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Fernie’s builders, contractors, and local business community demands action on permit delays. They have raised their voices in unison and will present a petition—signed by 309 verified community members as of today, to Fernie City Council on Thursday, July 26. Their message is clear: the city’s building permit processing system needs immediate and significant improvements.
The petition highlights years of unresolved issues, including excessive delays and unpredictable timelines for building permit approvals, despite an extensive publicly funded review—the Development Approvals Enhancement Project—which laid out clear recommendations more than two years ago.
Local builders report average wait times for permits regularly exceeding 12 weeks, significantly impacting project timelines, budgets, and local employment stability. These delays are not just inconveniences; they represent lost opportunities for growth, investment, and community development. Tradespeople face layoffs, businesses see disrupted schedules, and potential new residents and investors are deterred by Fernie’s reputation for bureaucratic inefficiency.
In Spring 2025, the City of Fernie launched Cloudpermit, an online permit-tracking software designed to streamline the building and development permit process. This new tool aims to simplify applications for builders, developers, businesses, and residents by providing a fully digital platform accessible at any time. While this modernization effort is a welcome step, the development community emphasizes that technology alone is not enough—consistent service levels, accountable timelines, and full implementation of the Development Approvals Enhancement Project recommendations are still urgently needed.
The petition calls for specific action from City Council, including the immediate implementation of recommendations from the Development Approvals Enhancement Project, transparent and regular public reporting on progress, and reliable timelines for permit processing.
With 309 verified signatures representing a broad segment of the local economy, the community’s demand for change is undeniable. Public response underscores the urgency for Council to rebuild confidence in Fernie’s development processes and protect the economic vitality of the community.
The effectiveness of this petition will be measurable by future permit turnaround times, regular progress reports from City Hall, and renewed growth in Fernie’s construction and real estate sectors.
The development community has clearly spoken. Now, the question remains—how quickly will Fernie City Council act?
