Development Permit Areas
Last updated on January 3, 2018For the Protection of Farming
Local governments may designate development permit areas for a number of purposes. In 1996, amendments to the Municipal Act (now Local Government Act) added "the protection of farming" as an additional basis for the designation of a development permit area. To improve land use compatibility, the new provisions allow the adoption (within Official Community Plans) of regulations for screening, landscaping, fencing and siting of buildings or structures. This provides buffering or separation of development from farming.
The City of Surrey was the first local government to use the new provisions in their Official Community Plan. The Regional District of Nanaimo has also adopted development permit area provisions for the protection of farming in their Arrowsmith Benson-Cranberry Bright Official Community Plan.
District of Nanaimo
For convenience, a summary of the pertinent section of Nanaimo's official community plan and the development permit area provisions are highlighted. The example has been provided to give local governments insight into how the provisions can be used. Depending on local circumstances, different provisions may be included in a particular development permit area. Please note that while the information below was drawn from the Regional District of Nanaimo website, the information may be subject to change and the reader may wish to consult directly with the regional district.