Regional Growth Strategies (RGS) are long-term plans that articulate a Board’s vision for future regional growth. The purpose of an RGS is to promote human settlement that is socially, economically and environmentally healthy and that makes efficient use of public facilities and services, land and other resources.

An RGS also ensures alignment between Official Community Plans (OCP) and provides guidance on important regional and local land use decisions.

The South Okanagan Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) encompasses the southern portion of the Okanagan Valley and includes RDOS Electoral Areas “A”, “C”, “D”, “E”, “F”, and “I” as well as the municipalities of Osoyoos, Oliver, Penticton and Summerland.

The current review of the South Okanagan RGS is proposing to replace the Designated Regional Growth Strategy Primary and Rural Growth Areas Map (Map 3) with a new map schedule and to update the "Housing and Development" objectives and policies under "Goal 1" to support the new map schedule land use classifications.

Other proposed amendments relate to updating the Energy Emissions and Climate Change section of the Strategy, updating the community profile section with new Census data, and removing Naramata and Kaleden as designated growth areas.

The Local Government Act (LGA) requires any regional district that has adopted an RGS to consider whether the RGS should be reviewed every five years. The South Okanagan RGS was adopted in 2010 and subsequently amended in 2011 and 2016.

In 2019, the Regional Board resolved to initiate a further review of the RGS, to determine the suitability of several designated “Rural Growth Areas” (e.g. Willow Beach, Anarchist Mountain and Greata Ranch) following the completion of OCP Bylaw Reviews for Electoral Areas “A” and “F”. Other considerations included a review of climate change policies and possible inclusion of findings from the (then) forthcoming Housing Needs Assessment Report.

A review of options to address these matters was undertaken throughout 2021 and early 2022. In June 2022, the Board accepted a Consultation Plan proposing public consultation based on the following amendments to the RGS:

1. replacing “Map 3” with a new “Growth Management Map” schedule; and
2. revising the objectives and policies contained in the “Housing and Development” Section of the bylaw to support the “Growth Management Map” schedule.

On August 3, 2023, the Regional Board considered a summary of consultation undertaken in support of the RGS Review and directed that the scope of the RGS Review be expanded by removing Kaleden and Naramata as designated “Rural Growth Areas”.

On January 22, 2026, the Regional Board initiated a revised RGS Amendment Bylaw No. 2770.02, 2026, reflecting the previous direction to remove Kaleden and Naramata as designated “Rural Growth Areas”. The revised amendment does this through additional policies in the proposed "Village Settlement Area" designation to apply at Kaleden, Naramata and Gallagher Lake.

Due to the time elapsed since consultation was previously undertaken in 2022, the Regional Board accepted a new Consultation Plan proposing consultation to be completed in 2026 in support of this amendment.

What is a Regional Growth Strategy (RGS)?

An RGS is a long-term land use planning policy document that is coordinated by regional districts for its member municipalities. The Local Government Act gives regional districts the authority to adopt a regional growth strategy to guide decisions on growth, change, and development, under section 429. It is developed collaboratively and addresses issues such as housing, transportation, environment, economic development and more. It provides long-range (20+ years) planning direction that ensures regional sustainability with a main emphasis on avoiding urban sprawl.

What communities are included within this Regional Growth Strategy?

The South Okanagan RGS encompasses the southern portion of the Okanagan Valley and includes RDOS Electoral Areas “A”, “C”, “D”, “E”, “F”, and “I” as well as the municipalities of Osoyoos, Oliver, Penticton and Summerland.

What does a Regional Growth Strategy do?

An RGS provides policies to direct population growth and to promote human settlement in the South Okanagan for the next 20 years. It promotes regional coordination on issues associated with growth such as water, sewer and solid waste, for example, to support the envisioned growth strategy.

What does a Regional Growth Strategy NOT do?

An RGS cannot regulate land use within member municipalities and electoral areas, as local governments are given the authority to regulate land use through the use of tools such as official community plans, zoning bylaws, development permits, temporary use permits, and development variance permits in divisions 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9 of the Local Government Act, respectively.

How is an RGS Implemented?

The RGS is implemented within each community through local Official Community Plans, infrastructure plans, and regulatory tools such as zoning bylaws.

How often is an RGS reviewed?

The Local Government Act requires any regional district with an RGS to consider an update once every five years. The RDOS adopted the RGS in 2010, initiated a minor review in 2015 and in 2020 considered it a suitable time for an additional review. In 2025, the Regional District considered the need to further review the RGS and resolved to not undertake a further review in light of the on-going 2020 review.

