on your day. Just don't switch back and forth. Waking a lawn up and letting it go brown again is hard on it. Our post on dormant brown lawns explains what to expect.

Does mowing change how much you need to water?

Yes. Utilities Kingston gives two simple mowing rules:

• Cut your grass 6 to 7.5 cm (2.5 to 3 inches) tall.
• Never cut off more than one third of the height at once.

Taller grass shades the soil, so it holds water longer. A lawn scalped short in July dries out fast and goes brown sooner. In a dry stretch, a good crew raises the deck and stays off a lawn that isn't growing.

A steady schedule keeps you inside the one-third rule. Our FAQ on how often to mow in Canada has more. Our partner crews do lawn mowing at a steady height all season, with trimming along walks and fences.

Can you get a permit to water more?

Sometimes. Utilities Kingston can issue an exemption permit. It costs a set fee per property, and you apply in writing. Here's what it covers:

• New sod, seed or hydroseed: a sprinkler from 5 to 10 a.m. for seven days in a row.
• New trees or shrubs: a hand-held hose from 5 to 10 a.m. for seven days in a row.
• Hardship: if following the rules would cause damage you can't undo, or real hardship, watering from 5 to 10 a.m. for up to seven days. Up to two more seven-day extensions are possible in a year, each with its own fee.

A few limits apply. You can only get one exemption permit per property per year. You have to post it where people can see it on your property. The City says permits aren't for existing lawns, trees or shrubs, except in those damage or hardship cases.

Plan new sod or seed for spring or fall, before June 15 or after September 15. Then the standard schedule doesn't limit you at all.

Do the rules cover wells and rain barrels?

No. The by-law says anyone may use water from a source other than the City system outdoors. That includes a private well or a rain barrel.

A rain barrel is handy in Kingston for beds and pots on your off days. It's free water and it's not on the clock.

What should a Kingston lawn get this fall?

Keep mowing while the grass grows, at the same 6 to 7.5 cm height. Get the leaves off before they mat down. The City's 2026 leaf collection starts on October 26. Our Kingston yard waste guide covers bags, zones and drop-off.

Want more about lawns in town, like the 20 cm long grass rule? Our Kingston lawn care page has it, and the Ontario page lists nearby cities.

Who can take care of your Kingston lawn?

Golden Oak Lawn Care matches you with a vetted, insured local crew in Kingston. They do the work. We stand behind it with the Golden Oak Guarantee.

With the Worry-Free Lawn Season, the same crew comes every visit. Your crew texts you a photo after every cut. The season is paid up front, and you can pause by text when you're away. Your first cut is free when you book the season.

Want it handled? Get your price in 60 minutes, or call 1-866-904-LAWN.

Kingston Watering Rules Questions

Rules change, so check with the City before you plan. Sources: Water By-law 2006-122, City of Kingston, watering restrictions, Utilities Kingston, lawn tips, Soil Survey of Frontenac County, ECCC climate normals, City of Kingston, 2026 leaf pickup.