Documents & Publications
The following documents guide land use and development in the City of Victoria
Official Community Plan
The Official Community Plan is a 30 year plan that provides direction for growth and change in the community.
Local Area and Neighbourhood Plans
Planning for local areas in Victoria has been generally focused on Victoria's fourteen neighbourhoods. The map of the neighbourhood boundaries can be found at the following location:
Below you will find links to each of the local area and neighbourhood plans, as well as plans or design guidelines related to each neighbourhood. Depending on the site specific circumstances, other policies may also be applicable.
Burnside
- Burnside Neighbourhood Directions (extract from the Official Community Plan)
- Burnside Neighbourhood Plan
- Selkirk Waterfront Urban Design Manual
Downtown / Harris Green
- Victoria Downtown Public Realm Guidelines
- Downtown / Harris Green Neighbourhood Directions (extract from the Official Community Plan)
- Downtown Core Area Plan
- Bay Site Design Guidelines 2006
- Old Town Design Guidelines (2019)
- Yates Street 700 Block - Guidelines for Buildings, Canopies, Awnings & Signs
Fairfield
- Fairfield Neighbourhood Directions (extract from the Official Community Plan)
- Fairfield Neighbourhood Plan (2019) [PDF - 8 MB]
- Cook Street Village Guidelines
- Urban Design Guidelines, Fairfield Block, Parcels 1 and 2
- Design Guidelines for Attached Residential Development: Fairfield (2019)
Fernwood
- Fernwood Neighbourhood Directions (extract from the Official Community Plan) [PDF - 506 KB]
- Fernwood Neighbourhood Plan
- Fernwood Village Design Guidelines (2022) [PDF - 7 MB]
Gonzales
- Gonzales Neighbourhood Directions (extract from the Official Community Plan)
- Gonzales Neighbourhood Community Plan, 2002
- Oak Bay Avenue Design Guidelines
Harris Green
Hillside Quadra
- Hillside Quadra Neighbourhood Directions (extract from the Official Community Plan) [PDF - 430 KB]
- Hillside Quadra Neighbourhood Plan
James Bay
- James Bay Neighbourhood Directions (extract from the Official Community Plan)
- James Bay Neighbourhood Plan
- Capital Park Urban Design Guidelines
- Legislative Precinct - Volume 1, Development Area Guidelines
- Legislative Precinct - Volume 1, Urban Design Manual
- Legislative Precinct - Volume 2, Built Form Guidelines
- The Royal BC Museum Urban Design Guidelines
- Belleville Street Transportation Terminal Design Guidelines - The complete document may be obtained from the Sustainable Planning and Community Development Department
Jubilee
- Jubilee Neighbourhood Directions (extract from the Official Community Plan) [PDF - 461 KB]
- Jubilee Neighbourhood Plan
- Oak Bay Avenue Design Guidelines
North Park
- North Park Neighbourhood Directions (extract from the Official Community Plan) [PDF - 341 KB]
- North Park Local Plan
Oaklands
- Oaklands Neighbourhood Directions (extract from the Official Community Plan) [PDF - 305 KB]
- Oaklands Neighbourhood Plan
- Cridge Centre Design Guidelines, 2001
Rockland
- Rockland Neighbourhood Directions (extract from the Official Community Plan)
- Rockland Neighbourhood Plan
- Rockland Neighbourhood Design Guidelines for Attached and Semi-attached Dwellings
Victoria Harbour
- Victoria Harbour Neighbourhood Directions (extract from the Official Community Plan)
- Victoria Harbour Plan
- Harbour Vitality Plan 2014
Victoria West
- Victoria West Neighbourhood Directions (extract from the Official Community Plan)
- Victoria West Neighbourhood Plan (2018)
- Design Guidelines for the Dockside Area
- Urban Design Guidelines - Dockside Green - December 2016
- Harbour Road Industrial Waterfront Guidelines - October 2008
- Railyards Development Guidelines - Nov. 14. 2002
- Roundhouse Design Guidelines
- Songhees Policy Plan and Design Guidelines 2008
Regulations
- Board of Variance Bylaw
- Building Bylaw
- Fence Bylaw
- Greenways Plan
- Land Use Procedures Bylaw [PDF - 547 KB]
- Plumbing Bylaw
- Sign Bylaw
- Subdivision and Strata Titling
- Tree Protection
- Zoning Regulation Bylaw
General Planning Guidelines
- Adding a Deck
- Antenna Structure Review Procedures
- Bed and Breakfast Guidelines
- Buildings Signs and Awnings Advisory Design Guidelines
- Casino Rezoning Guidelines
- Citizens' Guide to Rezoning
- Citizen-lead Heritage Conservation Areas Policy
- City of Victoria Wayfinding Strategy
- Conversion Guidelines - Transient to Residential Accommodation
- Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
- Design Guidelines for Attached Residential Development (Updated 2019)
- Design Guidelines for Small Lot House (2002)
- Density Bonus Policy
- Fisherman's Wharf Plan Design Guidelines
- Garden Suites
- General Urban Design Guidelines for Multi-unit Residential, Commercial and Industrial Development
- Growing Food and Gardening in Mixed-Use, Multi-Unit Residential Developments
- Guidelines for Fences, Gates and Shutters
- Heritage Program Sign and Awning Guidelines
- Inclusionary Housing and Community Amenity Policy
- Liquor Retail Store Rezoning Policy
- Multi-Unit Residential, Commercial & Industrial Design Guidelines (Updated 2019)
- Neighbourliness Guidelines for Duplexes
- Revitalization Guidelines for Corridors, Villages and Town Centres (Updated 2019)
- Secondary Suites
- Small Lot House Rezoning Policy and Design Guidelines
- Tenant Assistance Policy
- Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada
- Work-Live Design and Planning Guideline 1999
