Agricultural Planning
The protection of Kelowna's agricultural land is a priority to the City, and in order to protect these lands we require several types of permits on or adjacent to agricultural land. If your property is in a farm protection development permit area, and you want to alter the land through activities such as soil deposit or removal, constructing farm structures or farm help dwellings, you may be required to apply for a permit. To help ensure the success of your application, be sure to review the Official Community Plan (OCP) and zoning bylaw, and arrange a pre-application meeting with a planner.
If your property is within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), your land is also subject to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) Act and ALR regulations, applicable approvals from the ALC must be obtained prior to the City processing development permits.
Learn more about specific requirements that may impact your development project if you are in the ALR:
- ALR webpage: High level overview of ALC application process and links to applicable City policies and bylaws.
- Dwellings in Agricultural Areas: Overview of our requirements for constructing a dwelling on properties zoned A1 or A2.
- Official Community Plan, Chapter 8 - Rural Lands: Policy framework to help support decision making on agricultural properties.
- Zoning Bylaw No. 12375: Governs land use and the form, siting, height, and density of all development.
- ALC Website: Official ALC home page for information on permitted uses in the ALR, ALC Applications and Notices, and Compliance and Enforcement.
- City of Kelowna Bulletin: Farm Retail Sales
- City of Kelowna Bulletin: Gathering for an Event on ALR Land
If you're proposing any works in a farm protection development permit area, you may need to apply for a farm protection development permit. There are specific guidelines that address development on agricultural lands and development on lands adjacent to the ALR.
Refer to the ALC website for more information on whether your property is within the ALR.
A Farm Protection Development Permit addressing protection of farming guidelines must be approved for any development located on lands considered agriculture, before:
- Subdivision of land;
- A Building Permit, Soil Permit, or alteration of land unless listed in the exemptions.
Objectives:
- Protect farmland and farm operations;
- Minimize the impact of residential uses on farm practice and farming potential in farming areas; and
- Ensure that the primary use of agricultural land is for agricultural purposes.
For more information on guidelines and exemptions, please review Kelowna's Official Community Plan, Chapter 22 - Farm Protection.
Application Form & Requirements
A Farm Protection Development Permit addressing protection of farming guidelines must be approved for any development located adjacent to the ALR, before:
- Subdivision of land;
- A Building Permit; or
- Rezoning.
Objectives:
- Minimize the impact of urban development on ALR lands;
- Mitigate conflict between ALR land and adjacent residential, commercial, industrial, or institutional uses;
- Develop effective vegetated buffers along the ALR boundary;
- Plan new development in a manner that protects the long-term agricultural potential of adjacent ALR land;
- Provide a natural barrier to block noise, sight, and trespassers;
- Reduce odour, dust, and pesticide drift, and
- Provide greater definition of the boundary of the ALR.
For more information on guidelines and exemptions, please review Kelowna's Official Community Plan, Chapter 22 - Farm Protection.
Application Form & Requirements
Temporary Farm Worker Housing (TFWH) Permit
If you want to house temporary farm workers, a TFWH Permit application is required. To learn more about TFWH, check out the Dwellings in Agricultural Areas page.
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.
- 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
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 ALC regulations and may be subject to additional penalties for non-compliance.
