Land Use Bylaw Renewal Project
From 2023-2026, the City will conduct a complete review and rewrite of the Land Use Bylaw.
The Land Use Bylaw sets out the rules for what kind of building or activity can take place on private property and outlines the process for issuing Development Permits that give approval for new buildings and activities. You would typically interact with the Land Use Bylaw if you are planning to build on your property or move your business. To learn more about the Land Use Bylaw visit this page. You can also stay informed by subscribing to the Land Use Bylaw newsletter.
Using the Municipal Development Plan as a guide, this project will ensure the rules and opportunities to develop and use property are written to create a safe, healthy, vibrant and economically prosperous community. During this project there will be many opportunities for the public and stakeholders to participate and shape the future of the Land Use Bylaw.
- Phase 1 of the project, which looked at social uses, ran from August 2023 - February 2024.
- Phase 2, which looks at all other topics relevant to the Land Use Bylaw (e.g., housing, downtown, commercial, industrial) will begin public engagement in January 2025. Stay tuned for more details.
- Phase 3, beginning in fall 2025, will involve the project team taking everything heard from the public and Council and drafting a new Land Use Bylaw.
- Phase 4 will see the draft new Land Use Bylaw shared with the public for feedback and revisions, before submitting to City Council for a final decision through a public hearing process. Completion of Phase 4 is anticipated in late 2026.
Upcoming Engagement Opportunities
Stay tuned for upcoming Phase 2 engagement opportunities, planned to run from January to June 2025. On this page you can add your email address to receive a monthly newsletter which will keep you informed!
Past Engagement Opportunities
Phase 1 engagement, which was on the topic of social uses, ran from August-November 2023. To review details of all the engagement activities that took place and what the public and other stakeholders said, check out the Phase 1 What We Heard Report.
What is a Land Use Bylaw?
Why is the Land Use Bylaw Renewal Necessary?
If you'd like to learn more about the background to this project, check out the Project Primer (full version, or short summary version).
As we progress through this project, the team will produce a series of "Decoding..." papers on the engagement topics. The first of these is "Decoding Social Uses", which covers the topics in Phase 1 of the project. The purpose of these papers is to provide you with background information to empower you to take part in upcoming engagement events equipped with a deeper understanding of the topic.