**Please note: The Province of BC has updated their legislation governing local government public hearings for rezonings across the Province. For instance, a local government must not hold a public hearing if a proposed zoning bylaw is consistent with the official community plan (OCP) in effect for the area. Where there is not consistency with the OCP, local government must hold a public hearing on a proposed zoning bylaw, including amendments to the bylaw. Local governments are also prohibited from holding a public hearing on a zoning bylaw or amendments to zoning bylaw proposed for the sole purpose of complying with the Province’s Small-scale Multi-unit housing (SSMUH) legislation. The City of Prince Rupert is currently in the process of updating our Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw to be consistent with the SSMUH legislation, and more information on our work on that will be shared as soon as possible. For more information on SSMUH and what it means for homeowners and property development, check out their webpage that provides greater detail on the regulatory changes.
Consolidated Zoning Bylaw (with Amendments to 2024)
Rezoning of a property is required when the proposed use or density of a property or development is not permitted within the existing zone. Rezoning may allow for a change in the regulations as they pertain to a specific lot or building.
For each property Zoning sets out:
- The use of land, buildings, and other structures;
- The density of the use of land, buildings and other structures;
- The siting, size, and dimensions of buildings and other structures;
- The siting, size, and dimensions of the uses that are permitted;
- The location of uses on the land and within buildings and other structures; and,
- Off-street parking and loading requirements.
A Zoning Amendment, or ‘rezoning’, is the process of changing the zone of a property. Zoning can only be changed by an amendment to the Zoning Bylaw.