The Greater West Bench (GWB) area has been the subject of geotechnical assessments which sought to identify the likelihood of damaging geohazard events (i.e., low, moderate or high) on parcels in the area and tools that can be used to reduce geotechnical risk. 

The Greater West Bench Geotechnical Review (2021) was prepared by Ecora Engineering & Resource Group Limited and Clarke Geoscience Limited, and included a recommendation to introduce a soil removal and deposition bylaw as a means to "regulate, monitor, and limit the removal and deposition of soil through permitting. Combined with the hazard mapping, soil removal and deposition activities can be reduced in high hazard areas and documented within the GWB area". 

When is a Soil Permit required?

Soil Permits are required prior to undertaking any soil removal or deposition activities within the Greater West Bench area in Electoral Area "F" which are not otherwise exempt under the Soil Removal and Deposit Bylaw.

• Where a building permit is required to untake construction, a Soil Permit application must be issued prior to the processing and issuance of a building permit application. 
• Where a building permit is not required to undertake construction, a Soil Permit must be issued prior to undertaking soil works.

NOTE: Where the soil to be relocated on or off the property is of a volume of 30 cubic metres or greater, is associated with a current or former Contaminated Sites Regulation Schedule 2 use, and satisfies specified criteria for both soil and vapour, additional Provincial requirements may apply.  More information can be found here.

Exempted Activities

The following activities are exempt from Soil Permit requirements:

• Soil removal or deposit undertaken as part of the construction, repair, maintenance or alteration of any public utility works, public park land, public trails or publicly dedicated road;
• Soil removal or deposit undertaken while a State of Emergency Declaration is in effect where that soil removal or deposit is necessary to protect life or property from imminent injury or damage that is otherwise likely to result from the event or circumstance identified as an emergency in the State of Emergency Declaration;
• Soil that is being relocated within the boundaries of the parcel from which that Soil originates;
• Soil removal or deposit that is authorized by a Mine Permit;
• The removal from a parcel of up to 25.0 cubic meters of Soil in any calendar year; and,
• The deposit on a parcel of up to 25.0 cubic meters of Soil in any calendar year.

Soil Permit Issuance Criteria

Soil Permits may be issued for the following circumstances:

• The removal of soil from or deposition of soil onto a parcel for the construction of a building or other structure, an access driveway, and/or an in-ground pool (where a Development Variance Permit has already been issued for that pool), to the amount necessary to facilitate that construction.
• The removal of up to 100.0 cubic metres of soil from a parcel within one calendar year.
• The deposition of up to 100.0 cubic metres of soil from a parcel within one calendar year.

When there is an application for a Soil Permit, authority to approve such applications has been delegated by the Regional District Board to staff. The Soil Permit process requires an application fee, completed application form, a geotechnical assessment completed by a qualified professional (i.e., a registered Professional Engineer or Professional Geoscientist), and other documents. 

NOTE: Proposals which do not meet the above criteria require the approval of an amendment to the Soil Bylaw prior to applying for a Soil Permit. Approvals of bylaw amendments are at the discretion of the Regional District Board.

For more general information, view our Soil Bylaw Brochure. 

To complete a permit application, please fill out the Soil Permit Application.

To complete a bylaw amendment application, please fill out the Soil Bylaw Amendment Application.