Subdivisions | City of West Kelowna

Subdivisions are the division of land into two or more parcels. This may include a basic property line adjustment, but not the consolidation of two or more lots.

A subdivision is the process of altering legal property boundaries. It often involves the dividing of a single lot into two or more smaller plots of land, but can take many forms. Subdivisions, excluding those that are only the consolidation of lots on the same legal plan, must be approved by the City of West Kelowna Approving Officer prior to registration with the Land Title Office.

Getting started

Before submitting any application, please contact Development Services (dev.services@westkelownacity.ca) to schedule a pre-application meeting with staff.

A pre-application meeting with Development Services staff is required before submitting a subdivision application. This meeting allows staff to discuss application details and for applicants to bring any preliminary plans, discuss the proposal, and identify the required submission materials and any additional applications, such as a Zoning Amendment or Development Permit, which may be submitted concurrently with the subdivision application.

Development engineering staff work closely with applicants to ensure projects and proposed subdivisions:

Meet high standards that make our community a desired place to live.
Complement the surroundings that we all enjoy.
Meet bylaw and policy guidelines for development.

Please contact us to become familiar with the process and share proposal ideas prior to application.

Staff will review applications carefully to ensure that the proposal covers:

City subdivision requirements.
Development guidelines.
Development cost charges.

Development Engineering

Development Engineering reviews details to ensure they meet our bylaw requirements and best engineering practices; these include:

Curbs and gutters
Hillside development
Roads
Sewer capacity
Sidewalks
Storm sewer facilities
Street lights
Subdivision layout
Traffic capacity
Water capacity

Resources

Visit our Planning and Building webpages:

Bulletins

Subdivision applications

Subdivisions vary in complexity. To save time and prevent duplicate work, please share your ideas with us early. We will help you select the correct application and gather the details needed for a successful approval.

You can also:

View the subdivision application form to understand typical application requirements.
Read the Works and Services Bylaw to know what must be provided in and around subdivisions and design guidelines and construction standards for infrastructure.
Become familiar with development cost charges (DCCs) and the DCC Bylaw.
Know what other fees and charges may apply during the process from the Fees and Charges Bylaw.
View the Road and Right of Way Usage Permit page.

Applications and Checklists

The following applications and checklists are commonly used for subdivision applications.

Development Cost Charges

Development Cost Charges (DCCs) on new development help cover growth-related costs and co-invest in new or enhanced infrastructure and parkland acquisition.

DCCs are levied per lot, per dwelling unit, or per square meter of new development, for services such as drainage, parks, roads, sewer and water.

Learn more

DCC exemptions

Not all developments are subject to DCCs. The following are exempt from these charges per Sections 561 and 563 of the Local Government Act:

If a Development Cost Charge has previously paid for the same development.
Developments that do not impose any capital cost burdens on the municipality.
Where the building permit authorizes work that is not subject to taxation under Sections 220(1)(h) and 224(2)(f) of the Community Charter.
The overall value of the building permit work does not exceed $75,000.
Units are smaller than 29 square metres in size.
The work is classified as an eligible development in the DCC bylaw such as affordable rental housing for example.
Additional work to an existing development that does not impose any additional capital cost burdens on the municipality.

About the growth and DCC relationship

People love it here. West Kelowna's character, natural assets and amenities make it a place where people want to live, work and play and these drive demand for housing and related jobs, economic growth, and social and community well-being.

New construction requires new or enhanced infrastructure and additional services. Development cost charges are a co-investment strategy to account for new, expanded or enhanced drainage, parks, roads and sidewalks, sewers and water infrastructure that come with growth.

DCCs are integrated in the Official Community Plan, Development Cost Charges Bylaw, and the 20-year DCC Plan, which outlines the major infrastructure improvements for water distribution and treatment, wastewater pipes, major transportation corridors and parkland improvements and acquisitions.