OCP & Zoning Amendments

What is Zoning?

ZONING IS LAND USE REGULATION established by bylaw as permitted by the B.C. Local Government Act. Regional Districts and municipalities may regulate the use of land and set minimum lot sizes within a defined area. ONE PRIME PURPOSE of zoning is to provide property owners protection against changes in the use of neighbouring parcels of land that may result in a conflict and devaluation of their property or affect their environment or way of life. This protection is achieved by requiring a property owner who proposes a change in the use of land to make an application to the Regional Board.

IF YOUR PROPOSAL DOES NOT CONFORM to Regional District zoning, you may make application for changing the zoning at the PLANNING DEPARTMENT office of the Regional District. Be prepared to wait four months or more for a final decision of approval or rejection on your rezoning application. A rezoning requires a public hearing and approval from the Regional District Board, the Ministry of Transportation if the property is near a controlled access highway, and from the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services in Victoria when no official community plan is in effect.

Please refer to the Regional District of Central Kootenay brochure entitled “Zoning Amendment Procedures” for further information.

Community Plan Amendments

If an Official Community Plan is in effect in the area of the proposed zoning amendment, the proposal must conform with the requirements of the Plan. If the proposal does not conform with the Plan, an amendment will also have to be approved prior to approval of the zoning amendment bylaw.

Plan amendment bylaws must follow the same basic steps towards approval as those described for a zoning amendment bylaw. If a zoning amendment proposal also requires a Plan amendment, both amending bylaws usually proceed simultaneously through the various steps towards approval.

The whole process can take from four or more months from start to completion.

OCP & Zoning Amendment Application

Zoning Amendment Information Brochure (730.8 kB)   Development Application Form (1.1 MB)   Site Profile - Schedule 1 (91.5 kB)   Industrial & Commercial Purposes & Activities - Schedule 2 (68.7 kB)

*NOTE: Schedules 1 & 2 must be completed with Application.

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