Process serving in Kelowna is priced by the attempt, not by the hour, and the number that matters is the flat rate for the first attempt. Everything else is a fixed add-on you can see in advance.
The first attempt sets the price
Our Kelowna rate is $110 for the first attempt. That covers dispatch to the address, the attempt itself, the attempt log with time, address and outcome, updates on request, and the affidavit of service drafted and sworn by us once the party is served, with the PDF ready for upload to Court Services Online. Lake Country is $120, and West Kelowna and Peachland are $130. Vernon is $135, Summerland $145, Coldstream $170 and Penticton $175. Armstrong, Falkland and Naramata are $195, Lumby $205, Okanagan Falls $210, Enderby $220, Oliver $245, and Osoyoos and Salmon Arm $250. There is no mileage, fuel or travel charge on any of them.
What adds to the bill
- Additional attempts. $30 each in Kelowna and Lake Country, $35 in West Kelowna, $40 in Vernon, $60 in Summerland, $175 in Penticton. Made as needed, across different days and times, until the party is served or you tell us to stop. A serve completed on the first attempt costs the first-attempt rate and nothing more.
- Same-day service. $50 added to the flat rate for documents received before 4 pm, subject to availability and confirmed by email.
- Courthouse filing. $50 per filing at Kelowna Law Courts, $135 at Vernon Law Courts, $175 at Penticton Law Courts and $250 at Salmon Arm Law Courts, stamped copies returned.
- Out-of-province notary. $85 when the documents come from a court outside BC and the affidavit must be notarized.
- GST. Charged on all services.
Two ways process servers price, and why it matters
Some servers quote a bundle: three attempts for one price, with rush and same-day tiers above it. Others, including us, price the first attempt and charge for further attempts only if they are made. A bundle looks simpler, but most serves complete on the first or second attempt, so a per-attempt price is usually the lower total. The thing to check in any quote is what is not in it: mileage, fuel surcharges, "administration" fees, and whether the affidavit is included or extra.
Head to head: a flat rate against confusing extra fees
The same job, quoted two ways. A Notice of Civil Claim served in Kelowna, 12 km from the office, same-day, served on the first attempt, affidavit sworn and a PDF sent. The second column is an illustrative quote built from fee types that appear on process serving price lists in this region. It is not any one company.
| Line item | Okanagan Process Servers | Quote with extra fees |
|---|---|---|
| Base fee, first attempt | $110 | $120 |
| Same-day attempt | $50 | $45 |
| Mileage, 12 km each way at $0.95 | included | $22.80 |
| Fuel surcharge, 12% of the serve | included | $19.80 |
| Affidavit drafting and commissioning | included | $50 |
| PDF copy of the affidavit | included | $10 |
| Postage and handling | included | $5 |
| Total before GST | $160 | $272.60 |
The base fee looked close. The invoice did not. Every line in the second column is a fee you cannot see until the bill arrives, and each one is an argument with the client about a disbursement. Our column has two numbers, both published on the pricing page before you send the file.
The difference grows when a second attempt is needed. With us, Kelowna adds $30. On the second quote, mileage and fuel are charged again on each trip, so the extras repeat.
What you should get for the price
An attempt log you could put in front of a judge, an affidavit in the form the court expects, and a total that matches the quote. If a serve fails, the attempt log becomes the affidavit of attempted service used to ask the court for an alternative method of service, so it should be written carefully from the start.
Questions
How much does a process server cost in Kelowna?
The first attempt is $110 in Kelowna. Additional attempts are $30 each and are made only on instruction. A same-day attempt adds $50, subject to availability. Prices are plus GST, with no mileage.
Is the affidavit of service included?
Yes. The affidavit is drafted and sworn by us on every completed serve, and the PDF is standard, emailed the day it is sworn and ready for upload to Court Services Online.
Okanagan Process Servers is a process serving company, not a law firm, and does not give legal or procedural advice. This guide restates publicly available information from the sources on the references page. Rules, forms and time limits change; confirm the current requirement with the registry, the Residential Tenancy Branch or your lawyer.