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Soil deposit/removal permits

Home > Homes & building > Planning & Development > Apply for a Development Application > Soil deposit/removal permits

If you want to remove or deposit soil, you first need to apply for a soil deposit or removal permit. Review the application form and requirements, and submit your completed application to the Application Centre on the second floor of City Hall. For more information on the removal and deposit of soil, sand, gravel and rock within Kelowna, reference the Soil Deposit and Deposit Regulation Bylaw No. 9612.

If your property is in the ALR, applicable approvals from the ALC must be obtained prior to us processing your soil deposit or removal permit application. Visit the ALC's website for more information. 

In highly sensitive areas, environmental or geotechnical reporting may be required.

Activities not requiring a soil deposit or removal permit
  • Valid nursery operations
  • Soil deposit and removal on golf courses
  • Road and utility corridor maintenance
  • Soil deposit or removal activities being addressed through another development application such as a development permit, subdivision, or building permit application
  • Moving existing soil within the boundaries of a single property
  • Soil deposits or removals for less than 50 cubic metres of soil per property per calendar year
  • Soil deposits or removal on a highway right-of-way, future highway or forest service road that is needed for the construction or maintenance of the highway
Penalties for not complying

Any person or business that does not comply with Soil Deposit Bylaw 9612 or conditions of a soil deposit and removal permit is liable to a penalty of up to $10,000 for each offence. Businesses that are repeat offenders will have their business license reviewed and potentially suspended.

Agricultural properties must follow any Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) regulations and may be subject to additional penalties for non-compliance.

Apply for a permit

To apply for a permit, fill out a Soil Deposit or Removal Application Form and include full details of the soil deposit/removal, including location of fill, site grading and drainage. Forms should be submitted to the Application Centre on the 2nd floor of City Hall. For up to date fees please refer to our Development Application Fees Bylaw.

Click the link to learn more about Earthworks Noise and Vibration Regulations

Know your role in protecting BC's archaeological sites. If you are planning on developing your property, please review our City of Kelowna Bulletin on Archaeological Sites. Feel free to visit the Province of BC's Archaeology Branch website and review the Provincial Property Owner Brochure to learn your responsibilities as a property owner.

Bulletin - Archaeological Sites

The Soil Deposit Bylaw 9612 regulates removal and/or deposit of soil (including sand, gravel, and rock) on land within Kelowna. Owners must obtain a permit before removing or depositing any soil from their property. In highly sensitive areas environmental or geotechnical reporting may be required.