Farm Status Kelowna BC

How to Get Farm Status in Kelowna BC

Classification as a farm in Kelowna BC is entirely optional. The local assessor must receive the General Application for Farm Classification or the Retired Farmer’s Dwelling Land Application from landowners who wish to have all or a portion of their property classified as farmland. The Farm Class Regulation (BC Reg. 411/95) stipulates that farm applications and any appropriate lease must be filed to BC Assessment no later than October 31 for the subsequent tax year.

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About Kelowna BC farmland

Kelowna’s economy and development pattern have been shaped historically by agriculture. In addition to providing a visually appealing landscape, agricultural land is a crucial component of our green infrastructure, absorbing rainwater, preventing flooding, recharging aquifers, and ensuring food security. It also plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for our citizens. A community’s farm area is the focal point of an agricultural plan, which seeks to solve practical problems, spot possibilities to improve farming, and eventually contribute to the long-term sustainability of both agriculture and the community.

For the over 12,000 hectares—55% of Kelowna’s land base—that are designated for agriculture, 8,600 of which are in the Agriculture Land Reserve, our “Agriculture Plan” offers unambiguous guidance.

Outlook

Growing farms with numerous land parcels has been a trend during the past ten years. In recent years, the demand for and profitability of cherries have both soared. While Spartans and MacIntosh apples are in decline, apple cultivars like ambrosias and honey crisp are in high demand. Additionally, there have been technological advancements. Pickers are not required when using harvesting equipment for wine grapes. Apple-picking machines are now in the prototype stage.

The land base must continue to be adaptable to take into account changes throughout time. High land costs: As land values rise, there will be more pressure to develop in rural and agricultural areas. Locally, the cost of farmland is turning into a bigger barrier to entrance. The cost of farms with large residences has climbed significantly over the past ten years due to an increase in the utilization of farmland for estate homes.

Farm and rural lands continue to be threatened by development and unauthorised activities. A key barrier to starting a farm is the increased cost of agricultural land as a result of estate residences. Additionally, there is still a demand on enforcement resources due to the illegitimate use of rural and agricultural properties for commercial and industrial purposes.

Farm land is also in danger from “use creep,” which occurs when non-farm uses are increased beyond what is allowed. There is a need to investigate a land use designation that addresses a shift to agriculture because tensions between agricultural uses and urban growth still exist.

Source: https://www.kelowna.ca/our-community/planning-projects/agriculture-plan