City of Kamloops launching digital process for building permit applications

Photo: Castanet

The City of Kamloops’ building division is going digital — and the city says moving to a new paperless system will streamline the building permit application process.

“This is a huge step to improve efficiency and streamline our services,” Marc Vere, the city’s chief building official, said in a statement.

Vere said the city will now be able to scan, store and track supporting documents in a digital folder instead of requiring and handling dozens of papers.

“This new process will help improve processing times, which will, in turn, support adding more units to the local housing stock faster,” he said.

In a news release, the city said residents, contractors and developers can submit required supporting documents and drawings on a USB key. The changes took effect on Nov. 1.

A building permit application form must be submitted in person. At that time, the clerk will accept the USB key and review a document checklist with the applicant before a secure digital folder is created.

A fully paper process will remain available for those who want to use it.

In addition to its own process changes, the city said an online Building Permit Hub is being rolled out by the provincial government to streamline the building permit submission process for B.C. municipalities. The platform provides instructions, accepts submissions and notifies the applicant’s local municipality of a new permit submission to download.