For fire recovery information, please visit the McDougall Creek wildfire recovery page.
Building permits are required for the construction, addition, alteration or demolition of any building or structure. Accessory buildings less than 10 square meters are exempt.
RDCO provides building regulation and inspection services to:
- Electoral Area East, including Ellison, Joe Rich and the south end of Lakeshore Road
- Electoral Area West, including Brent Road, Trepanier and Westside Road communities
For properties within a local municipality, contact their office directly for their bylaws and processes.
Building permits
| Apply for a building permit |
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Note: As of January 2025, additional planning approvals will be required if the building permit application is for a new structure, addition or demolition within a development permit area. Building permit applications can now be submitted online. Please select your permit type and you will be prompted to provide required application files and application details. Only PDF documents will be accepted. Please note, only complete applications will be accepted. Online building permit application Please ensure your building permit application complies with current zoning on the subject property. For your reference, please find links to the GIS Mapping and Planning and land use for additional information. If you require assistance with your online application, please call Inspection Services at 250-469-6211 or email inspection@rdco.com. Please note, emailed applications will not be accepted. If you prefer to apply in person, applications can be submitted to Inspection Services at the Regional District of Central Okanagan office located at 1450 KLO Road on the 2nd Floor. We are open from 8:00am to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday, excluding holidays. Building permit processing times may vary depending on the time of year, complexity of project and various other factors. Fees for building permits range according to type of application and construction value. For building permit fees, please review the Development Application Fees and Charges | Bylaw No. 1483 Please refer to the building permit application checklist to ensure all required documentation is included with your application. Only complete applications will be accepted. Note: Preferred size for drawings: 11 x 17 and submission of digital plans (PDF format) |
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Building bylaws |
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Our building inspectors follow Building | Bylaw No. 1482 which administers the regulations of the BC Building Code, including local regulations, permits and building inspections. The bylaw is enforced on a continual basis and applies to the Electoral Area East and Electoral Area West of the RDCO. For permit fees please see the Development Application Fees and Charges | Bylaw No. 1483 |
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Building permit fees and charges |
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Application Fee: For each building permit application, there is a non-refundable application fee required at time of application. Application Fee (under $100,00 construction value) = $180 Application Fee (Over $100,000 construction value) = $520 Building Permit Fee: The total building permit fee is 1.2% of the construction value of the project. ($12 per $1000 of valuation). The final building permit fee is payable at time of permit pick up. Additional fees may include plumbing fixtures, engineering fees for services as well as a $1500 Security Deposit. For the full list of the building permit fees, please review the Development Application Fees and Charges | Bylaw No. 1483 |
| Informational guides and frequently used documents |
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Application Documents: Informational Bulletins: Bylaws: Booking an inspection |
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Property information requests |
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Due to the high number of requests and inquiries, response times may take longer than usual. Requests are processed in the order they are received. A property information request (PIR) provides homeowners, contractors and real estate agents with building permit history and zoning information. The fee for a PIR is $45 (GST included). Complex requests requiring additional time, over one hour, will include a fee of $15 for each additional 15 minutes. Please use our online service request system to submit your PIR. Select "Building permits and inspections" then "Property information requests." Attach a signed listing agreement or owners authorization form with your request.
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Re-inspection fee |
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The re-inspection fee is only for active building permits where an additional fee is required throughout the inspection process, determined by the building inspector. Follow the prompts on the re-inspection page to make payment if the inspector has advised this is required. Do not process a re-inspection fee unless advised by staff in Inspection Services. Once the re-inspection fee has been paid, follow the link below to schedule the next inspection on your building permit. |
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Secondary Suites |
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A secondary suite is a self-contained unit within the primary dwelling that has its own separate kitchen, sleeping and bathing facilities. Secondary suites must follow the regulations in the Secondary Suite Brochure Secondary Suite Design Requirements:
Note: For properties located within the Joe Rich area are still required to apply for a Land Use Amendment application to allow for a secondary suite. For additional information, please visit: Planning and Land Use - Secondary Suites - Joe Rich
Planning and Land Use - Secondary Suites Secondary Suite - Building Code Requirements Provincial Housing Legislation Changes Review building permit application requirements and process here: Apply for a Building Permit |
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Other resources |
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Additional Reference Information:
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Wildfire Covenants |
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Construction within a Wildfire Interface Development Permit Area requires registration of a wildfire covenant prior to building permit issuance. Contact your notary public or lawyer for assistance with registering a wildfire covenant on your property.
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Statistics for approved building permits |
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Click here to view a map of current approved building permits: Approved building permits map
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Inspections
| Building inspection checklist |
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In accordance with the building Bylaws, the items listed on this inspection checklist will be reviewed by the building inspector while completing an inspection. Inspections are required at various stages in the construction process to ensure that construction conforms to the minimum standards of the BC Building Code. Please review your permit package for inspections required on your approved building permit. If you have any questions on the inspections required, please contact Inspection Services by phone at 250-469-6211 or by email |
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Book an inspection |
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Inspections are required at various stages in the construction process to ensure that construction conforms to the minimum standards of the BC Building Code. Please review your permit package for inspections required on your approved building permit. If you have any questions on the inspections required, please contact Inspection Services by phone at 250-469-6211 or by email The building permit package must be on site for all inspections. If these documents are not available for inspectors reference, no inspections will be made. Same day inspections are not available. If the date is not specified, the next inspection day for that area will be booked. 48-hour advance notice is required for your inspection booking. Inspection request MUST include:
To book an inspection:
Please note: confirmation of inspection bookings is auto-generated through the service request system. We do not provide call backs for booking. If you require confirmation, please submit a service request. |
| Inspection day schedule |
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Inspection schedule is as follows: Electoral Area West (Brent Road, Trepanier, Westside Road communities)
Electoral Area East (Ellison, Joe Rich, south end of Lakeshore Road)
Inspections are carried out between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on each scheduled inspection day. Where a second re-inspection is required due to non-compliance to code or bylaw provisions, a re-inspection fee shall be paid prior to the re-inspection.
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BC Energy Step Code
The BC Energy Step Code is the performance-based standard for the BC Building Code that establishes measurable energy-efficiency requirements for new construction. The BC Energy Step Code groups requirements into a series of steps to increase energy efficiency. To comply with these steps, applicants must use energy modelling software and on-site air tightness testing to demonstrate that both their design and the constructed building meet Step Code requirements.
As of January 1, 2023, all building permit applications for new construction under Part 9 of the Building Code must meet Step 3 of the Energy Step Code.
BC Energy Step Code - Information Bulletin
| Videos about Step Code |
| Timelines for Step Code |
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Program-qualified energy search tool |
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Energy Advisors can be found through the Program-Qualified Energy Advisor Search Tool. They can also be found through Natural Resources Canada. Training opportunities can be found through the following organizations: |
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Rebates and incentives |
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Incentive programs for enhanced compliance:
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