What’s the difference between an OCP and an RGS?

An OCP provides guidance and policies on a broad range of topics and also designates land for specific purposes. Collectively, the OCP's land use map and the policies are used by the Regional Board, Regional District staff, and other agencies and the community to guide future land use and investment in the community.

The RGS is a high level policy document which sets out a region wide vision for the future with supportive policies and promotes coordination among municipalities and Regional Districts on issues that cross municipal boundaries.

Individually, within their OCPs, municipalities plan for growth and change within their own boundaries. To ensure consistency between the RGS and OCPs, each member municipality's OCP must include a Regional Context Statement that identifies the relationship between the OCP and RGS Policy Goals and Objectives.

What does the Regional Growth Strategy provide guidance on?

Regional Growth Strategies identify key geographic areas of urban and rural growth. A focus on select areas will help to inform decision making when it comes to things like service delivery or infrastructure.

The South Okanagan RGS is comprised of seven policy areas, which include their supporting goals, objectives and policies (the current RGS can be found here). These policy areas ensure social, economic, and environmental sustainability for all partner communities for years to come.

Our Seven Policy Areas:

1. Housing and Development
2. Ecosystems, Natural Areas and Parks
3. Infrastructure and Transportation
4. Community Health and Well-being
5. Regional Economic Development
6. Engagement and Collaboration
7. Energy Emissions and Climate Change

What is a Growth Area?

Growth Areas are areas where future growth should primarily be directed. In the South Okanagan RGS area, “Growth Areas” comprise the incorporated municipalities of Penticton, Summerland, Oliver and Osoyoos as well as Okanagan Falls as these are the communities that have been identified as having the necessary services, infrastructure and amenities in place to accommodate future growth.

Who is involved in the RGS Review?

The RGS Review project has relied upon the input of the RGS Technical Advisory Committee (made up of senior Planning staff from the RDOS, Penticton, Summerland, Oliver, and Osoyoos), as well as the RDOS Planning and Development Committee which consists of Regional Board members.

What Consultation Was Completed in 2022?

In 2022, RDOS staff worked with a team of consultants on a previous version of the update to the strategy. Opportunities were also provided for both community and stakeholder engagement throughout this process to help inform the amendments. This comprised three phases of work, as summarized below:

Phase 1: Review & Understand (Late 2019 - December 2021)

The initial phase of the project will help to generate an understanding of the current situation in the South Okanagan through conversations with RDOS staff, planning staff from each of the member municipalities, and the Regional Board, as well as an analysis of South Okanagan historic and projected demographic trends.

Phase 2: Policy Updates (January to December 2022)

The second phase of the project will entail discussions on topics such as Rural Growth Areas, OCP consistency with the RGS, clarity regarding acceptable development outside of the designated growth areas and current region-wide subjects such as climate action targets. The RDOS Board will adopt a consultation plan and draft copies of the amendment bylaw will be released during this phase.

Phase 3: Final Review & Adoption (Early 2023)

The final phase will aim to identify action items for implementing the policy direction outlined in the RGS. Public consultation opportunities will be available to give feedback on the draft amendments. Feedback received from the public, external and internal agency referrals will be incorporated into the proposed amendments. The amendments will be formally referred to all affected local governments for acceptance. The amendments will be presented to the Regional Board for adoption at the end of this phase.

What has changed since 2022?

The current version of the amendment bylaw has been revised to reflect direction from the Regional Board to remove Kaleden and Naramata as designated “Rural Growth Areas”. The revised amendement does this through new policies to be applied to the "Village Settlement Area" designation at Kaleden, Naramata and Gallagher Lake.

The Regional District, City of Penticton, District of Summerland, Town of Osoyoos and Town of Oliver held Open Houses in support of the RGS Review on the following dates:

Electoral Area "C"

Electoral Area "D"

Electoral Area "E"

Electoral Area "F"

Electoral Area "I"

The following additional information was made available online to assist with the preparation of proposals in support of the 2022 phase of this project. Each document is hyperlinked:

• South Okanagan Regional Growth Strategy, Bylaw No. 2770, 2017
• RGS Sustainability Checklist
• RGS Regional Snapshots
• Request for Proposals (2020-05-14)
• Award of Contract (2020-08-06)

• City of Penticton OCP
• Town of Osoyoos OCP 
• Town of Oliver OCP 
• District of Summerland OCP
• RDOS Electoral Area OCPs (Electoral Areas “A”, “C”, “D”, “E”, “F”, and “I)