The Local Government Act gives Council the authority to designate areas of, and uses within, the City as Development Permit Areas (DPA) and to establish guidelines to inform development proposals. In general, these guidelines aim to (where applicable) protect the environment and farming, protect from hazardous conditions, and guide the form and character of commercial, industrial, multi-residential, mixed-use, and intensive residential development. This can include aspects such as siting and massing, landscaping, screening, lighting and signage, parking, etc.

More than one DPA may apply and applicants must conform to all relevant DPA guidelines. Information on the DPAs including maps and guidelines available at: www.courtenay.ca/DPA 

If the subject property(ies) undergoes a sale after the application has been submitted, the City requires a letter confirming who the new property owner(s) are, their intentions to continue with the application and a copy of the new land title search showing the new owner(s).

Within a Development Permit Area, a Permit is required for the following*

• Subdivision;
• Construction of, addition to, or alteration of a building or structure, land, or parking area;
• Alteration of land in an environmentally sensitive area or land that is subject to hazardous conditions.

*Unless exempted under one of the conditions in the following section.

A Development Permit is not required for the following*

• Institutional uses;
• Normal Farm Practices;
• Only painting the exterior of a building;
• Only replacing windows;
• Only reconstructing a roof*;
• Only constructing a fence*;
• Only minor alterations to an existing building that do not:*
  • Increase site coverage more than 25% of the approved coverage;
  • Alter more than 25% of the existing floor area (to a maximum of 200 m²);
  • Change the exterior of the building on any one side more than 25%.

* In or near environmentally sensitive areas, Environmental DPAs are often required even if a form & character permit is not required. Access the Environmental DPA exemptions and guidelines at: www.courtenay.ca/DPA

Before submitting your Application it is important to note the following:

1. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant;
2. It is the applicant’s responsibility to be familiar and knowledgeable of all requirements, policies and applicable bylaws within the City of Courtenay, and to clearly represent how the application conforms to these requirements, policies, and bylaws before the application will be accepted;
3. The coordinating professional must ensure that the submissions, including all plans are internally consistent. Plans that are not internally consistent will be returned to the coordinating professional with no further review;
4. Applications that are inactive for a period of 6 months or more may be closed at the discretion of the City.
5. The City may distribute and publicize a report containing development approval information pertaining to this application.

Minor Development Variance Permit means a variance to the Zoning Bylaw that meets one or more of the following criteria:

• 25% for minimum parking space provision for vehicles, loading and bicycles;
• 25% variance related to parking and loading design standards, such as dimensions, siting and access;
• 25% variance related to dimensions and siting of garbage and recycling storage facilities;
• 25% variance for building setbacks, lot frontage and useable open space, and permeable surfaces;
• 25% variance related to dimensions of patios and decks;
• 25% variance related to projections into a required setback; and/or
• 25% variance for lot coverage and building height, provided that the variance does not allow for an increase in density.

If the proposal does not align with any of the above criteria, then it will be considered a Major Development Variance Permit.