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City of Kelowna

How to get a building permit in Kelowna, BC

Where to apply, what Kelowna asks for, what it costs, and who issues electrical and gas permits — with links to the city's own forms.

Some details for Kelowna could not be fully confirmed from published sources. Verify with the city before you rely on them.

Where to apply in Kelowna

Online permit portal (upload docs, track status, message staff) accessible from the Apply for a Building Permit page; the city's site (kelowna.ca) blocks automated fetching so the exact product name (Cloudpermit / ProjectDox / MyCity) could not be verified from the page. Applications can also be submitted in person at City Hall, 2nd floor, Building & Permitting Branch.

Official City of Kelowna permit page

Building & Permitting Branch, 2nd floor, Kelowna City Hall, 1435 Water Street, Kelowna, BC. General building inquiries via kelowna.ca/city-hall/contact-us; main line 250-469-8500.

Who issues electrical and gas permits

SPLIT — Kelowna is one of only ~10 BC municipalities delegated authority under the Safety Standards Act. Per Technical Safety BC's jurisdiction list, City of Kelowna issues its OWN GAS permits (and does gas assessments). ELECTRICAL permits are still issued by Technical Safety BC (Kelowna is NOT delegated for electrical). So for a job in Kelowna: gas permit = City of Kelowna; electrical permit = Technical Safety BC.

electrical
Technical Safety BC
gas
City of Kelowna

Step by step in Kelowna

  1. 1

    Confirm zoning before anything else

    Check the property's zone, setbacks, height and lot coverage, and whether it sits in a Development Permit Area. If it does, that approval has to come before the building permit — Kelowna won't issue until land use is settled.

  2. 2

    Work out which permits you need

    Structural work needs a building permit from City of Kelowna. Electrical and gas are separate and are issued by SPLIT — Kelowna is one of only ~10 BC municipalities delegated authority under the Safety Standards Act. Plumbing is usually part of the building permit.

  3. 3

    Prepare drawings and documents

    City of Kelowna asks for: Architectural drawings: site plan, floor plans, elevations, cross-sections; Structural/engineering drawings with Letters of Assurance (Schedule B) for engineered components; Energy Step Code report — pre-build energy compliance report (Part 9 residential must meet Step 3 of the BC Energy Step Code, in effect since June 1, 2021); BC Housing registration: proof of enrollment in the Home Warranty Program OR Owner-Builder Authorization for new homes; Current Title Search and any covenants/easements; Separate building permit application required for EACH building; WorkSafeBC / demolition documentation for demolition and pre-1990 buildings (hazardous materials); Geotechnical report expected for hillside / unstable-soil sites.

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Online permit portal (upload docs, track status, message staff) accessible from the Apply for a Building Permit page; the city's site (kelowna.ca) blocks automated fetching so the exact product name (Cloudpermit / ProjectDox / MyCity) could not be verified from the page. Applications can also be submitted in person at City Hall, 2nd floor, Building & Permitting Branch.

  5. 5

    Pay the permit fee

    Building permit fee is calculated as approximately 1.14% of the construction value (i.e. ~$11.40 per $1,000 of construction value), consistent with the regional standard; fees are 'based on construction value.' Development Cost Charges (DCCs) also apply to new construction. Confirm current rate against the city's fees schedule / building bylaw. Confirm the current schedule with Kelowna before you budget.

  6. 6

    Plan review, then build to inspections

    The building department reviews against the BC Building Code and zoning; answer any comments quickly. Once issued, post the permit on site and book inspections at each stage — footings, framing, rough-in, insulation, final. Don't cover work before it's inspected.

What Kelowna asks for

  • Architectural drawings: site plan, floor plans, elevations, cross-sections
  • Structural/engineering drawings with Letters of Assurance (Schedule B) for engineered components
  • Energy Step Code report — pre-build energy compliance report (Part 9 residential must meet Step 3 of the BC Energy Step Code, in effect since June 1, 2021)
  • BC Housing registration: proof of enrollment in the Home Warranty Program OR Owner-Builder Authorization for new homes
  • Current Title Search and any covenants/easements
  • Separate building permit application required for EACH building
  • WorkSafeBC / demolition documentation for demolition and pre-1990 buildings (hazardous materials)
  • Geotechnical report expected for hillside / unstable-soil sites

Permit fees in Kelowna

Building permit fee is calculated as approximately 1.14% of the construction value (i.e. ~$11.40 per $1,000 of construction value), consistent with the regional standard; fees are 'based on construction value.' Development Cost Charges (DCCs) also apply to new construction. Confirm current rate against the city's fees schedule / building bylaw.

Fees change and vary by project — confirm the current schedule with City of Kelowna.

Kelowna permit forms

Open a form here and fill it in without leaving the page.

Pick a form to open it here.

Worth knowing about Kelowna

Kelowna is unusual: it runs its OWN gas inspection program (city-issued gas permits) but relies on Technical Safety BC for electrical. Part 9 residential must meet BC Energy Step Code Step 3. Development permit (form & character) may be required BEFORE a building permit in DP-designated areas. Trade contractors should not assume a single 'Technical Safety BC covers everything' rule here.

Kelowna permit questions

Where do I submit a building permit application in Kelowna?

Online permit portal (upload docs, track status, message staff) accessible from the Apply for a Building Permit page; the city's site (kelowna.ca) blocks automated fetching so the exact product name (Cloudpermit / ProjectDox / MyCity) could not be verified from the page. Applications can also be submitted in person at City Hall, 2nd floor, Building & Permitting Branch.

Who issues electrical and gas permits in Kelowna?

SPLIT — Kelowna is one of only ~10 BC municipalities delegated authority under the Safety Standards Act. Per Technical Safety BC's jurisdiction list, City of Kelowna issues its OWN GAS permits (and does gas assessments). ELECTRICAL permits are still issued by Technical Safety BC (Kelowna is NOT delegated for electrical). So for a job in Kelowna: gas permit = City of Kelowna; electrical permit = Technical Safety BC.

How much does a building permit cost in Kelowna?

Building permit fee is calculated as approximately 1.14% of the construction value (i.e. ~$11.40 per $1,000 of construction value), consistent with the regional standard; fees are 'based on construction value.' Development Cost Charges (DCCs) also apply to new construction. Confirm current rate against the city's fees schedule / building bylaw. Fees vary by project, so confirm the current schedule with City of Kelowna before budgeting.

What do I need to apply for a building permit in Kelowna?

City of Kelowna asks for: Architectural drawings: site plan, floor plans, elevations, cross-sections; Structural/engineering drawings with Letters of Assurance (Schedule B) for engineered components; Energy Step Code report — pre-build energy compliance report (Part 9 residential must meet Step 3 of the BC Energy Step Code, in effect since June 1, 2021); BC Housing registration: proof of enrollment in the Home Warranty Program OR Owner-Builder Authorization for new homes; Current Title Search and any covenants/easements; Separate building permit application required for EACH building; WorkSafeBC / demolition documentation for demolition and pre-1990 buildings (hazardous materials); Geotechnical report expected for hillside / unstable-soil sites.

Anything else to know about permits in Kelowna?

Kelowna is unusual: it runs its OWN gas inspection program (city-issued gas permits) but relies on Technical Safety BC for electrical. Part 9 residential must meet BC Energy Step Code Step 3. Development permit (form & character) may be required BEFORE a building permit in DP-designated areas. Trade contractors should not assume a single 'Technical Safety BC covers everything' rule here.

Sources

General information only, not legal or code advice. Requirements vary by project and change over time — always confirm what applies to your job with City of Kelowna before you build.

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