Building Permits & Inspections

A Building Bylaw for the five Electoral Areas (“B”, “C”, “D”, “E” and “F”) was adopted on November 18, 2015 and was in effect January 1, 2016. 

Building Bylaw No. 2670, 2015

Please call the Building Inspection Line at (250) 550-3730 and leave a message with the following information:

• Permit Number
• Civic Address
• Required Inspection
• Contact Name
• Contact Telephone No.
• Date for Inspection

Voicemails will be checked daily. If you wish to speak to a Building Inspector directly please call Reception at (250) 550-3700 during office hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm).

Changes effective May 1, 2023

On February 8th the Province announced that they have amended the Building Act and BC Building Code to implement Step 3 of the performance-based BC Energy Step Code, requiring most new construction in BC to be 20% more energy efficient than the 2018 Building Code. This will not affect current building permits or in-progress applications but will affect any building permit applications made on or after May 1^st, 2023 across the province.

To prepare the local building industry for the anticipated change, the Regional District North Okanagan adopted Step 1 of the BC Energy Step Code on January 3^rd, 2022. This was a voluntary adoption at the time to ease the transition to Step 3 (20%) of the BC Energy Step Code. Since Step 1 has been adopted, there is no change to the process involved with building a new dwelling and new homes will continue to require the involvement of a Certified Energy Advisor.

This increase in Energy Step Code requirements will see a move of small residential homes (Part 9) to Step 3 and more complex buildings (Part 3) required to meet Step 2. The future changes to the efficiency of new buildings is expected to be the implementation of Step 4 (40%) in 2027 and Step 5 (80%) in 2032.

For general information on the Step Code please visit:

 BC Energy Step Code Website.

BC Energy Step Code Events Calendar

BC Energy Step Code Training Opportunities

BC Energy Step Code RDNO Handout - Revised March 2023

Accessibility For Persons with Disabilities Guide

Industry Standard Drawings Submission Requirements

Required Information for Steel Structure Building Permit Applications 

Required Information for Suspended Slab Building Permit Applications 

Required Information for Helical Screw Piles Building Permit Applications

Silver Star Mountain - Additional Building Permit Requirements

Owners Appointment of Agent or Representative 

Report on Professional Insurance

Proof of Water for Building Permit applications

Site Disclosure Statement

Supplementary Contractor Information

Liquor Licence Occupant Load Calculation Application

Notice on Title Information 

This document is a guideline for informational purposes only

The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) Utilities Department is recommending property owners wanting to build, develop, or connect to Greater Vernon Water, Silver Star Water, Mabel Lake Water, Mabel Lake Sewer, Grindrod Water, or Whitevale Water submit a Development Inquiry Application.  Read the Development and Service Connection Information handout here or contact the Utilities Department at our office.

The RDNO and member municipalities levy development cost charges on new development to pay for new or expanded infrastructure such as sewer, water, and parks necessary to service that new development's demands adequately.

Development cost charges are established by bylaw with the approval of the Inspector of Municipalities. The development cost charge bylaw may establish charges over the entire local government or just a portion of it.

The following are Development Cost Charge Bylaws applicable within the Electoral Areas of the RDNO:

Fortune Parks, Recreation and Culture Service Development Cost Charge Bylaw No. 2598, 2013

Greater Vernon Trails and Natural Space Development Cost Charge Bylaw No 2789, 2018

Greater Vernon Water Utility Water Development Cost Charge Bylaw No. 1983, 2004

Silver Star Mountain Development Cost Charge Bylaw No. 1768, 2002

White Valley Parks and Recreation District Development Cost Charge Bylaw No. 1390, 1996

1. Install an address or lot number sign at the street.

2. Comply with Building Regulations Bylaw 2670, 2015.

• A fence or an equivalent barrier of not less than 1.2 metres (48 inches) in height shall be provided to prevent unauthorized access to a swimming pool.  Where the access to the swimming pool is from a dwelling located on the same property as the swimming pool, the access may be directly from the dwelling.
• Openings through the fence shall be equipped with a child resistant self-closing and self-latching gate.
• Openings used for occasional entrance may be equipped with a locking gate.
• All openings or gates in the fence or barrier shall be locked closed when not in use.
• The fence or equivalent barrier referred to above shall be of chain link type material, solid material with a flat vertical surface, or vertically oriented material.
• All openings through such fence or barrier referred to above shall have a size so as to prevent the passage of a spherical object 10cm or greater in diameter.
• A swimming pool which is located above ground and has vertical sides of a least 1.2 metres may be protected from access by fencing the access ladder to limit access, with a child resistant self-closing and self-latching gate through the fence.
• A swimming pool fence or equivalent temporary barrier shall be in place, inspected and approved prior to placing the water in a pool.

3. Pressure reducing valves and a backflow prevention device to be installed in accordance with the requirements of the Building Code.

Download the form here