Kirkland, WA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Kirkland, WA, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- KMC 15.16.040
- Trigger
- Declared water shortage
- Who can restrict
- Director of public works
- Restricted uses
- Irrigation, cooling, other uses
- Penalty
- Per-day surcharge, KMC 5.74.040 rate
- Exceptions
- New sod/seed, hardship, safety, per KMC 15.16.042
Summary
During a declared water shortage, Kirkland's public works director can forbid, restrict, or ration irrigation and other water uses citywide or for specific customer classes under KMC 15.16.040. Violators face daily surcharges and, on repeat offenses, a flow restrictor or shutoff.
In case of shortage of water, the department of public works is authorized to impose water use restrictions in order to efficiently safeguard the safety and health of the general public or to provide for the public convenience. The use of water for irrigation, cooling, or other uses may be forbidden, restricted, or regulated and such regulations may be made effective as to all customers or as to particular classes of customers. Rationing may be imposed during any shortage of water, either in lieu of or in addition to other measures hereby authorized.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4945, passed July 21, 2026).
Full Breakdown
040 authorizes the Department of Public Works to impose water use restrictions whenever a shortage arises, in order to safeguard public safety and health or serve public convenience. The director can forbid, restrict, or regulate irrigation, cooling, or other water uses, and can apply those rules to all customers or to particular classes of customers; rationing can be layered on top of or instead of other restrictions. 042 requires the director to run public education on conservation and lets the director grant case-by-case exceptions, such as watering newly seeded or sodded lawns, avoiding unnecessary economic hardship to commercial or industrial operations, or preventing damage to health, safety, or welfare.
040, added directly to the customer's water bill on top of normal service rates. Before that surcharge hits, the public works department must first send written notice to the service address flagging the excess usage and warning that further violations can trigger a surcharge. 047 extends enforcement authority to city police officers plus staff from public works, fire, and planning and building, and lets the director install a water-restricting device after a second or later violation, or cut off service entirely for continuing noncompliance, following reasonable notice.
Violations & Fines
A first documented violation of active irrigation restrictions draws a written notice to the service address; further violations trigger a per-day surcharge under KMC 15.16.045 at the rate set in KMC 5.74.040, billed with the regular water charges. Repeat or continuing violations let the director of public works install a flow-restricting device or terminate water service under KMC 15.16.047.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Kirkland ban lawn watering during a water shortage?
Are there exceptions to Kirkland's irrigation restrictions?
What is the penalty for watering during a Kirkland water shortage restriction?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kirkland
How Kirkland compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Kirkland to another location·View the Washington landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle water restrictions.