Planning and Development

Current Planning:

• Reviews applications for proposed development projects.
• Conducts detailed analyses of how proposals fit Official Community Plan policies, applicable plans' objectives, and various bylaws' technical requirements.
• Communicates with key stakeholders throughout the development process, including the developer, their consultants, area residents and community associations.
• Implements Council-adopted land use and development bylaws and policies.

Long Range Planning:

• Forms long-term planning policies and strategies to guide future city growth.
• Guides major initiatives such as Official Community Plan updates, social and heritage planning, agricultural, food and environmental policies, building inventory, statistics and demographic and employment forecasting.

For current public engagement initiatives, please visit OurWK.ca.

Learn about our Housing Initiatives:

• Grow a Suite Grant Program
• Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF)
• Housing in our community
• Infill Housing
• Pre-reviewed designs
• Small-scale, multi-unit housing
• West Kelowna Builds

A Development Permit (DP) is required for:

• Most new developments including industrial, commercial, institutional, and multi-family (two or more dwelling units).
• Subdivision, construction, or alteration where a property contains a Development Permit Area (Hillside, Environmentally Sensitive (terrestrial), or Riparian (waterfront).

Development Permit Areas can be found on our WestMap viewer under the Planning tab of the Tax Parcel Information. To determine if an application is required, please contact us.

A Development Variance Permit (DVP) is required to:

• Alter provisions of City bylaws including Zoning and Works and Services.
• Some examples may include, but are not limited to, design, siting regulations, height restrictions, setbacks, and servicing.

The Community Development general manager may approve a minor development permit if it conforms to the Development Permit Guidelines of the Official Community Plan and does not meet Official Community Plan exemptions. Minor Development Permits are established for:

1. For Hillside, Aquatic Ecosystem, and Sensitive Terrestrial Ecosystem Development Permit Areas - 50 square metres or less of the development and/or site disturbance is situated within the designated Development Permit Area.
2. For Commercial, Industrial and Multiple Family and Intensive Residential Development Permit Areas – An addition/alteration to an existing building, provided that the new floor space does not exceed 200 square metres or 20 per cent of the existing gross floor, whichever is less.
3. Façade alterations on existing buildings.
4. Signage applications.

An amendment to the Official Community Plan (OCP) is required when a Zoning Bylaw Amendment Application is not consistent with the policies or land use designations as outlined in the OCP.

Development Application Form

Please send the completed application form and submittals to dev.services@westkelownacity.ca. Staff will review submittals and contact you to complete payment. Applicants are required to consult with a representative from the Planning Department before submitting a formal application to the City of West Kelowna.

Types of applications and permits through the Development Application Form:

• Official Community Plan Amendment 
• Development Permit
• Zoning Bylaw Amendment 
• Aquatic Ecosystem
• Temporary Use Permit / Renewal 
• Commercial
• Liquor License 
• Hillside
• Floodplain Exemption Permit
• Industrial
• Comprehensive Development Plan
• Multiple Family and Intensive Residential
• Development Variance Permit
• Sensitive Terrestrial Ecosystem
• Variance with Development Permit
• Wildfire Interface
• Minor Development Permit
• Westbank Urban Centre
• Amendment to Development Permit 
• Boucherie Urban Centre
• Neighbourhood Centre

Complete the Development Application Form

Agricultural Land Commission Application

An Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) application is required for properties designated as Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) to:

• Include ALR land.
• Subdivide ALR land.
• Use ALR land for non-farm purposes.

The application is submitted to the Planning Department for review and then Agricultural Planning Committee (APC) and Council considerations. If Council supports the application, it will be forwarded to the ALC for further review.

Visit the Agricultural Land Commission website for more information and to access the application form.

Floodplain Exemption Permit

The Zoning Bylaw includes floodplain regulations for construction elevations and setbacks from streams and lakes, as established by the Province of British Columbia.

An application for exemption may be required when the proposed property development cannot conform with floodplain regulations. The application process considers if an exemption should be granted to change regulations for the specified property.

Crown Land Tenure Application

Applications to request permission to use, lease, or sell Crown land in the City of West Kelowna can be made to:

FrontCounter BC

• Phone: 1-877-855-3222
• Email: frontcounterbc@gov.bc.ca
• Information: www.frontcounterbc.gov.bc.ca

FrontCounter BC refers applications the City of West Kelowna for comments and recommendations where policies and regulations are applicable.

Liquor Licence

• The B.C. Government's Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) issues liquor licences.
• The City of West Kelowna provides local government input regarding zoning, building, and city regulations as part of the LCLB review process.
• Eligibility requirements, licence terms and conditions are specific to the class of licence which are outlined in the Liquor Control and Licensing Act and Regulations.

A Temporary Use Permit (TUP) may be granted for a period of up to three years to allow for a use that is not currently permitted in a specific zone. The TUP may regulate the use, conditions, and construction of buildings or structures. This allows the use to be permitted in a controlled manner and to mitigate any possible impacts before considering long-term solutions including Zoning Bylaw amendments.

A Zoning Bylaw Amendment, Rezoning, or Site-Specific Text Amendment involves land-use amendments to the Zoning Bylaw. This process allows Council the opportunity to analyze any potential impacts that the land-use changes and/or development may have on the community now, or in the future as envisioned in the Official Community Plan (OCP).

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 application is not consistent with the OCP, an OCP Amendment Application will need to be submitted concurrently.