Below you will find links to forms and guides you need for submitting planning application. Complete applications can be submitted by email to planning@scrd.ca. If the application is complete, staff will respond with instructions to pay the appropriate application fees. Fee information is provided below.
Have any questions? Email planning@scrd.ca.
| Description | Pre-Application Fee | Base Fee | Additional Fee* |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEVELOPMENT PERMITS | |||
| Staff Issued DP (Hazard and Environment) | $500 | $1,500 | $400 per additional DPA |
| Board Issued DP (Form and Character, Ag Buffer) | $500 | $2,000 | $400 per additional DPA |
| Remedial DP Pre-Application (Work without Permit) | $2,500 | - | - |
| DEVELOPMENT VARIANCE PERMITS | |||
| Development Variance Permit | $600 | $3,250 | $300 per additional variance |
| BOARD OF VARIANCE | |||
| Board of Variance | $600 | $3,000 | $300 per additional variance |
| TREE CUTTING PERMITS | |||
| Tree Cutting Permits | - | $200 | $25 per additional tree after 10 |
| SUBDIVISION | |||
| Subdivision creating up to two additional lots | $500 | $5,000 | - |
| Subdivision creating more than two additional lots | $1,000 | $5,000 | $1,000 per additional lot after two |
| Frontage Waiver | - | $2,000 | $250 per additional lot |
| Strata Conversion | $500 | $3,000 | $1,000 per additional lot/unit |
| Lot Line Adjustment or Consolidation | $500 | $2,000 | - |
| Subdivision Conditions Amendment or Extension | - | $500 | - |
| BYLAW AMENDMENTS AND TEMPORARY USE PERMITS | |||
| OCP or Zoning Bylaw Amendment | $2,000 | $10,000 | $1,500 per public hearing |
| Joint OCP and Zoning Bylaw Amendment | $2,500 | $15,000 | $1,500 per public hearing |
| Temporary Use Permit | $1,000 | $4,000 | - |
| LIQUOR AND CANNABIS LICENCES | |||
| Liquor Licence | - | $3,500 | - |
| Cannabis Licence | - | $4,500 | - |
| OTHER FEES AND CHARGES | |||
| Change of Applicant | - | $200 | - |
| Covenant Discharge or Amendment | - | $1,000 | - |
| Site Inspection | - | - | $300 per site inspection** |
| Property Information Request (Comfort Letter) | - | $500 | - |
| Title Document | - | - | $50 per document |
* Additional Fees are added to Base Fees and apply to each unit/DPA/variance/lot/title/hearing after the first. For clarity, additional lot for subdivision refers to the new lots being created and does not include the existing or remainder lot.
** One site inspection shall be included as part of the Base Fee of the application.
A pre-application meeting with a Planner is required prior to submission of every planning application.
In the meeting you present your proposed development and a Planner will provide relevant regulations, guidance and a checklist for your application materials. This shared preparation significantly reduces the time it takes to process your application.
After your pre-application meeting an Outcome Letter will be provided with instructions on how to make a formal application.
To submit your request for a pre-application meeting:
Your pre-application meeting will then be scheduled by staff.
Below you will find various application forms. If you have questions about the appropriate forms to complete please contact the planning department.
Complete and submit the Agent Authorization form if you would like to authorize someone to act on your behalf in matters related to development applications.
Forms
A Remediation pre-application meeting with SCRD planning staff is required in order to discuss unauthorized land alteration with you and your designated qualified professional. The meeting will establish the requirements to bring the subject property into compliance with SCRD Bylaws and Provincial Regulations.
Forms
A Development Permit (DP) is a permit required when you are planning to alter land, subdivide land, or construct buildings and structures in a Development Permit Area (DPA) or within 30 metres of any wetland, stream, or ditch.
You can check the SCRD Property Viewer to determine if your property is affected by a DPA. Keep in mind that DPAs affect mapped and unmapped riparian areas.
How to apply
A pre-application meeting with a Planner is required prior to submitting an application. The meeting is an opportunity for a planner to help ensure that you prepare a complete application; something that significantly reduces the amount of time that it takes for a Planner to process an application.
All application submissions require a completed Statement of Conformance (SOC) for each DPA assessed, to be filled out by a professional alongside a professional’s report. The Statement of Conformance must be given to the professional, and returned to the applicant for submission with a complete Development Permit application.
Forms
Development Permit Application Checklist
Development Permit Application Form
Contaminated Sites Declaration
Statement of Conformance (SOC)
1A Coastal Flooding SOC Checklist
1B and 3 Slopes Hazards SOC Checklist
2A Creek Corridor SOC Checklist
2C, 2D Flood Plains and Low Channel Confinement SOC Checklist
4 Riparian Area Protection Regulation SOC Checklist
5 Roberts Creek Shoreline SOC Checklist
5 West Howe Sound Aquifer Protection and Stormwater Management SOC Checklist
6 West Howe Sound Shoreline Protection and Management SOC Checklist
Tree cutting permits are required prior to the removal of trees in areas designated in Tree Cutting Permit Bylaw No. 350.
