Official Community Plan Bylaw Updated

At the regular Council Meeting on May 27, 2026. Council passed third reading and adopted Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 3206, 2026. You can view the newly updated OCP Bylaw and accompanying staff report below.

Why this update matters

Courtenay Council adopted OCP Bylaw No. 3070 on July 25, 2022, after extensive community consultation. In late 2023, the province introduced housing legislation to fast-track housing supply, requiring local governments to plan more proactively. All OCPs in B.C. must meet the new legislated requirements or be updated to do so by December 31, 2025.

Courtenay’s Housing Needs Report shows the city will need about 8,350 more homes by 2041 to house a projected population of 42,415. This update makes sure our policies can handle that growth while reflecting our community’s values.

What the update will do

  • Identify where and how Courtenay can grow in a way that maintains a high quality of life.
  • Expand new housing opportunities through updates to land-use designations and associated policies.
  • Make sure growth is supported by roads, utilities, parks, and other services and amenities.
  • Align the OCP with other City plans so that everything works together.

Public engagement

Public hearing

A public hearing was held at 4 p.m. on May 6, 2026. This was the final opportunity to provide comments on the draft OCP bylaw.

Learn more about public hearings

2025 engagement sessions

Thank you to everyone who joined our earlier engagement sessions. Video recordings and slides are available below.

Draft OCP bylaw update

The updated OCP Bylaw No. 3206 received first and second readings at the February 25, 2026, regular Council meeting.

Draft bylaw documents:

Earlier materials:

This update will align Courtenay’s OCP with five- and 20-year housing needs, as required by the province.

To supports this growth, the City is:

  • Looking at opportunities shown in the Complete Community Growth Assessment (CCGA).
  • Checking that our infrastructure can handle future growth.
  • Modelling the costs of growth.
  • Updating the Development Permit Area (DPA) guidelines to allow more housing types — such as small-scale, multi-unit housing — while meeting OCP goals.
  • Continuing to share information and ask for your feedback.

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Nancy Gothard

Manager of Community and Sustainability Planning

planning@courtenay.ca / 250 703 4839

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