Join a walking tour
Join the City to explore a heritage neighbourhood on foot and share your opinions on development guidelines.
Updating our Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw
In November 2025, the Province of British Columbia enacted Bill 25, new housing legislation that allows more property owners in the city to add more housing units to their lots over time, including in the city’s heritage areas. To comply with this legislation, the City is required to update its Zoning Bylaw by June 30, 2026. As part of those updates, we invite the community to learn about Bill 25 and share your input on heritage character neighbourhoods.
When someone constructs a new building or makes major changes to their property like adding another unit, they must get a permit from the City. The City uses a set of design guidelines to evaluate the application. The design guidelines exist to help ensure that developments will fit into the neighbourhoods, in a way that respects character and livability while still meeting requirements. Your feedback will help the City update its design guidelines for heritage character neighbourhoods, and amend its Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw.
To comply with Bill 25, the City is preparing bylaw ammendments that:
- Allow up to 6 housing units per lot in areas with 400 metres of a frequent transit bus stop
- Remove minimum on-site parking requirements in those areas, and
- Replace all remaining single-detached and duplex zones with zoning that allows 3, 4, or 6 units of housing.
Some of these changes will impact properties located within the City’s heritage areas, including:
- Ottawa Gardens,
- Grand Boulevard,
- East 10th, and
- Finlay’s Row.
While provincial legislation requires the City to allow additional housing, the City retains an important role in shaping how new housing fits into neighbourhoods, particularly in areas with recognized heritage character.
Read more on the CNV webpage.
Online
Visit the virtual information session
Between February 23 and March 13, learn about the work our Planning department is doing and share your opinion.
In person
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Visit an info session
Learn more about Bill 25 provincial changes and share your thoughts.
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Attend the Town Hall
Have your questions answered by City staff about proposed changes to the City's planning tools.
In-depth accessibility information is currently available for the following spaces. Please click on each of the links to download the associated information sheet.
We're working to provide information sheets for more spaces soon!
More project information
Links
Document Library
Timeline
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Timeline item 1 - active
Public engagement period open
February 23 - March 13, 2026
Staff will be conducted walking tours, info sessions, and an online virtual information session.
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Timeline item 2 - incomplete
Data analysis and reporting
March - April 2026
Staff analyze engagement findings and use them to prepare draft bylaws to take to City Council for consideration.
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Timeline item 3 - incomplete
Official Community Plan (OCP) Town Hall
April 1, 2026
The City hosts the Town Hall a formal opportunity to learn about proposed OCP and Zoning Bylaw changes and ask questions.
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Timeline item 4 - incomplete
Presentation to Council
May 11, 2026
Council meets to consider changes to the City’s OCP and Zoning Bylaws.
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Timeline item 5 - incomplete
Public Hearing
June 15, 2026
Community members are invited to City Council to share feedback with Council on the proposed updates.
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Timeline item 6 - incomplete
Final Council decision
June 22, 2026
Council makes a final decision on the proposed updates.
