---
title: Kelowna Needs to Go Bold on DCC Relief
description: Kelowna Council is urged to cut Development Cost Charges by 50% to revive housing construction, as the industry faces significant downturns and layoffs.
---

[BC - Blog ](https://icba.ca/bc-blog)

# [Kelowna Needs to Go Bold on DCC Relief](https://icba.ca/bc-blog/kelowna-needs-to-go-bold-on-dcc-relief)

 Written by [Jordan Bateman](https://icba.ca/bc-blog/author/jordan) | Apr 16, 2026 5:50:06 PM

UPDATED APRIL 20, 2026: KELOWNA COUNCIL PASSED A 25% DCC REDUCTION. GREAT NEWS!

Kelowna Council is considering temporary Development Cost Charge relief to kickstart stalled housing construction — and ICBA is urging them to go big.

[In a letter to Mayor Tom Dyas and Council](https://icba.ca/hubfs/Advocacy%20items%20etc%20(Jordan)/Kelowna%20DCC%20letter%20-%20April%2016%202026.pdf), ICBA President Chris Gardner expressed strong support for a temporary DCC reduction but pushed Council to go beyond the proposed 20 per cent cut to 50 per cent. The math is simple: DCC revenue is a function of both rate and volume. A bolder cut that actually gets projects moving will generate more revenue than a modest one applied to a dead market. You can't collect DCCs on homes that never get built.

The construction downturn is hitting the Okanagan hard. Twenty-three per cent of ICBA's B.C. contractor members report layoffs made or planned. Housing starts province-wide are projected to drop from 42,200 to around 30,000 this year. And yesterday, Metro Vancouver's Regional District Board voted to dramatically roll back its own regional DCCs — setting a clear precedent.

The industry wants to build in Kelowna. Council should give us the conditions to do it. Read our letter [HERE](https://icba.ca/hubfs/Advocacy%20items%20etc%20(Jordan)/Kelowna%20DCC%20letter%20-%20April%2016%202026.pdf).

[View full post](https://icba.ca/bc-blog/kelowna-needs-to-go-bold-on-dcc-relief)

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