Bulletins & Guides
Please note that each development proposal is unique and timelines may vary depending on the complexity of the project.
Are you thinking of adding a carriage house to your property? A carriage house is a separate, secondary living space that’s located on the same property as a principal dwelling. To be considered as a carriage house, the space needs to have its own kitchen, bathroom and living space. It may be purpose built or a conversion of a pre-existing accessory building. Carriage houses cannot be sold separately.
Please visit the Building Permit page for more information.
Development Permits allow the municipality to manage the type of development that occurs in specific areas of the City. A set of Development Permit Area Guidelines apply in each area where a Development Permit is required. These guidelines are listed in the city’s Official Community Plan and are the basis for staff’s analysis of the application. Once a Development Permit is issued, the permit is registered on the title of the property. Development Permits are valid for a two years. If a project is not substantially started within that time period a new application will be required.
Development Variance Permits allow a local government to vary certain municipal regulations including zoning bylaw provisions, servicing requirements, and signage regulations. Council, however, does not have the authority to vary density or the use of a property — these changes must happen through rezoning.
Zoning is in place to designate specific permitted uses of land. Every property in the city falls into a designated zoning district. The zone outlines what uses can be operated on the property as well as outlines development regulations for buildings and structures. Applications can be made to either change the zoning of a property (rezoning application) or change the wording of the zoning bylaw to allow a use in a zone that may not currently be permitted (text amendment application). All changes to the zoning bylaw are done through Council with public notification statutorily required.
An Official Community Plan is a document, passed by a local government, that sets out, among other things, the future land uses of property within a city’s jurisdiction. The ability to designate lands is granted to local governments by the Province through the Local Government Act. An OCP may designate land uses and
densities.Subdivision is the creation of new lots by dividing one property into two or more lots, adjusting the property line between properties, or creating a strata development with individual lots.
A strata conversion is sometimes referred to as, simply, “stratification”. The process outlined on this page refers, specifically, to duplex buildings, as they comprise the majority of our requests in Penticton. In instances where an application is being made for more than two units in a building, the process will be unique to that building and require direct communication with the Building and Permitting Manager. It will also be subject to a special Council Policy* that deals with multi-unit buildings (more than two). Strata conversions are regulated by the Provincial Government via the Strata Property Act. It is the City of Penticton’s duty to fulfil Provincial requirements when approving a strata conversion.
Strata Conversion Building Permit Guide
Found on the Building Bulletins page, under Commercial/Multifamily/Fire Prevention Bulletins.Fences must conform to the regulations in the City's Zoning Bylaw.