The Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1001, 2010 (as amended) is the overriding document that governs land use in the District of Houston, as in most BC municipalities, and is generally enacted under the provisions of the
Local Government Act. The OCP sets out the principle policies for growth in Houston, including a generalized land use plan and guidelines for various development permit areas. Because the OCP designates land area for different future uses, it is sometimes confused with a Zoning Bylaw. However, the OCP is quite general in nature and is intended more to outline future land use patterns, rather than present land use patterns.
The OCP was adopted by bylaw in 2010 following a series of public information sessions and a formal public hearing. It can only be amended or replaced by bylaw, again following a public hearing. Although the OCP allows considerable room for interpretation, the Municipal Council cannot enact any other bylaw or policy which is not in compliance with the OCP unless the current OCP is amended or replaced. Our current OCP was amended in 2019 by the Official Community Plan Amending Bylaw No. 1111, 2019.
In addition to setting future land use patterns, the OCP also designates certain sensitive areas within the municipality, which can only be built on or subdivided after first obtaining a development permit from Council.
More detailed information can be found on the BC Government's Official Community Plans for Local Government webpage.
Official Community Plan Policies & Objectives
Note: Click on the section or regulation you would like to know about for more information. The full Official Community Plan can be viewed at our online Document Center, but may take longer to load.