Permit process required to fix your broken dock in the Okanagan

KELOWNA – The provincial government is reminding residents they need a permit to clean up or repair broken docks on the shoreline.

Dock reconstruction must follow provincial guidelines and any structures below the high water mark require a “permitting process”, according to a release from the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre.

Residents must not remove docks or floating infrastructure that has blown onto the foreshore until local authorities provide direction, officials say. Debris along the foreshore should remain in place to mitigate erosion due to wave action.

If debris becomes a hazard you can call 250-469-8490.

Non-conforming or unauthorized structures will not be allowed to be rebuilt and the Emergency Operations Centre says “the province has the power to enforce alterations to structures that do not comply with its Licence of Occupation for Crown land.”

All dock, wall, fence repairs or reconstruction below the high-water mark must go through Front Counter B.C. at 1-877-855-3222.

For more information, visit the Ministry of Forestry, Lands and Natural Resource Operations compliance and enforcement website.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw or call 250-718-0428 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.