Permits

If you are developing or renovating a property, there are a number of zoning regulations in the Land Use Bylaw you must consider. Using the zoning map (new interactive map with Land Use layer) and the bylaw, you can determine requirements, such as minimum building setbacks, maximum height, permitted lot coverage, and parking regulations. Applications to amend the Land Use Bylaw or the Official Community Plan, as well as development and variance permits needed to support your project, can only be authorized by Council.

Development Permit 

Properties zoned multi-family, commercial, or industrial as indicated on the OCP Schedule D map, require a development permit for any new construction and most exterior alterations. Guidelines for the form and character of a development are found in Sections 11.4 and 11.5 of the Official Community Plan. The guidelines are intended to encourage a high standard of building form, landscaping, energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, pedestrian safety, and comfort. The Development/Development Variance Permit application form is available from the resource library.

Properties on the shoreline, near creeks or streams or located in sensitive terrestrial ecosystems have been designated as development permit areas to allow for protection of the natural environment, its ecosystems and biological diversity. Those lands identified on Schedule E and F in the Official Community Plan may be required to obtain a development permit for work on the site, other than those activities exempt in Sections 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3 of the Official Community Plan.  To find out if your property is located in these development permit areas, check out OCP Schedule E map and Schedule F map. The Development/Development Variance Permit application form is available from the resource library.

Development Variance Permit

A Development Variance Permit is required to request an exception (such as setbacks, height, lot frontage or parking regulations) to a Land Use Bylaw requirement. An increase in density (lot coverage or floor area) over what is permitted in the bylaw would require a rezoning application. The Development/Development Variance Permit application form is available from the resource library.

Rezoning

A rezoning application is required for an amendment of the Land Use Bylaw, such as a zoning designation, land use or density of a site in order to permit a specific development. Check out the zoning map (link above) to confirm your property's zoning designation. The Rezoning/OCP Amendment application form is available from the resource library.

Official Community Plan Amendment

A bylaw amendment application may be required along with a rezoning application, when the proposed development is not in compliance with the use identified in the Official Community Plan. Check out the OCP Schedule A for the land use designation of any property. The Rezoning/OCP Amendment application form is available from the resource library.

Temporary Use Permit

Agricultural zoned (A-1) properties have been designated as an area where a temporary use permit could be considered for farm camping or for non-farm uses with approval from the Agricultural Land Commission. Applications may be submitted for a temporary use permit on properties in other zones, however, a zoning or bylaw amendment application would be required first to allow the temporary use on a specific parcel of land. An authorized temporary use permit is valid for a limited time period only, and would require renewal or a new application process to continue the use. The Temporary Use Permit application form is available from the resource library.

Subdivision

Subdivision is the process to create new, titled parcels of land. The land use bylaw regulates the minimum lot size and frontage requirements for a parcel based on the zoning designation. If the lots in a proposed subdivision meet the current zoning requirements for size and frontage, an application can be submitted to the approving officer for the subdivision to create two or more parcels. Alternatively, a rezoning or development variance permit may be required prior to a subdivision application. The Preliminary Layout (PLA) application, the initial subdivision application, is available from the resource library.

Check out the related documents link at the top of the page for additional details on these process.