Council adopted Zoning Bylaw amendments that incorporate required provincial regulations under Bill 44 - The Housing Statutes Residential Development Amendment Act.
The bill requires local governments to update zoning bylaws to allow more small-scale multi-unit housing.
Read more at our Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) page below.
Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing
About the Planning DepartmentThe Planning Department is part of the Development Services Division and is responsible for land use planning, processing development applications, and creating plans and policies to set guidelines for future development.
| Official Community Plan |
| 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 which outlines Council's policy direction for land use, services, and the form and character of development within specific areas of the City. Any changes to the policies or land use designations, as outlined in the OCP, will require an amendment. |
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 that you contact Development Services 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 water, drainage and sewage, and improving roads, sidewalks, and parkland.
The City's Works and Services Bylaw establishes what is required to be provided within and adjacent to a subdivision. The Bylaw also outlines design guidelines and construction standards for infrastructure.
Current Planning is responsible for reviewing applications for proposed land development projects. This review typically involves a detailed analysis of how the proposal fits Official Community Plan policies, objectives of applicable plans, and technical requirements of the City's various bylaws. City planners communicate with a number of key stakeholders throughout the entire land development process, including the developer, their consultants, area residents and community associations. This section also implements Council-adopted land use and development bylaws and policies.
Long Range Planning is responsible for forming long-term planning policies and strategies to guide future growth in the City. Major programs include the City's Official Community Plan, Social Planning, Heritage Planning, Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Policy, building inventory and statistics as well as demographic and employment forecasting.
Learn more about our ongoing planning initiatives:
Permit TypesProperty Development in the City of West Kelowna may require obtaining one or more of the following permits: Development Permit (DP), Development Variance Permits (DVP), Temporary Use Permit (TUP), or Zoning Bylaw Amendment. Detailed information about each permit type can be found below.
A Development Permit (DP) is required for:
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, contact our Development Services Department.
Minor Development Permit
A Minor Development Permit is a permit approved by the Director of Development Services which conforms to the Development Permit Guidelines of the Official Community Plan and does not meet any exemption of the Official Community Plan. Minor Development Permits are established for the following instances:
A Development Variance Permit (DVP) is required to:
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.
Zoning Bylaw Amendment
A Zoning Bylaw Amendment, Rezoning, or Site-Specific Text Amendment, involve 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.
Official Community Plan Amendment
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.
An application to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) is required for properties designated as Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) for any of the following activities:
The application is submitted to the Planning Department for review and consideration by the Agricultural Planning Committee (APC) and by Council. If the application is supported by Council, 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.
The City of West Kelowna’s 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 development on a property cannot conform with the floodplain regulations. The application process allows for the consideration of granting an exemption to change the regulations for a specific property.
Applications to request permission for the use, lease, or sale of Crown land within the City of West Kelowna can be made to:
FrontCounter BC
FrontCounter BC refers applications the City of West Kelowna for comments and recommendations where policies and regulations are applicable.
The B.C. Government's Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) is responsible for the issuance of 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.
Application ProcessThe starting point for any application is to contact the Development Services Department to determine if a permit is required. The next step is to arrange a pre-application meeting with a planner to discuss the proposal and application requirements before submitting a formal application to the City. Once the application is submitted, the review process will begin. The time frame for this process is dependent on the type, size, and complexity of the application and can range from several weeks to several months. For more information on the process, refer to the Development Application Procedures Bylaw.
