Council has extended the deadline from December 31, 2024, to June 30, 2025, for the Building Permit Fee Reduction program, Archaeology Grant, and Tree Planting program for rebuilding property owners.
Lytton's recovery from the 2021 fire is ongoing. On this page, find the following resources and supports for individuals and homeowners:
Building Permit Fee Reduction program
The Village will reduce building permit fees by 50% for building permit applications received by June 30, 2025.
Eligibility
You need to meet the following criteria to be eligible for this program:
- Be an owner rebuilding on a property in the Village of Lytton that you owned on June 30, 2021.
- Apply for your building permit before June 30, 2025.
Archaeology Grant
The Village will provide a grant of up to $5,000 to Village of Lytton property owners for archaeology costs.
Learn about archaeology requirements
Eligibility
The following are eligibility criteria:
- Property owners must have a complete building permit application submitted to the Village of Lytton.
- Eligible costs are to support archaeological activities conducted under an approved Heritage Conservation Act (HCA) permit, including costs associated with:
- Having qualified field personnel on site (permit holders, field directors, field assistants, monitors, Indigenous participants)
- Post-field work activities (laboratory analysis, data processing, reporting, etc.)
- Having an archaeologist or firm prepare materials required for HCA permitting (applications, work plans, etc.)
The deadline for applications is June 30, 2025.
How to apply
- Apply for your building permit before June 30, 2025.
- Submit a valid invoice from the archaeologist with the supporting HCA permit (i.e. Schedule A) to the Village by emailing finance@lytton.ca.
- The Village will pay up to $5,000 towards the invoice directly to the archaeologist, and you will be responsible for paying the remaining balance.
Funding
The program funding is from the $17.6-million grant from the Province of B.C. for rebuilding Lytton.
Tree Planting program
At their meeting on April 23, 2024, Council endorsed a Tree Planting program to allow property owners impacted by the 2021 wildfire to be reimbursed up to $100 for planting a tree (or trees) on their properties.
The Tree Planting Program is funded through general donations to the community for rebuilding.
Eligibility requirements
- Trees must be planted by June 30, 2025, on a property that was directly impacted by the wildfire.
- The property must have an active water connection.
- Trees should be a fire-resistant variety, such as Japanese maple, chokecherry, or ornamental crabapple.
Find fire-resistant tree varieties
How to apply
- Purchase and plant your tree (or trees). The purchase price will be reimbursed up to a total of $100 per property.
- Print and complete the Application for Reimbursement: Tree Planting form or pick up a copy at the Village Office.
- Attach a copy of your receipts to the completed form and email them to info@lytton.ca or bring them to the Village Office.
Fire-Resilient Community fact sheet
Future disasters may be prevented by reducing opportunities for fire to move through the landscape and between buildings. In September 2023, Council endorsed five recommendations for fire-resilient rebuilding in Lytton.
One of the recommendations was the creation of a Fire-Resilient Community fact sheet with practical guidelines for landscaping and building.
PacifiCan Lytton Homeowner Resilient Rebuild program
PacifiCan, the federal regional development agency for British Columbians, is currently accepting applications for the Lytton Homeowner Resilient Rebuild (LHRR) program.
Through this $6 million federal program, PacifiCan is providing top-up grants to eligible Lytton area homeowners who wish to rebuild a fire-resilient or Net Zero and fire-resilient home as their primary residence. The program includes support towards home design, construction, and Net Zero certification.
For more information on eligibility criteria and potential grant amounts, visit the PacifiCan website.
Changes to the program
In response to community feedback, PacifiCan has adjusted the LHRR program to better address local needs. In November 2024, the following changes were introduced:
- An increased fire-resilience grant amount from $10,000 to $27,000.
- A new mid-build grant payment equivalent to 30% of Net Zero Ready or Net Zero grant amount.
- An additional way to demonstrate construction of a Net Zero Ready or Net Zero home. Homeowners can now choose one of two options:
- Successful qualification under the Canadian Home Builders Association’s Net Zero Labelling Program, or
- New: Achievement of BC Energy Step Code 4 or 5 along with an energy report indicating the home has the potential to produce as much energy as the home needs (Net Zero Ready), or with the installation of enough solar panels to produce as much energy as the home needs (Net Zero).
Read the November 2024 Lytton Home Resilient Rebuilding Program info sheet
How to apply
Potential applicants are encouraged to reach out to the Lytton team at lytton@pacifican.gc.ca for a one-on-one consultation to discuss their rebuild plans and receive an application.
The program deadline is March 31, 2025.
Resources
Co-operators Financing Program
At the December 7, 2023 Lytton Community Meeting, Co-operators announced the launch of the Co-operators Financing Program (CFP).
Working in partnership with PacifiCan, Interior Savings Credit Union, and the Village of Lytton, the CFP provides residents of Lytton who choose to rebuild their homes with bridge financing that will allow them to take advantage of PacifiCan's Lytton Homeowner Resilient Rebuild Program.
Through the CFP, Co-operators will advance the funds necessary to pay for the fire-resilient and Net Zero features so that residents do not have to wait for the PacifiCan grant to build back fire-resilient and Net Zero.
Resources
FireSmart BC
FireSmart is a program intended to increase neighbourhood resilience to wildfire and to minimize its negative impacts.
In Lytton, the TLKemChEEN FireSmart Committee coordinates FireSmart activities for both the Village of Lytton and Lytton First Nation. The FireSmart program supports wildfire preparedness, prevention, and mitigation through public education, assessments, and mitigative work to reduce community risk from wildfires. Find updates from the committee on their Facebook page.
Find information and tools at firesmartbc.ca.
Resources
Mental health supports and other resources
211 British Columbia wildfire support
211 British Columbia by United Way offers a clear, easy-to-navigate resource list for British Columbians who are affected by wildfires. Find links to this information and more on the 211 Wildfires webpage:
- Wildfire status and updates
- Evacuation registration and support information
- Emotional support
- Recovery after wildfire
- Volunteering
Dial 2-1-1 or text 2-1-1 to speak with a 211 Resource Navigator, or visit the 211 Wildfires webpage.
Canadian Mental Health Association
Your mental health is important. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) offers Tips on Coping with Disaster Stress and helpful links and resources. Visit the CMHA website.
These free, confidential support and crisis lines are available 24/7:
- BC Mental Health Support Line 310-6789 (no area code required)
- KUU-US Indigenous line 1-800-588-8717
- 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
Canadian Red Cross
The Canadian Red Cross continues to offer support to Village of Lytton residents impacted by wildfire. Find information on the Red Cross website.
To inquire about eligibility for Red Cross support services, call 1-800-863-6582 from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or email BCRecoverySupport@redcross.ca to arrange a private and confidential appointment.
See also
Related news
Donate and help restore a part of Lytton's history
Former Lytton resident Huntley Smith has been restoring Lytton’s 1941 International Harvester fire truck, which survived the 2021 Lytton fire. For many years, the truck was parked behind the Lytton Fire Hall in the Village, where it was hidden from view and exposed to the elements. After the fire destroyed the Fire Hall, the truck was dragged out and towed to Huntley’s shop. Read more.
At this time, there is no budget for the restoration work that Huntley and other volunteers are doing. If you would like to donate to help offset the costs for this restoration project, contact the Village Office by calling 250-455-2355 or emailing info@lytton.ca The Village can provide tax receipts.
