Phase 1 of Zoning Bylaw review now complete - Phase 2 begins in April

As part of the "housekeeping" phase 1 review of the Courtenay Zoning Bylaw, Council adopted Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, 2026 at the March 27, 2026, special Council meeting. Zoning Bylaw No. 3203 repeals and replaces Zoning Bylaw No. 2500, 2007.

Summary of amendments:
The primary purpose of the bylaw amendment is to conform to provincial legislation, specifically Bill 25, which ensures all local governments meet the small-scale, multi-unit housing requirements allowing more diverse forms of
housing. The goal is to remove barriers to prevent local governments from excluding zones where small-scale, multi-unit housing should be allowed.

This has been achieved in the proposed Zoning Bylaw by allowing secondary suites and accessory dwelling units in all zones that allow single detached and duplex dwelling units. Other changes proposed include:

• Modifications to bicycle parking and numbers of stalls required.
• Consolidation of the CD-1 zone to reflect the upcoming OCP Amendments and conform to provincial legislation.
• Consolidation of the CD-7 zone (7A, 7B, 7C) to reflect provincial legislation.
• Consolidation of the CD-19 zone (19A, 19B, 19C) zone to reflect the OCP Amendments and conform to provincial legislation.
• Adding a new Multiple Use Six zone.
• Adding definitions of uses for clarity

In 2023, the Province of B.C. changed the Local Government Act, requiring local governments to review their Official Community Plans (OCPs) and zoning bylaws to meet projected housing needs over the next 20 years.

Courtenay's Housing Needs Report, published in December 2024, identified a need for 8,350 new housing units by 2041. To support this, the City must update its OCP and Zoning Bylaw No. 2500, 2007 by December 31, 2025.

The zoning bylaw is anticipated to be updated in two phases: Phase 1: to conduct housekeeping and align with the updated OCP and Phase 2: to modernize approach to zoning to support sustainable growth for the future.

The Zoning Bylaw regulates how land, buildings and other structures can be used. It supports the City's long-term vision as outlined in the OCP and Regional Growth Strategy.

While the OCP sets high-level goals for land use and development, the zoning bylaw provides detailed rules for what can be built and where.

Zoning bylaws must align with the OCP to make sure future development reflects community goals. If a bylaw is too restrictive or unclear, it can delay projects and create confusion for both staff and applicants.

The Zoning Bylaw update will:

• Meet provincial housing requirements for the next 20 years.
• Align with updated housing policies in the new OCP.
• Fix minor errors in the current bylaw, such as missing definitions.

Because the Zoning Bylaw is directly connected to the OCP, public input will be gathered through the OCP engagement process.

In addition, a public hearing on phase 2 of the proposed zoning amendments will be held before council. The date for the public hearing has not yet been set, but is expected to take place in the fall and will be advertised in advance.