New anti-idling bylaw starts in Kelowna

A new anti-idling bylaw has taken effect in Kelowna but motorists are being given a grace period before there is any enforcement.

Residents and visitors are no longer permitted to idle for more than one minute while within City of Kelowna boundaries, which took effect on July 25, 2022.

Kelowna is joining 30 other B.C. municipalities with similiar measures to reduce unnecessary idling and improve air quality.

The bylaw does not apply to motor vehicles stuck in traffic and several other exceptions.

The city said transportation is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within Kelowna. Vehicle emissions also directly contribute harmful emissions into the city’s air supply. Idling control is an action to reduce GHG emissions and improve air quality from the transportation sector.

“Poor air quality plays a vital role in our health and happiness — we’ve all experienced what poor air quality looks and feels like during wildfire season,” said Nancy Mora Castro, Regional Air Quality coordinator for the City of Kelowna. “We need to consider ways to encourage behaviour change around unnecessary idling. Having a bylaw that supports this, is one way to get drivers to think about their idling habits.”

While this program will embrace education-first principles, repeat offenders may incur fines up to $150 for each idling infraction, which is delivered through a complaint-based system much like the majority of the city’s bylaws. A six-month grace period and educational campaign will be the focus until January 21, 2023.

To find out more, visit Kelowna.ca/airquality.