Rezoning

Before starting the application process, the applicant should verify that the application is possible. These steps include:

1. Review ideas with the neighbourhood planner.
2. Consider a pre-application meeting with staff to review the conceptual plan for the development to receive high-level guidance on key issues, policies and technical requirements.  If no pre-application meeting is held:

• Contact the Engineering and Parks Departments to discuss the required City standard for the public right of way and servicing.
• Contact the Parks Department to discuss tree protection on public and private property and required application information.
• If the land will be subdivided, apply for preliminary subdivision approval.
• Verify with Building and Inspection Services that previous work was completed under permit.
• Confirm building concept is feasible with building code requirements.

3. Contact the appropriate Community Association Land Use Committee (CALUC) and discuss preliminary meeting options with the CALUC before the community meeting is held.

4. Begin consultation with neighbours.

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

Before submitting a rezoning application, applicants are required to participate in an online or in-person meeting at the discretion of the neighbourhood Community Association Land Use Committee (CALUC)

Applicants must provide the following documents to the City via MyCity:

1. Completed Community Consultation Notice form signed by the Chair or a representative of the CALUC
2. Project summary letter addressed to the CALUC
3. Plans, including:
   
   • site plan
   • floor plans
   • elevations
   • photos or illustrations of the proposal in relation to neighbouring buildings
   • landscape plan
      
4. Application fee of $800, or $2,400 if an Official Community Plan amendment is proposed

The plans and project summary letter will be uploaded to the City’s Development Tracker and presented at the community meeting. The City will provide a sign template, which the applicant is responsible for fabricating and posting on the subject property.

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.

Read the CALUC Terms of Reference. 

Required documents:

• Application proposal letter fully explaining your proposal, including rationale for any variances
  • [For all delegated applications] For amendments to approved Development Permits or Heritage Alteration Permits, provide a list describing proposed changes
  • [For all delegated applications] Photos or a materials board to illustrate the proposed revisions
  • [For all non-delegated applications] Address your application proposal letter to Mayor and Council
  • [For all delegated applications] Address your application proposal letter to City staff
• Current Certificate of Title (not dated more than 30 days prior to submission) available from the Land Title Office
• Copy of any title restrictions, such as covenants, easements or rights of way
• Letter of authorization from all owners:
  • All owners named on the title are required to provide a letter granting permission to apply for the application
  • Company or Corporate Ownership: If the property is owned by a business or corporation, provide a letter on company letterhead authorizing the applicant to apply on the company's behalf, even if the applicant is the owner of the company
  • Strata properties
    • Rezoning: For properties registered pursuant to the Strata Property Act, any application to change the use or appearance must have unanimous consent by all strata owners in accordance with the Act, and all registered owners must provide a signed letter of authorization stating they authorize rezoning the property

Development Permits, Heritage Alteration Permits and all Delegated Applications 

For properties registered pursuant to the Strata Property Act, an application must be accompanied by a resolution passed by ¾ vote at an annual or special general meeting, authorizing the changes to the common property or limited common property as requested in this application.

Delegated Development Permit Solely for Tenant Protection

Plans, photos and letter noted above are not required.

Required Plans

One set of plans to scale, including all of the following drawings. Plans must meet the guidance for the site plan, landscape plan and building plans.

• Site plan based on a survey for existing site
• Site plan for proposed development that includes a project information table
• Landscape plan
• Survey plan certified by a B.C. Land Surveyor
• Floor plans
• Elevation plans
• Cross section plan
• Building elevation and streetscape plan that shows neighbouring buildings
• [For rezoning only] If any changes to the proposal have been made since the Community Consultation, a set of “bubbled” plans illustrating the changes
• For amendments to approved Development Permits or Heritage Alteration Permits, provide a second set of plans that bubble the changes from the approved plans

