Vernon reduces fees for development, other permits

Mar 26, 2025 | 1:24 PM

People wishing to build on or modify their properties will have fewer fees to pay moving forward.

At the regular meeting Monday, March 24, Vernon City Council approved amendments to the Fees and Charges Bylaw that the removal of numerous fees.

Those include the complete removal of fees and charges associated with land use contracts, development permits and development variance permits, heritage alteration permits, and special meter reading.

There were also partial fee reductions under the Rezoning Bylaw and Heritage Revitalization Agreement Bylaw.

However, the changes did include increases to the fees for minor development permits and liquor licence applications.

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Speaking with Vernon Matters, Mayor Victor Cumming said fees and charges are reviewed every few years.

“In the go-forward, a number of these fees don’t make a lot of sense, and some of them would be ones already covered by some other step in the development process or some other time frame,” Cumming explained.

“We just want to clear it up as much as possible, make it simpler and clearer, and draw the fees in line with what makes sense for the development community and other administrative functions. We’re really pleased with the cleaning up of our fees and charges.”

The mayor did not comment on whether the fee reductions could result in more housing being built in Vernon, stating only that it is the city’s goal to have appropriate regulations and fees.

by Liam Verster

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