The permit will be based on the recommendation in reports from a certified Arborist and a Geotechnical Engineer and if near a creek may also require Riparian Assessment. These reports include an assessment of the health of the trees and the potential for erosion on the property, and certifies that cutting will not cause erosion, landslide or other hazard. The permit will require an application fee and bond based on an amount provided in the Arborist’s report for any necessary replanting.
Forms
If your application includes a structure within 4.5 m of a road right-of-way you will also require a setback permit from the Ministry of Transportation and Transit. See the Road Setback section under Resources and Guides at the bottom of this page for more information.
Development Variance Permit
A Development Variance Permit (DVP) is a permit required to vary regulations in a development bylaw (Zoning Bylaw, Subdivision Bylaw, Parking Bylaw, and Sign Bylaw) such as building setbacks, height, or parking requirements. A DVP cannot be used to change the permitted uses or density of a property.
Board of Variance
A Board of Variance application may be used when you wish to vary regulations in a development bylaw (Zoning Bylaw, Subdivision Bylaw, Parking Bylaw, and Sign Bylaw), such as building setbacks, height, or parking requirements, due to land constraints or previous development patterns that result in hardship.
Forms
Development Variance Permit Application Form
The approving authority for all subdivisions within the Regional District is the Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MoTT), therefore applications to subdivide property are submitted to the Ministry.
Please see the MoTT website for more information: http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/da/Subdivision_Home.asp
As part of the process of subdivision approval the Ministry sends referrals to a number of regulating agencies for comment, including the Regional District. The Regional District will review a subdivision referral for compliance with the applicable Electoral Area Official Community Plan (OCP) Bylaw, Zoning Bylaws and Subdivision Servicing Bylaw.
SCRD Conditions of Subdivision
In response to the MOTT referral the SCRD will issue Conditions of Subdivision (COS) that must be met prior to final subdivision approval. The COS are valid for one-year and may be extended/amended for an additional year subject to a $500 fee. Please contact the planning department prior to the expiration of the COS to initiate a renewal or amendment.
Forms
A strata conversion allows for the conversion of two or more dwelling units into strata lots. Section 242 of the Strata Property Act requires that stratification of previously occupied dwellings be approved by a local government.
All strata conversion applications must meet the requirements of the Strata Conversion of Previously Occupied Lawful Dwelling Units Policy.
Applications for a Strata Conversion require the submission of an application fee, completed application form and supporting documentation including a “Building Code Compliance” report prepared by a suitable qualified individual (i.e. professional engineer or architect) that provides a review of the building to be converted against the applicable requirements of the BC Building Code.
Forms
A Zoning Bylaw Amendment application can be applied for to amend aspects of the Zoning Bylaw as they relate to a parcel’s permitted use and density.
An Official Community Plan (OCP) Amendment application can be applied for to amend aspects of the Official Community Plan as they relate to a parcel’s permitted use and density. All OCP Amendment applications will be reviewed for alignment with the SCRD OCP Amendment Policy. Only applications that substantially conform to this policy will be supported.
Forms
OCP and Zoning Bylaw Amendment Application Form
An Agricultural Land Commission application is for those who own a parcel within the Agricultural Land Reserve, and who wish to engage in an activity beyond the permitted activities in the Agricultural Land Commission regulations.
Examples could be adding more fill than permitted, subdividing a parcel into parcel’s smaller than permitted, modifying a farm home plate, or creating residential density beyond that permitted.
How to Apply:
Applications are each is handled differently depending on the situation. Please contact Planning Services staff for more information at planning@scrd.ca. Provide your property address and property ID, along with details of your proposal.
Other resources/supporting documents:
It is important to keep in mind that uses and activities in the ALR must conform to the ALC regulations and the zoning bylaw!
Below you will find various resources and guides that may be required during the development application process. If you have questions please contact the planning department.
Some development application types require that the applicant hosts a Public Information Meeting (PIM). A PIM is a non-statutory public meeting hosted by the applicant and intended to provide information on the proposed development to the general public.
The guide below provides directions and steps to follow when hosting a PIM.
The Ministry of Transportation and Transit has specified a minimum setback of 4.5 metres, for any building, mobile home, retaining wall or other structure, from all road rights-of-way, unless you have access from another street, in which case the allowed setback is 3 metres.
This setback requirement is separate from any SCRD setback regulation. If your project includes structures within 4.5 m of a road right-of-way, please ensure you obtain the necessary setback permit prior to construction.
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