How to get a building permit in West Kelowna, BC

Step by step in West 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 — West 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 West Kelowna. Electrical and gas are separate and are issued by Technical Safety BC issues BOTH electrical AND gas permits for West Kelowna. Plumbing is usually part of the building permit.

3. 3

   Prepare drawings and documents

   City of West Kelowna asks for: Submit application package in person at City Hall; digital document format preferred; New residential construction: BC Housing Warranty Registration OR Owner Declaration; New residential: Energy Advisor's report — must meet Energy Step Code Step 3 for all new Part 9 residential (effective May 1, 2023); Septic design (Interior Health-accepted ROWP drawings) and Potable Water Log where applicable; Secondary suites: Parking Plan; Retaining walls 1.2m+: documentation per Application Checklist (engineered where required); Swimming pools: sealed drawings, site plan showing gates/fencing, Soil Comment or Geotechnical Engineer Report; Demolition: Notice of Project (NOP) from WorkSafeBC, plus Hazardous Materials Risk Assessment for pre-1990 buildings; Compliance with the city's Building Regulations Bylaw.

4. 4

   Submit your application

   CityView Portal — https://cv.westkelownacity.ca/CityViewPortal (used to look up/track permit status and reference numbers). NEW building permit applications must be submitted IN PERSON at City Hall; the CityView portal is primarily for status tracking and permit lookup, not full online submission.

5. 5

   Pay the permit fee

   Application Fee due at time of application, non-refundable, $150 minimum. Building Permit Fee due at permit issuance, calculated at 1.14% of actual construction value with a $100.00 minimum permit fee. Development Cost Charges (DCCs) also payable at issuance for new construction. Detailed rates in Fees and Charges Bylaw – Schedule 2. Payment: debit, cash or cheque only (no credit cards). Confirm the current schedule with West 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.

West Kelowna permit questions