Subdivisions

Development Engineering staff work closely with applicants to ensure projects and proposed subdivisions meet high standards, complement their surroundings and meet guidelines contained in bylaws and policies related to development in the City of West Kelowna.

Applicants are welcome to contact staff at any time to better understand the process as it relates to a project proposal, subdivision requirements and/or development guidelines and obtain the correct application form(s).

Staff will review applications carefully to ensure that the proposal meets all requirements prior to any development.

Development Engineering

Development Engineering services may include, but are not limited to:

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

Planning and Development

Visit our other Planning and Building webpages:

Bulletins

Subdivision Applications

Subdivisions are the division of land into two or more parcels. This includes a basic lot line adjustment, but not a consolidation of two or more lots. Please see our subdivision application form to get an understanding of typical application requirements. The complexity of subdivision applications can vary in which we ask for you to discuss your ideas with City staff prior to submitting an application.

As part of any subdivision application, the City collects Development Cost Charges (DCCs) from land developers. This money is collected to help the City finance capital projects including sewage, water, drainage, roads and improving parkland. The Development Cost Charges Bylaw outlines when DCCs are collected. Other fees and charges that may apply during the subdivision process can be found the in the City's Fees and Charges Bylaw, please click here for a summary of recently updated fees and charges.

The City's Works and Services Bylaw establishes what will be required to be provided within and adjacent to a subdivision. The Bylaw also outlines design guidelines and construction standards for infrastructure.

Applications and Checklists

The following applications and checklists are commonly used by the Development Engineering Department on subdivision related applications.

Development Cost Charges

The City levies Development Cost Charges (DCCs) on new development to help finance the cost of providing new or upgrading existing infrastructure, as well as the acquisition of new parkland. DCCs are imposed on subdivision approvals that create single family residential lots. They are also applicable to building permit applications for carriage homes, multi-family residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial development where the value of work exceeds $75,000. Municipalities have the authority to collect DCCs as per Section 559 of the Local Government Act.

DCC fees are levied per lot, per dwelling unit, or per square meter of new development, for services such as drainage, parks, roads, sewer and water, are established under the City of West Kelowna's Development Cost Charge Bylaw No. 0190.

DCC 2022 Update Complete

West Kelowna is growing and with growth comes the demand for infrastructure that serves our community.

Costs to service areas with roads, drainage, sanitary sewer, water and parkland are in part funded through Development Costs Charges (DCCs). This provides a mechanism to support infrastructure projects and reduce the taxation burden.

DCCs are a method to fund infrastructure associated with growth. Funds are collected from land developers to offset some of the infrastructure expenditures incurred to service new development needs. These DCCs are imposed by bylaw following the Local Government Act as a method to finance capital projects.

Council adopted the most recent bylaw at the Aug. 23, 2022 Regular Council Meeting:

In 2022, we completed a comprehensive update of the Development Cost Charges. Learn more about the process at OurWK.ca/dccupdate.

Exemptions to DCCs

Not all development is 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 s. 220(1)(h) and s. 224(2)(f) of the Community Charter
The overall value of the building permit work does not exceed $75,000
Units that are smaller than 29m2 in size
The work is classified as an 'eligible development' in the municipality's DCC bylaw (i.e. affordable rental housing)
Additional work to an existing development that does not impose any additional capital cost burdens on the municipality

Growth for the City of West Kelowna

Growth benefits the community, its economy as well as creates the demand for the construction of new infrastructure and the expansion of existing local services. The DCC monies received are used to finance capital projects related to new roads, drainage, sewers, water mains as well as for maintaining and adding new parks within the City of West Kelowna.

DCC's are integrated with the Official Community Plan (OCP), Development Cost Charges Bylaw 0190.02, and the 20 year DCC Plan, which outlines the major infrastructure improvements for water distribution, wastewater trunks and treatment, major roads and parkland acquisitions for accommodating the City's growth.