Other Requirements

• Permit application fee
• Tenant Protection During Redevelopment Bylaw requirements
  • Applies to all land use applications that entail redevelopment and will result in loss of any rental units
  • If there are tenants currently residing on the property, a complete Tenant Assistance Plan - Part A must be completed and submitted as part of your development permit application (start the tenant protection process with the Tenant Assistance Plan Initiation Form) 
  • If there are no tenants in the property proposed for redevelopment, but there have been in the previous six months, you will need to provide proof of lawful tenancy agreement termination to housing@victoria.ca 
• A completed Site Disclosure Statement (contaminated sites) for non-residential properties and associated fee
  • Pursuant to the Environmental Management Act, the Province of British Columbia requires a completed Site Disclosure Statement for properties that are or were used for commercial or industrial purposes, as defined within the provincial regulations
• Building Code compliance report for Part 3 buildings pursuant to the BC Building Code
  • This report is to be submitted with the application as a separate document, and must include all proposed alternate solutions requiring City approval that may affect the exterior design of the building
• Conservation plan by a qualified heritage consultant, if there is a heritage-designated or registered building on the site
• Supplementary information as listed in the Large Project Submission Guidelines for sites larger than 930 square metres
• Compliance with the BC Heritage Conservation Act, including steps to determine whether or not a site is an archeological site
  • The applicant is responsible for ensuring compliance with the BC Heritage Conservation Act, including steps to determine whether a site is an archeological site. It is against the law to alter an archeological site without first obtaining a permit to do so from the Provincial Government (contact B.C.’s Archaeology Branch for information) 

All applications require the submission of a site plan. The information used to generate the site plan can also be used as the base for the landscape plan. All plans must be consistent with one another.

A landscape plan is required for many Development Permit applications. If you are applying for Rezoning only, a landscape plan is not required. If you’re unsure about your application requirements, please confirm with your area planner.

The following are general requirements for both a site plan and a landscape plan:

• Use 1:100 scale (preferred) or 1:200 for larger projects, metric measurements and include metric bar scales.
• Include a north arrow pointing to the top or right of the page.
• Include a title block that identifies the civic address, project name (if any), applicant and contact information, date of plans and space to indicate any plan revision dates.
• Show parcel size and dimensions of all property lines based on a survey prepared by a B.C. Land Surveyor.
• Show grade levels using metric geodetic numbers.
• Include City of Victoria base map information, including existing underground services, onto any off-site improvement plans (get base maps from the City’s Open Data Portal).
• Address tree protection and preservation in alignment with the City’s Tree Protection Bylaw.
• For projects that require new off-site works and services, provide a site servicing plan. 
• For developments that require subdivision of land (fee simple or bare land strata), obtain a preliminary layout approval. Discuss application timing with the Approving Officer. For more information on subdivision requirements, visit Subdivision & Land Development.
• For a site that requires extensive excavation, the developer must provide details (location and time frame) of construction offices and sales offices, and provide a soil sampling log. In some cases, further approvals may be required.
• Do not show improvements that exceed or deviate from City standards (e.g., art, special paving, benches, garbage cans, bike racks or landscaping) for the public right-of-way prior to getting the City’s written approval. Do not show trees or plantings that are not proposed or can’t be maintained as part of the proposed development.
• Plans are certified in compliance with professional association standards.
• Plans must be compliant with British Columbia Building Code.
• Measurements are based on definitions and standards of the Zoning Bylaw.

Site Plan for Existing Site

Landscape Plan (use the site plan as the base plan)

Site Plan for Proposed Development

Floor Plans

Elevation Plans

Building Elevation/Context Plan

Cross Section Plan

Building Code Compliance

Development Permit applications require all information below. For standalone Rezoning applications, show only fire department access on plans.

A project information table must be included on the plan submission title sheet or the site plan. Please refer to the Zoning Bylaw for terms. If your proposal involves more than one zone, provide a project information table for each zone that includes the following information:
 

Applications require a letter to fully explain the proposal, including rationale for any proposed variances. The level of detail may vary depending on the application. Include any items from the table below that apply to the proposal. 
 

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

During this meeting, staff present the application and recommendation. Committee of the Whole will review the application, and either recommend the applicant make changes, decline, refer the application to advisory committees or advance the application to a Council meeting.

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

Notice of the Council Meeting is advertised in the newspaper and mailed to neighbours within 100 metres of the proposed development. Ten days before the Council Meeting, the applicant posts a sign on the subject property, advertising the date of the Council meeting. Anyone who feels their interest in property is affected can submit written comments to Council.

If a public hearing is held, anyone who feels their interest in property is affected may speak. 

Council then votes to approve or decline the relevant bylaws and relevant permits (e.g., development permit).