Planning Permits

For properties within a Development Permit Area (DPA), an approved Development Permit (Major) may be required before a Building Permit can be issued. Please review the consolidated DPA Map and contact the Development Services Department to determine if a property is located within a DPA and which DPA guidelines apply.

If a Development Permit is required, staff will check the application against the DPA guidelines as outlined in the Official Community Plan and for compliance with other municipal regulations.

If your property is located within one of the designated form and character Development Permit Areas and you are:

• undertaking any kind of new construction, or additions/alterations to the exterior of an existing building that results in an increate in the Gross Floor Area (GFA), or
• making changes to the number of parking spaces on a property,

Then you are required to first obtain a Development Permit (Major) before applying for a Building Permit or commencing any work.

Please see the Town’s Guide to Applying for a Development Permit (Major) for more information.

For properties within a Development Permit Area (DPA), an approved Development Permit (Minor) may be required before a Building Permit can be issued. Please review the consolidated DPA Map and contact the Development Services Department to determine if a property is located within a DPA and which DPA guidelines apply.

If a Development Permit is required, staff will check the application against the DPA guidelines as outlined in the Official Community Plan and for compliance with other municipal regulations.

If your property is located within one of the designated Environmentally Sensitive Development Permit Areas and you are:

• proposing work within Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) which requires alteration of land (this can include new construction, additions or alterations to the existing footprint of a building or structure, addition or replacement of fencing, tree removal or other changes to the landscaping)

OR

If your property is located within one of the designated form and character Development Permit Areas and you are:

• undertaking any kind of additions or alterations to the exterior of an existing building
• making changes to an approved landscaping plan
• otherwise amending an approved Development Permit

Then you are required to first obtain a Development Permit (Minor) before applying for a Building Permit or commencing any work.

Please see the Town’s Guide to Applying for a Development Permit (Minor) for more information.

Properties and buildings come in many shapes, sizes, terrains, locations, and contexts within a town. All new developments must conform to the applicable bylaws; however, Development Variance Permits can allow for the relaxation of regulations in certain bylaws, on matters other than the use or density of the land.

Please see the Town’s Guide to Applying for a Development Variance Permit for more information.

A Zoning Amendment, or rezoning, is a land use amendment to the Town’s Zoning Bylaw. This involves changing the zone of a property to a different zone or amending the requirements of a current zone. If the rezoning application is consistent with the policies outlined in the OCP, it can proceed through the process without an OCP Amendment.

If the rezoning application is not consistent with the OCP, the Zoning Amendment and the OCP Amendment application are processed concurrently through similar processes.

Please see the Town’s Guide to Amending the Zoning Bylaw for more information.

The Town’s Official Community Plan (OCP) is the community’s collective vision for the Town. It provides policy direction for land use, servicing, and the form and character of development within specific areas of the Town. In order to change any of the policies outlined in the OCP, in other words, to change the vision approved by Council, an OCP Amendment is required.

Please see the Town’s Guide to Official Community Plan Amendments for more information.

A Temporary Use Permit can allow for a use in a specific zone that is not a current permitted use for a specific period of time. This allows for temporary uses that do not conform to Zoning Bylaw regulations, without the need for a zoning amendment.

Please see the Town’s Guide to Applying for a Temporary Commercial or Industrial Permit for more information.

Subdividing a property involves the division of land into two or more parcels. As the complexity of subdivision applications can vary, it is recommended that you contact the Development Services Department to discuss your ideas before submitting a subdivision application.

Please see the Town’s Guide to Subdivision Applications for more information.

The Board of Variance is an independent body from the Town Hall that deals with appeals for minor variances where compliance with the Zoning Bylaw would cause undue hardship unique to the property in question.

Please see the Town’s Information Sheet on Board of Variance Applications.