Rezoning

Prior to starting the application process, the applicant must ensure the application is possible. These steps include:

1. Review ideas with the neighbourhood planner.
2. Contact Engineering and Parks to discuss the required City standard for the public right of way.
3. If the land will be subdivided, apply for preliminary subdivision approval from the City’s Approving Officer.
4. Verify with Building and Inspection Services that previous work was completed under permit.
5. Confirm with a building professional that proposed occupancy is allowed under the B.C. Building Code.
6. Contact the appropriate Community Association Land Use Committee (CALUC) and discuss preliminary meeting options with the CALUC before the Community Meeting is held.
7. Begin consultation with neighbours.

During this stage of the process, the CALUC may provide initial comments to the applicant. 

Applicants are required to complete the following consultation before submitting a rezoning or Official Community Plan amendment application: Participate in an online or in-person meeting at the discretion of the neighbourhood Community Association Land Use Committee

• Post the proposal on the City’s Development Tracker, including an online comment form to receive feedback.
• Post sign(s) on site directing people to the Development Tracker.

Applicants must provide the following documents to be posted on the Development Tracker and presented at a community meeting:

• a letter including rationale for the proposed development
• site plan
• floor plans
• elevations
• photos or illustration (to scale) of building in relation to flanking buildings
• landscape plan

The City will mail a notice to all neighbours within a radius of the proposal and post the application details and comment form on the Development Tracker.

Following the meeting, the CALUC may provide comments to Mayor and Council.

The applicant can revise the proposal based on community input. “Bubbled” plans illustrate changes made since the Community Consultation.

Rezoning Application

Applicants submit their application, fees and all supporting materials to zoning@victoria.ca. Applications will not be accepted before the Community Consultation is completed, except at the discretion of the Director of Planning and Development.

City staff review the submission and send an Application Review Summary to the applicant. The application may require revisions. The application and any revisions are shared with the CALUC.

City staff prepare a report and presentation for the Committee of the Whole, and any correspondence from the community and CALUC is attached to the staff report.

At least 10 days before the Committee of the Whole meeting, the applicant must post rezoning signs on the property.

During the meeting, the applicant should be available to answer questions, but may not make a presentation unless requested by Council. The Committee of the Whole will review the application and either recommend changes, decline the application, refer it to advisory committees or advance it to a Public Hearing. If the Committee of the Whole’s recommendation is to decline the application, the applicant may make a request to address Council at the following meeting.

Council reviews and either accepts or modifies Committee of the Whole’s recommendations. If the recommendation is to proceed, staff prepare the necessary amendments to the Zoning Bylaw and/or the Official Community Plan.

Notice of the Public Hearing is advertised in the newspaper and mailed to the applicant, CALUC, and neighbours within 100m of the proposal. 10 days before the Public Hearing, the applicant must post a notice on the sign.

A Public Hearing is held to hear from anyone who feels their interest in property is affected. Council decides at the Public Hearing whether to approve the application in principle.

Final approval and adoption of the relevant bylaws takes place once all the required legal agreements have been registered with the Land Titles Office.

Once the relevant bylaws have been adopted and relevant planning approvals have been obtained (e.g., Development Permit), the applicant may apply for a Building Permit.