Development Permits

Development Permits allow the municipality to manage the type of development that occurs in specific areas of the city. A set of development guidelines applies in each area. Development Permit guidelines reflect local, provincial and federal objectives, including:

  • protection of the natural environment;
  • protection of the development from hazardous conditions;
  • protection of provincial or municipal heritage sites;
  • revitalization of commercial areas;
  • regulation of the form and character of commercial, industrial and multi-family residential development.

Within designated Development Permit Areas (DPAs), land must not be subdivided or altered and buildings or structures cannot be constructed or altered, unless the owner first obtains a Development Permit from the municipality.

Once issued, the Development Permit (and any future amendments to that Development Permit) is registered against the title of the property at the Land Title Office. The municipality ensures development of the property is carried out in conformity with the terms of the Permit. In order to ensure the completion of any required on-site landscaping and on-site works, the municipality may require a security deposit from the owner of the property.

If an application involves a commercial or industrial development with a floor area of over 4,500 square metres, or if the development is within 800 metres of an intersection with a controlled access highway, the permit must be approved by the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Highways.

When to Apply for a Development Permit

The City of Penticton has established Development Permit Areas, which are outlined in the Official Community Plan (OCP), the document that guides growth and development in the City. Permit Areas were created to regulate development and ensure it is in accordance with policies. Applications are reviewed against the guidelines for each Development Permit Area and for compliance with other City regulations including Zoning Bylaw No. 2011-23.

A Development Permit is required for:

  • Most new developments including industrial, commercial, institutional, multi-family (two or more dwelling units), and some duplexes;
  • A new development when the property is located within a Development Permit Area designated in the Official Community Plan;
  • Development within environmentally-sensitive and riparian (river bank) areas;
  • Changes to an existing Development Permit, with the exception of specified exterior modifications in permitted areas.

Application Package