Land Use Planning
Land use planning provides for the orderly development of properties within the Central Coast Regional District. Long range planning includes the development of land use policies and regulations. The policies and vision for the communities are bylaws adopted as Official Community Plans (OCP). Land use regulations are bylaws adopted as zoning bylaws.
The Central Coast Regional District currently has land use bylaws in place in the Bella Coola Valley, or Electoral Areas C, D and E. They include a zoning bylaw, the Bella Coola Valley Official Community Plan, and a subdivision servicing bylaw.
Interested in completing an application to amend or re-zone a property? Find the application here. Parties may also be interested in consulting planning policies P-1, P-2 and P-3 for additional or procedural information.
If you own property in the Bella Coola Valley and you would like to rezone it, please complete the Application for Rezoning.
Subdivision Servicing and Control
Subdivisions in Electoral Areas C,D and E are governed by the Bella Coola Valley Subdivision Control Bylaw No.72 which was adopted in 1984. The authority for subdivision approval rests with the District Manager, Ministry of Transportation.
The approving officer may refuse to approve any subdivision of any parcel of land unless all the requirements of the subdivision bylaw and other applicable regulations have been observed. He or she may also refuse to approve a subdivision if any existing use on that particular parcel is non-conforming in respect to any other bylaw.
A subdivision means a division of land into two or more parcels, except that the words “subdivision plan” is also deemed to include a plan consolidating two or more parcels into a single parcel.
In any subdivision, the Central Coast Regional District stipulates that each parcel must be supplied with a sufficient supply of potable water by either being connected to a community water system, or by having proof of availability of sufficient groundwater sources to service the lots being created. The Regional District may also require the owner of the land being subdivided to provide, without compensation, land for public open space in locations and to the extend required by the approving officer for the purpose of providing sufficient open space within the proposed subdivision for park and public use.
Notwithstanding the other provisions of the subdivision bylaw, all lands within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), except those exempted, are subject to the provisions of the Agricultural Land Commission Act and regulations, thereby not permitting the subdivision of land and the development of new non-farm uses unless approved by the Agricultural Land Commission.
The Agricultural Land Commission Act sets the legislative framework for the establishment and administration of the agricultural land preservation program.
The ALR takes precedence over, but does not replace, other legislation and bylaws that may apply to the land. Local governments are expected to plan in accordance with the provincial policy of preserving agricultural land. It is the responsibility of the local government under section 21 of the Act, to forward applications to the Commission.
For further information on subdivisions within the Bella Coola Valley, or to obtain the forms necessary for a submission to the approving officer or the Agricultural Land Commission, contact the Central Coast Regional District administration office.
Zoning
The Bella Coola Valley Zoning Bylaw 71, first adopted in 1984, lays out the regulations for various land uses within Electoral Areas C, D and E in the Bella Coola Valley.
The general provisions of the Bella Coola Valley Zoning Bylaw state that land shall not be used and buildings and structures shall not be constructed, altered, located, moved, occupied or used contrary to the bylaw.
The zoning districts include agricultural, large holdings, small holdings, urban residential, two family residential, mobile home park residential, multiple family residential, general commercial, local commercial, heavy industrial, light industrial, and public and assembly.
The zoning regulations also cite the height and siting of buildings and structures, setback requirements, permitted uses, visibility requirements, home occupation requirements, and siting requirements for flood control purposes. Parking and loading provisions are also stipulated. Three of the more common zones are shown below. For a complete listing of all zones and relevant requirements, consult the zoning bylaw or contact the Central Coast Regional District administration office.
A-1 Agricultural District
Uses Permitted
- Agricultural
- Forestry
- Silviculture
- Residential camp
- Campground
- Single family dwelling
- Two family dwelling
- Home occupation
- Accessory buildings & uses
Lot Area
Not less than 2 hectares
Siting of Buildings
No structures less than 7 metres from a front or rear lot line, or 5 metres from a side lot line
Height of Buildings
Not to exceed 9 metres
Buildings per Lot
Not more than one residential use building shall be erected on one lot, except for lots with an area of 4 hectares or more where a maximum of two dwelling units is permitted.
R-1 Large Holdings District
Uses Permitted
- Agricultural
- Forestry
- Silviculture
- Residential camp
- Campground
- Single family dwelling
- Home occupation
- Accessory buildings & uses
Lot Area
Not less than 8,000 square metres
Siting of Buildings
No structures less than 7 metres from a front or rear lot line, or 5 metres from a side lot line
Height of Buildings
Not to exceed 9 metres
Buildings per Lot
Not more than one dwelling unit shall be erected on one lot, except for lots with an area of 4 hectares or more where a maximum of two dwelling units is permitted.
C-1 General Commercial District
Uses Permitted
- Commercial
- Assembly
- Entertainment
- Traveller accommodation
- Dwelling Units located within a commercial building
- Accessory residential use
- Accessory buildings and uses
Lot Area
Not less than 2,000 square metres
Siting of Buildings
No structures less than 3 metres from a front or rear lot line, or 2 metres from a side lot line, or 4.5 metres where the side lot line flanks a street, and no side lot line setback is required where abutting property is zoned commercial
Height of Buildings
Not to exceed 11 metres
Buildings per Lot
The maximum lot coverage shall be 60% of the lot area
Official Community Plan – Bella Coola Valley
The Bella Coola Valley Official Community Plan Bylaw sets the mid- to long-term vision for planned development in Electoral Areas C, D and E, from the Bella Coola town site in the west to Stuie in the east. The Plan provides a degree of certainty for residents and landowners about the location and nature of community change. It also serves as a guide for local government elected officials when they make decisions regarding development and zoning, and about providing services in a manner able to accommodate projected changes and growth.
An Official Community Plan can also provide communities with the certainty that they need in order to remain stable living environments, such as providing an overview of natural hazard areas, percentage of agricultural land, or locations of important wildlife migration corridors. The policies are intended to reflect a broad consensus of opinion melded into a framework for future development and a strategy for managing future growth.
The OCP may also be amended by bylaw adopted by the board, upon receipt of a written application from a proponent. These amendments generally require public hearings with public notice served through newspaper and other advertising.
The OCP applies to public and private lands in the valley outside of the Provincial Forest (Crown land) and does not apply to lands located within any federal Reserve governed by the Nuxalk Nation.
CCRD is currently updating its Official Community Plan. A committee of community volunteers and the Board Chair completed a review of the current plan, which was received by the Board in 2016, and grant funding was received in 2018 to complete the plan. Please check back to this web page for updates and Public Notices regarding opportunities for public input to this plan.