Land Development Application Bylaw Updates
The District is advancing updates to the Land Development Procedures Bylaw and the Subdivision and Development Control Bylaw.
These amendments are intended to improve the efficiency, clarity, and consistency of development of application processes, and to align District practices with current legislation.
Council is being asked to consider first, second, and third readings of the proposed bylaw amendments.
Latest Updates
Staff presented a Report to Council outlining proposed updates to the Land Development Procedures Bylaw and Subdivision and Development Control Bylaw. The report provided an overview of operational changes, including increasing the delegation of development permits, clarifying procedures for hearings related to Development Variance Permits and Temporary Use Permits, and introducing on-demand surety bonds as an acceptable form of security.
Council provided feedback on the proposed amendments and directed staff to refine the updates for consideration at a future meeting
The District anticipates bringing forward amendments to the Land Development Procedures Bylaw and Subdivision and Development Control Bylaw for consideration of first, second, and third readings.
The proposed amendments reflect Council feedback received and are intended to improve efficiency, clarify procedures, and algin with current legislative requirements.
Project Status
The proposed bylaw amendments are informed by Council feedback received on March 10, 2026, ongoing review of development procedures and outcomes, the District’s Housing Target Order, commitments under the Housing Accelerator Fund, and the Strategic Plan objective of reliable service delivery.
Purpose
The proposed amendments are primarily operational in nature and are intended to:
- Improve processing timelines for development applications
- Clarify procedures related to permit approvals and hearings
- Support the delivery of housing and employment space
- Ensure alignment with legislative requirements
Summary of Proposed Amendments
Updates to the delegation criteria for Development Permits (DPs) include:
- Increasing delegation for Form and Character residential permits from 20 units to 50 units
- Removing the size cap for commercial and industrial permits (currently 400m2)
These changes would allow more applications to be reviewed and approval at the staff level.
Hearings for Development Variance Permits and Temporary Use Permits
The proposed amendments clarify the District’s approach to hearings for Development Variance Permits (DVPs) and Temporary Use Permits (TUPs).
- Hearings would no longer be held for DVPs
- Hearings would no longer be held for TUPs, except when requested by Council
- Public notification requirements would remain in place
- Written submissions would continue to be accepted and considered
Surety Bonds as Security
The proposed bylaw amendments update the Land Development Procedures Bylaw (LDPB) and the Subdivision and Development Control Bylaw (SDCB) to include on-demand surety bonds as an acceptable form of security for:
- Development permit applications
- Servicing Agreement applications