Applications

Types of development applications

Property development is the development of any property within the City of West Kelowna. This may include something as small as a detached garage or as large as a multi-family residential building. As part of some property development, applications to the City may be required. In order to help you determine if an application is required, you may wish to contact development services or use our interactive mapping software WestMap to determine if you are in a Development Permit Area. If required, you can use our development application form to get an understanding of typical application requirements.

Please browse through the drop-down menu below to learn more about development permits, variances, and zoning bylaw amendment applications, to name just a few.

Development Permit

If your property is located in a Development Permit Area (DPA), you must get a permit before you can subdivide, build or alter buildings. You can look up your property on our online mapping system or contact the Planning Department to determine if you are in a DPA.

If a Development Permit is required, we check your application against the guidelines of the Development Permit Area for your property as outlined in the Official Community Plan (OCP) and for compliance with other City regulations including our Zoning Bylaw.

In general, a Development Permit is required for:

Most new developments including industrial, commercial, institutional, and multi-family (two or more dwelling units);
A new development when the property is located within a Development Permit Area designated in the Official Community Plan;
Development within environmentally-sensitive and riparian (waterfront) areas;
Changes to an existing Development Permit, except specified exterior modifications in permitted areas.

Development Variance Permit

Development Variance Permits (DVP) alter provisions of City bylaws, including the Zoning Bylaw, Works and Services Bylaw, and other bylaws. Design, servicing and siting requirements such as a building's setback from the property line, height of a building or where a building can be located on a lot are a few examples that can be part of a DVP.

Temporary Use Permit

A Temporary Use Permit (TUP) is granted for a period of up to three years to allow a use in a specific zone that is not a current permitted use. The TUP may outline the use, conditions and regulate the construction of buildings or structures. These permits permit use in a controlled manner, while trying to mitigate any possible impacts before considering longer-term solutions such as a Zoning Bylaw amendment.

Zoning Bylaw Amendment

A Zoning Bylaw Amendment, or rezoning, is a land-use amendment to the Zoning Bylaw. The process of rezoning allows Council to analyze the potential impacts that land-use changes and development may have on the community now and in the future, as envisioned in the Official Community Plan.

The rezoning process involves legally changing the zone and the associated land uses of a property. A zoning bylaw amendment can change the zoning of a property (or properties) from one designation to another or create a site-specific comprehensive development zone for complex developments.

If the rezoning application is consistent with the policies outlined in the OCP, it can proceed through the process without an OCP Amendment. If the rezoning application is not consistent with the OCP, it and the OCP Amendment application are processed concurrently through similar processes.

Official Community Plan Amendment

The Official Community Plan (OCP) outlines strategies for directing growth and development in the City. Developed through extensive community consultation, the OCP is the community's collective vision for the City. It outlines Council's policy direction for land use, servicing and the form and character of development within specific areas of the City. In order to change any of the policies outlined in the OCP, in other words, to change the vision approved by Council, an OCP Amendment is required.

Subdivision

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. The complexity of subdivision applications can vary, and the City requires that before submitting a subdivision application you contact the City and discuss your ideas.

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.

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.

Other applications

Floodplain Exemption Permit

The Province of BC has established floodplain elevation setbacks from streams and lakes.

City of West Kelowna Zoning Bylaw reflects those floodplain regulations. The regulations are in the form of setbacks and required construction elevations for various types of construction.

Occasionally there are circumstances where a property owner determines that a building cannot be sited on a property in conformance with the floodplain regulations. An exemption application allows for the consideration of granting an exemption that would change those specific regulations for a given property.

Land Use Contract Amendment

During the late 1970's and early 1980's the Provincial “Municipal Act” permitted the local government to enter into agreements with property owners specifying site-specific land uses and conditions of development. These agreements are called Land Use Contracts (LUCs). Although new LUCs are no longer permitted under provincial legislation, there are some still in effect. In some instances these LUCs conflict with the underlying zoning in place and in these instances a property apply to have the LUC discharged.

Liquor Licence

The B.C. Government's Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) is the body responsible for issuing liquor licences*, with the support of Municipalities. Each licence class has its own eligibility requirements and its own licence terms and conditions, outlined in the Liquor Control and Licensing Act and Regulations.

The City of West Kelowna does not issue liquor licences, but provides local government input regarding zoning, building and other city regulations as part of the LCLB review process. Some licence types may require a public consultation process and Council resolution before final LCLB approval.

Agricultural Land Commission Applications (Non-farm use, ALR Inclusion, etc.)

If your property is located within the Agriculture Land Reserve and you wish to do any of the following, you must make an application to the Agriculture Land Commission. Types of applications considered by the ALC include:

Exclude land from the ALR,
Include land in the ALR,
Subdivide land in the ALR; or
Use land in the ALR for non-farm purposes.

Your completed application is submitted to the Planning Department for review and consideration by our Agriculture Planning Committee and Council. If Council supports the application, the City will forward your application to the Agricultural Land Commission for their review.

Please visit the Agriculture Land Commission website for more information and to apply for your application.

Front Counter BC (Crown Land Tenure Applications, Private Moorage etc.)

Applications for the use, lease or sale of Crown Land within the City of West Kelowna are made to:

FrontCounter BC

Phone 1-877-855-3222 FrontCounterBC@gov.bc.ca

www.frontcounterbc.gov.bc.ca

FrontCounter BC refers applications to the City and other agencies that have policies and regulations that apply to the application. The City responds with comments and recommendations.

Managing the process

No matter the development, the process will take time. How much time depends on various factors including size, complexity and whether or not it meets the requirements outlined in existing bylaws or if amendments or variances are required.

Smaller, more basic projects that fit Official Community Plan (OCP) and/or Zoning Bylaw requirements may be a few weeks or even a couple of months. Developments that require OCP or Zoning Bylaw amendments and need Council input, public hearings and adoption will take several months. For more information on the process, please refer to the Development Applications Procedures Bylaw.

Applicants begin any proposed development process by first meeting for a pre-application meeting before submitting a formal application.

Helpful information and related links

As part of any application, it may be useful to refer to the following links for additional information:

Bylaws for Development Services

CityView Portal

Building Department