Building activity continues at a robust pace in the regional district

PENTICTON – Building permit revenue has more than doubled this year over the same period a year ago at the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen..

A report prepared for the board of directors says building permit revenue to May 23 this year is $496,743.11 compared to the estimated 2017 annual building permit revenue of $500,000.

A $30 million winery under construction on Black Sage Road in Oliver is responsible for $270,000 of the revenue received to date so far.

Additional staff have been hired to help maintain efficiencies in the building department, as the average processing time for a building permit is currently sitting at four weeks. Additional clerical staff, a planning student and a part-time plan checker have been added to the department.

Construction value of permits issued to May 23 is over $49.6 million compared to just over $17 million to the end of May in 2016.

Permit fees are more than double last year’s to date, from about $212,000 in 2016 to almost $497,000 to May 23, 2017.

The number of permits issued to date is down slightly this year from 184 to the end of May 2016 to 171 to May 23 this year.

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