Get the Top, Local stories delivered to your inbox! Click here to join the daily Vernon Matters newsletter.
By Corey Fischer

City Looks At Options To Improve Permit Process

Jun 27, 2018 | 6:16 AM

Vernon council will discuss an idea to pay staff overtime in order to process development permits faster.

Councillor Dalvir Nahal says some developers have been waiting since last fall to proceed due to the weather and waiting for permits.

“Spring time, costs have gone up, exteriors, framing, everything, so developers and builders are losing money, and I know a few have sought out outside communities to build theirs,” says Nahal.

Economic development manager Kevin Poole says staff will prepare a report on options.

He admits there are staffing challenges.

Smoky Skies
Air quality warning issued for the Okanagan
5m ago
Emergency Disaster Services
Vernon Salvation Army mobile team out supporting vulnerable people
1h ago
Housing Starts
Local housing construction declined in June, down for year so far
7h ago

“The challenge sometimes is not always on the current planning side, right now its on the building and building inspection side, so we can probably have a conversation internally and report back to council on the potential options,” says Poole.

Pictured: Dalvir Nahal

by Corey Fischer

Other Matters

Smoky Skies
Air quality warning issued for the Okanagan
Wildfire smoke led to an air quality warning being issued for the Okanagan Friday.Environment Canada issued the warning saying the smoke settling over the valley was expected to increase through the day and into the night, causing poor air quality and reduced visibility."During a wildfire, smoke conditions can cha...
9m ago
Read More
Emergency Disaster Services
Vernon Salvation Army mobile team out supporting vulnerable people
Salvation Army in Vernon will take its operations on the road as a heat wave hits the Okanagan.The organization's Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) team will be sent out through the community to provide bottled water, nutritious snacks, and juice to vulnerable people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and housing ...
1h ago
Read More
Structural Fire
Workshop destroyed in early morning West Kelowna fire
A workshop near Gellatly Bay was destroyed in an early morning fire Thursday.West Kelowna Fire Rescue responded to reports of a structure fire on Harding Road at about 4:50 a.m.Crews arriving at the scene found the workshop fully engulfed in flames and launched a defensive attack to contain the blaze.Four fire apparatu...
2h ago
Read More
Plan Approved
Regional growth strategy consultation plan approved by Central Okanagan board
The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) board has approved a plan to gather public input on a new regional growth strategy.The consultation plan was adopted July 16 and will guide how the RDCO engages residents, municipalities, First Nations, community organizations and government agencies during the developme...
2h ago
Read More
Housing Starts
Local housing construction declined in June, down for year so far
The housing construction sector saw another decline in June.Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) reported 13 housing starts in Greater Vernon this June.That was down from the 19 housing starts in May, and from the 22 starts recorded in June of 2025.As of the end of June, there had been 88 housing projects sta...
7h ago
Read More
Unfinished business
Okanagan Sun begin title chase
The Okanagan Sun kick off the 2026 BCFC season this Saturday with a trip to Vancouver Island to take on the Nanaimo Raiders.The Sun are the two-time defending BCFC champions, and head coach Travis Miller says a big reason for that success is the experience returning to the lineup."We are returning a lot of veteran...
20h ago
Read More
new blaze
Wildfire in forest west of Highway 33
A wildfire west of Highway 33 and south of Myra-Bellevue Park Thursday afternoon has grown to about one hectare in size.BC Wildfire Service sent three helicopters and 16 firefighters to the Dale Creek area as part of an initial attack response. The red dot at the lower right corner shows the location of the wildfire. (...
21h ago
Read More
"I Voted"
Kelowna residents invited to design city's next election sticker
Kelowna residents are being asked to put their creativity to work ahead of this fall's municipal election by designing the city's next "I Voted" sticker.The City of Kelowna is inviting students, artists, designers and community members of all ages to submit original sticker designs that could be handed out at...
22h ago
Read More
Victim found in 80 metres of water
Drowning on Okanagan Lake
A tragic end to the search for a 45-year-old man presumed drowned on Okanagan Lake.The man went missing Saturday while being towed behind a boat on an inflatable tube.Police say he was not wearing a personal flotation device when he entered the water.The RCMP Underwater Recovery Team located and recovered his body Thur...
23h ago
Read More

What Matters

Smoky Skies
Air quality warning issued for the Okanagan
5m ago
Emergency Disaster Services
Vernon Salvation Army mobile team out supporting vulnerable people
1h ago
Housing Starts
Local housing construction declined in June, down for year so far
7h ago
Employee Safety
Employers responsible for worker safety as heat wave hits Okanagan: WorksSafeBC
23h ago
mid- to high 30s
Cooling centres opening in Vernon as heat wave hits the Okanagan
Jul 16, 2026