The Official Community Plan (OCP) and
Zoning Bylaw are used to regulate land use and handle issues like the nature of development, uses, and the subdivision of land in Prince George. Proposals to develop land must be reviewed by City staff at a pre-application meeting where applicants will be informed on what to expect in the formal application process. Contact the Development Services department in City Hall to book a pre-application meeting or for more information.
Development Services
1100 Patricia Boulevard
Prince George, BC V2L 3V9
Canada
Phone: 250-561-7611
Common Permits and Applications
Rezoning
Rezoning applications are required when land use being proposed is not permitting under existing zoning. Applications may be used to amend the text of an existing zone or to change the zone categorisation altogether.
Contact Development Services to book a pre-application meeting or refer to the Rezoning and OCP Amendment Process Guide for more information.
Development Permits
Depending on the nature of a project, a development permit may be required. Permits are needed for a variety of purposes including, but not limited to, the following:
- Examining the form and character of a new commercial building.
- Assessing the ecological impact of a development in environmentally sensitive, riparian areas.
Contact Development Services to arrange a pre-application meeting before submitting an application to determine which permits are applicable for a proposal and refer to the Development Permit Process Guide for more information.
Subdivision
Contact Development Services to arrange a pre-application meeting for property subdivision into multiple lots, Bare Land Strata, and other improvements before submitting an application.
Current Applications
Discharge of Land Use Contract (Land Titles Office Document No. K28397)
The City of Prince George has initiated the discharge of Land Use Contract Bylaw No.2697, 1975, registered on the legal titles of approximately 600 properties in the Lower College Heights area (i.e., St. Dennis Place, Malaspina Avenue, Rochester Crescent, Loyola Crescent, Lemoyne Place, and Guelph Crescent).
About Land Use Contracts
Land use contracts were commonly used through the 1970s to negotiate the terms and conditions of subdivision and developments throughout the Province of British Columbia.
Pursuant to Section 547 of the Local Government Act, all land use contracts are to be terminated on June 30, 2024 by the Provincial Government. Local governments that have jurisdiction over land subject to a land use contract must, by 2022, adopt a zoning bylaw that will apply to the land on June 30, 2024. The City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No.7850, 2007, as amended and replaced, is currently regulating land use and development across the City and will replace the land use contract once discharged.
What Discharging Land Use Contracts Mean
Land Use Contract Bylaw No.2697 was registered on the legal titles of approximately 600 properties across Lower College Heights in order to regulate the types of works and services required. As works and services for this area have been completed and this area is fully developed, the City has proposed to discharge the land use contract, as it no longer has any relevance to this existing development.
The land use contract specifies that the City of Prince George may, by resolution of City Council, at any time on or after ten (10) years from the date of registration, unilaterally terminate the land use contract. Discharge of this land use contract will not negatively impact the character of the neighbourhood or produce any adverse impacts on the affected properties. This process will allow the existing City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No.7850 to prevail.