Film & drone use
From sandy beaches and lakefront patios to rocky trails and snow-capped mountains, Kelowna's landscape is perfect for photography or filming in any season.
Access
Located in the heart of the Okanagan Valley, Kelowna is a short drive from larger metropolitans such as Vancouver and Calgary, and is easily accessible via the Kelowna International Airport through a variety of domestic and international flights.
Resources
The film industry is quickly growing in Kelowna and area. The Okanagan Film Commission offers many services such as Location Library, Production and Crew Directory, the Okanagan Studio Directory and an extensive knowledge in the film industry.
Creative BC is another valuable resource that provides a strategic and integrated approach to growth and development of the province's creative industries. The City supports Creative BC's approach to local filming and welcomes the opportunities it brings to our community.
For more information on filming in Kelowna, please contact our Event Services Team at eventservices@kelowna.ca or 250-469-8423.
We offer two types of permits for anyone interested in using City property for their film project.
A Film Permit is required for any film shoot requesting use of City properties, including parks, facilities, roadways, sidewalks and other locations as identified.
Permit requirements include:
- Insurance
- Prime Contractor Agreement
- City of Kelowna Business License
- Electrical Permit (if applicable)
- Schedule of Shoot
- Location Maps
- Damage Deposit
- Applicable fees such as application fees, site rental fees, additional fees such as parking, RCMP, city staffing, etc.
- Additional requirements are assessed through the permit process and assigned as necessary
A Drone Permit is required for any drone flight or operation on City property including parks, facilities, roadways and sidewalks and other locations as identified.
Only commercial operators can be approved for drone usage. Recreational drone operation isn’t permitted on city property.
Permit requirements include:
- Completed application
- City of Kelowna Business License
- Minimum $2 million liability insurance on a City of Kelowna Certificate
- Copy of pilot license
- Copy of drone certification of registration
- Site survey
- Special Flight Operations Certificate (required when flying outside of advanced license regulations)
- If flying for an event, e-mail confirmation from the event organizer
- Applicable fees such as application fees, site rental fees, additional fees as required
Completed applications can be submitted to eventservices@kelowna.ca. For more information, please visit canada.ca/drone-safety.
Kelowna is surrounded by beautiful provincial parks, and if you’re interested in filming in one of these parks you can visit Government of British Columbia Natural Resource Online Services to learn more about obtaining a Commercial Filming Permit.
