Environmental Development Permits
Kelowna's natural environment is a priority, and we protect it by requiring permits for activities in sensitive areas. If your property is in a natural environment, wildfire or hazardous condition development permit area, and you want to alter the land through activities such as grading, soil deposit, tree removal or construction, you may need to apply for a permit.
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 Property Owner Brochure to learn your responsibilities as a property owner.
BULLETIN - ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
If you’re proposing any work in a natural environment development permit area, you may need to apply for a natural environment development permit to address environmentally significant features including the lakeshore, creeks, wetlands and rare habitats. Before submitting your application, please review the following for guidance on the application:
- Hydrogeological Impact Assessment Terms of Reference for Report Preparation
- Stormwater Management Terms of Reference for Report Preparation
- Environmental Assessment Terms of Reference for Report Preparation
Application form & requirements
If you’re proposing any work in a wildfire or hazardous condition development permit area, development permits require that those works address dangerous conditions such as flooding, rock fall, erosion and land slip.
Before submitting your application, please review the following for guidance on the application requirements:
- Drawing Submission Requirements
- Geotechnical Assessment Report Terms of Reference for Report Preparation
- Hydrogeological Impact Assessment Terms of Reference for Report Preparation
- Stormwater Management Terms of Reference for Report Preparation
- Environmental Assessment Terms of Reference for Report Preparation
- Hillside Development Guidelines
- Retaining Wall Bulletin
The community wildfire protection plan is also a helpful document if your project is in a wildfire risk area.
APPLICATION FORM & REQUIREMENTS
Kelowna’s Official Community Plan encourages sustainable hillside development by:
- Supporting development in appropriate hillside locations to respect and protect natural topography
- Maintaining and enhancing the quality of hillside flora and fauna
- Encouraging cluster housing that responds to the natural environment and reduces site disturbance
- Encouraging the creation of green spaces between development nodes
- Minimizing site disturbance by allowing shared driveways, parking and open space areas
To learn about protecting your property from flooding and wave erosion review the Okanagan Lakeshore Living Resource from the Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program (OCCP). This guide summarizes provincial, federal and local government land development regulations for building on property near water. It offers tips to protect the shore, including plant recommendations, so you can enjoy the Okanagan’s natural beauty.
Bulletin - Frazer Lake
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| Image provided by the Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program (OCCP) |
If you are planning to remove a protected tree on your property, you must apply for a Tree Cutting Permit. For more information or to apply, visit the Tree Cutting Permit page.
For information and application details regarding the deposit or removal of soil, visit the Soil Deposit/Removal Permit page.
