• Access the Official Community Plan (OCP) for policies, land use designation and development permit areas. Visit PoCoMAP to view the current OCP designation of a property. If applicable to your project, consult the City’s information on Official Community Plan amendments.
• Find out the property’s zoning using PoCoMAP or the Zoning Maps in the Planning Division, and check the Zoning Bylaw for zoning requirements and regulations that apply to your property, including such supplemental regulations as recycling facilities and specifications and bicycle facilities.
• If applicable to your project, consult the City’s information on Development Permits and small lot development.
• If your development is within 50 meters of a watercourse, consult the Watercourse Development Permits page.
• Review the Parking and Development Management Bylaw to determine parking and loading requirements.
• Please consult other documents including the Community Charter; Local Government Act; Land Title Act; Strata Property Act; City bylaws (such as the Subdivision Servicing Bylaw, Tree Bylaw, and Soil Removal and Deposit Bylaw) and other municipal legislation and policies as may be applicable for specific requirements.
• If you are building a new structure or making significant upgrades, consult the Build or Renovate a Structure page.
• Review the Heritage Resource Inventory (2013) to see if the subject property has been identified as having potential heritage significance. Consult the Heritage page to learn more about the City’s heritage policies and programs.
• Consider employing professionals familiar with the Development Permit process (such as architects or landscape architects) to assist in the application process.

Before submitting your application, you may wish to take steps to speak to the property owners adjacent to the proposed development. This is an opportunity to introduce the proposal, seek input and address neighbour concerns early in the process.

Planning staff are available to discuss the proposal and how it addresses community goals and objectives. Staff will also provide advice to ensure a comprehensive application, including public consultation requirements and appropriate terms of reference for required consultant studies.

Bring information such as a site plan, development concept and photos of the site and surrounding areas to the meeting.

It usually requires a minimum of three to four months to obtain a decision on a DVP application. The timing depends on the application’s complexity and completeness, time required for plan revisions, and timing of Committee and Council meetings.

All application fees are outlined in Schedule D of the Fees and Charges Bylaw.

There may be legal costs associated with your DP application. Restrictive covenants, statutory right-of-ways or other legal agreements and documents may be required.

Staff will forward a report to the Committee of Council for consideration of the proposal. Committee of Council normally meets twice a month and applicants are encouraged to attend the meeting relevant to their application. The Committee of Council may instruct the Corporate Officer to give notice of a public input opportunity, request additional information or determine they do not support the application and forward to Council with a recommendation to reject. 

Council will receive a report and recommendations from the SGC. Council may consider approval of the variance subsequent to a public input opportunity, or it may refuse the application.

Following the approval of the DVP, a Building Permit may be obtained from the Building Division. The Building Permit must be consistent with the terms of the DVP; any request for change to the approved design of the building or landscaping must be brought to staff’s attention and could require a new DVP application.

If Council approves the development variance proposal, staff will prepare the DVP and Notice of Permit for signatures and registration at the Land Titles Office. You must register the signed Permit within one year of the date of approval. The Building Permit must be issued and the project substantially under construction within two years of the date of DVP approval.