Okanagan College/www.okanagan.bc.ca

By Vernon Matters Staff

Zoning change

Kelowna Council clears way for summer hotel use at Okanagan College campus

May 13, 2025 | 2:00 PM

Kelowna City Council has approved a zoning bylaw amendment that will allow Okanagan College to operate student housing as hotel-style accommodations during the summer months.

The amendment, passed Monday, adds “hotel/motel” as a permitted principal use at the KLO campus, located at 860–1000 KLO Road. The move is designed to support the College’s long-term growth by providing affordable lodging options during Kelowna’s busy summer season while also generating revenue for future student housing upgrades.

Under the change, student residence buildings — which typically see lower occupancy over the summer — will be made available to tourists, families of students, and other short-term visitors. The hotel-style operation will include a staffed registration desk and on-site support services.

“This is a practical use of existing infrastructure that addresses both a tourism need and a campus funding opportunity,” reads the report to council from the city’s development planning department.

Officials say the extra revenue will help finance future improvements to student residences. During the academic year, the units will continue to be offered to students at rates below market average, helping support affordability on campus.

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The proposal aligns with provincial short-term rental regulations, which allow housing owned or operated by schools or non-profits to be exempt from principal residency requirements.

Okanagan College’s KLO campus falls under the education/institutional land use designation in the city’s Official Community Plan. The plan also contains policies that support infill and redevelopment to enhance housing diversity and services in the Pandosy Urban Centre. City staff confirmed the hotel/motel use class is consistent with those goals.

The campus is situated within a growing area of the city, adjacent to an active transportation corridor and home to a major transit exchange. Surrounding zoning includes a mix of public utilities, single-detached homes, apartment housing, and other educational facilities.