Fire hydrants in Calgary

The City is responsible for more than 16 000 fire hydrants throughout Calgary (those on located on public land). We respond to hydrants that have been damaged or need repairs, and in partnership with the Calgary Fire Department, we conduct hydrant inspections and flow tests biannually (Spring and Fall). Fire hydrants are critical for fire prevention and suppression efforts, and importantly, keeping Calgarians safe.

While the primary function of a hydrant is fire protection, they can also be used for other purposes such as;

• Water main flushing to help maintain water quality
• Industrial purposes

Parking and clearance for fire hydrants

• When parking your car, do not park within five metres of a fire hydrant.
• When planting hedges or trees, or building fences, please note the fire hydrant requires two metre clearance on each side of the hydrant and one metre clearance from the side facing away from the street.
• Learn more at Bylaws related to fire hydrants.

Please contact 311 should you have any questions or concerns regarding any of the following:

• Painting private hydrants
• Obstruction of hydrants
• Report theft of water from a City-owned fire hydrant

Other hydrant regulations can be found in section 41 of the Water Utility Bylaw.

Hydrants are connected to our drinking water system via underground pipes. They typically have a flange at ground level to ensure stability and structural integrity. The majority of Calgary’s hydrants are painted yellow signifying that they drain. Hydrants that are painted red don’t drain on their own.

To open the map in a new browser, visit Calgary Water Hydrant Locations.