Living at SilverStar year-round: the practical guide

A weekend place and a year-round home are two different purchases, even in the same building. When you live at SilverStar full time, the daily drive, the school bus, the internet connection and where you buy milk matter as much as ski access. This page covers the practical questions full-time buyers ask, with sources and the numbers to call. Where we couldn’t verify something, we say so.

The road and winter driving

SilverStar is about 22 km northeast of Vernon on Silver Star Road, which leaves Highway 97 in Vernon. The drive takes roughly 20 to 25 minutes in good conditions. The village sits at 1,609 m, so the road climbs well over 1,000 m from the valley, and conditions at the top can be very different from town.

• Tires: BC requires winter tires (M+S or the mountain snowflake symbol) or chains on most highways from Oct. 1 to March 31, and to April 30 on some routes. For Silver Star Road, good winter tires are strongly recommended all winter; an all-wheel or four-wheel-drive vehicle helps.
• Before you go: check DriveBC and the resort’s conditions page.
• Kelowna airport (YLW): about 55 minutes. Vancouver is about six hours by car.

Sources: Wikipedia; Wikivoyage; kelownahomes.ca.

Schools and the school bus

SilverStar is in School District 22 (Vernon). SD22’s transportation policy buses in-catchment students who live more than 2.4 km from their school. Riders must register, courtesy rides depend on space, and busing is not guaranteed to out-of-catchment schools.

We have not been able to confirm which elementary school is the catchment for SilverStar addresses, or whether a dedicated bus runs to the mountain this year. Before you buy, call SD22 Transportation at 250-542-3331 with the exact address and ask about the catchment school, the bus route and pick-up time. Families also look at the Vernon Ski Club and SilverStar Freestyle Ski Club programs.

Source: SD22 bus transportation.

Internet and working from home

We couldn’t find a reliable public source on which internet services reach each SilverStar area. Service can vary from building to building. Before you remove subjects:

• Run the exact address through the main providers’ address checkers.
• Ask the seller for a recent bill and a speed test.
• Ask neighbours and the strata what they use.
• Consider fixed wireless or satellite as a backup if you rely on video calls.

Groceries and errands

The village has a grocery and general store for everyday items, but the big shop, hardware, pharmacy and most services are in Vernon, 20 to 25 minutes down the road. Full-time residents build a routine: stock up when they’re in town for work, school or appointments. Confirm current store hours in the village; many businesses keep seasonal hours.

Water, sewer, fire and garbage

• Water: the RDNO’s Silver Star Water Utility. In January 2026 a main break on Silver Queen Road led to a short water quality advisory, lifted within three days.
• Sewer: confirm the servicing and fees for the specific property with the seller, the strata or the RDNO.
• Drainage: an RDNO service.
• Fire: the Silver Star Fire Department.
• Garbage and recycling: the Silver Star Transfer Station.
• Building permits: RDNO Building Inspection, 250-550-3700.

Sources: RDNO Area C; Vernon Morning Star.

Healthcare and emergencies

There are health and wellness offices in the village. The nearest hospital is Vernon Jubilee Hospital. In winter, allow for road conditions when you think about emergency response times, and keep a well-stocked vehicle. The community showed up for the hospital in June 2026 with a summer carnival that raised money for the emergency department.

Living with 700 cm of snow

Snow is part of daily life. The zoning bylaw requires snow storage within 10 m of your parking, equal to half of its size, unless you have an off-site snow dump arrangement or a heated driveway. Budget for plowing if your strata doesn’t cover it, a good roof with sensible snow shedding, and a place to dry gear. See the buying guide for more.

Local government and taxes

SilverStar is part of RDNO Electoral Area C (BX / SilverStar), with an elected director on the regional board. Property tax is billed by the Province’s Surveyor of Taxes because it’s a rural area. SilverStar is not currently in a speculation and vacancy tax area, unlike the City of Vernon. Full-time residents may qualify for the BC home owner grant; check eligibility with the Province.

Community

The full-time community is small. Winter brings the ski clubs, Nordic races and night skiing; summer brings bike events and festivals like Wine Fest and SEISMIC. Pets are welcome in The Knoll, Alpine Meadows and The Ridge. If you want a bigger town feel with the mountain close by, a home in Vernon or Coldstream is a common compromise.