FAQs

Zoning Bylaws regulate how land, buildings and structures can be used and developed on a property. They help to ensure that land uses are compatible and there are consistent standards for property owners to follow. 

Zoning Bylaws can regulate the following things:

• Height of buildings;
• Home-based Businesses;
• Number of dwelling units permitted on a property; 
• Parking;
• Property sizes;
• Setbacks of buildings or structures from property lines;
• Size of buildings;
• Use of land (commercial, institutional, residential etc.);

For example:

Residential zoned properties are intended to be used for residential purposes and typically allow for accessory buildings (shops, sheds, greenhouses) to be located on a property along with a residential dwelling.

Agricultural zoned properties are intended to be used for agricultural purposes and typically allow for a residential dwelling and accessory buildings (both agricultural and residential) to be located on a property. 

Industrial zoned properties are intended to be used for industrial purposes such as heavy equipment sales and servicing of heavy equipment, oilfield services, bulk fuel sales etc. Industrial zoned properties typically have fewer restrictions on size and number of buildings or structures as they are for business purposes.

By zoning for different land uses we can help to reduce potential conflicts between different land uses, such as residential and industrial.

The PRRD has an interactive webmap that allows you to look up your property and find out what your property is zoned and which zoning bylaw applies. 

To look up your property's current zone:

1. Go to the webmap
2. Select "Search by Address" in the top menu bar
3. Enter your address and select "search" - the map will zoom to your property

Once you have found your property, to find what zone your property is and which zoning bylaw applies:

1. Select the "Layers" tab in the bottom left hand corner
2. Scroll down and select "Planning"
3. Right click anywhere on your property and select "Find Data on the Map"
4. Select "Zoning Bylaw XXXX" on the left hand side of the screen
5. The new tab that opens will show which zone your property is (ie. A-2, R-1, M-1) and will have a link to the applicable zoning bylaw where you can review all current regulations which apply to your property.

If you have any questions or need assistance finding your property, contact planning@prrd.bc.ca or call 250-784-3200. 

The Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) is a provincial designation that is intended to protect and preserve agricultural lands within the province of BC.

All lands within the ALR are subject to the Agricultural Land Commission Act and Regulations. Under the Act, agricultural uses take priority on lands within the ALR and most agricultural activities are protected and cannot be restricted by zoning bylaws. Agricultural activities on ALR lands that cannot be restricted include:

• Structures necessary for farm use (greenhouses, barns, equipment storage, hay sheds, etc.)
• Horse facilities (provided no more than 40 horses are boarded and there is no racetrack licenced by the BC Racing Commission)
• Storing, packing and processing of farm products (provided at least 50% of the product is produced on the farm)
• Retail sales of farm products (provided at least 50% of the products are produced on the farm)
• Agri-Tourism
• Alcohol Production

*NOTE: some of the uses above have specific regulations under the Act in order to qualify as a farm use. Please review the ALC Land Use Regulation for more information or contact planning@prrd.bc.ca or the PRRD office at 250-784-3200. 

While the ALC Act and Regulations support agricultural activities, there are restrictions around non-agricultural uses of ALR lands including:

• Number and size of residential dwellings on a property
• Accessory buildings for residential use (shops, garages)
• Removal of soil and placement of fill

As the ALC Act and Regulations are provincial regulations, the PRRD's zoning bylaw cannot contradict them. For example, we cannot permit additional residential dwellings on a property if the additional residential dwellings would not be allowed under the ALC Act and Regulations. 

If you want to do something on your property that isn't currently allowed under the ALC Act and Regulations, you may make an application to the Agricultural Land Commission.

Want to know if your property is within the ALR? 

The PRRD has an interactive webmap that allows you to look up your property and find out if it is within the ALR. 

To look up your property:

1. Go to the webmap
2. Select "Search by Address" in the top menu bar
3. Enter your address and select "search" - the map will zoom to your property

Once you have found your property, to find out if it is in the ALR:

1. Select the "Layers" tab in the bottom left hand corner
2. Scroll down and select "Planning"
3. If your property is within the ALR it should look like it's covered in small green dots and show "ALR" in green on the screen

If you have questions about the ALC Act and Regulations, contact planning@prrd.bc.ca or call us at 250-784-3200. 

The PRRD has seen an increase in residents looking to build larger accessory buildings (shops) than zoning currently permits. Based on this, we want to ensure that as we create a new zoning bylaw, the regulations meet the needs of residents. 

Comments received from members of the public around accessory building sizes include:

• Impact on the residential character of neighbourhoods
• Use of large shops for industrial or commercial types of businesses
• Need for secure and/or winter storage
• Ability to park a semi truck and trailer or RV inside 

Accessory Buildings include: 

• Detached Garages
• Shops
• Sheds larger than 20 m2
• Sea-cans

Farm buildings (buildings used for agricultural purposes) are NOT considered Accessory Buildings and do not count towards the maximum accessory building floor area. 

In 2024, the Province of BC enacted new legislation requiring all local governments to update their zoning bylaws to allow for additional dwelling units on residential properties. Under the new legislation the PRRD must allow a minimum of either a secondary suite or a detached suite on residential properties in addition to the principal residential dwelling (single detached dwelling). 

Secondary Suite means a self-contained dwelling unit located within the principal single detached dwelling.

Detached Suite means a dwelling unit located in an accessory building completely separate from the principal single detached dwelling on the same parcel.

Comments received from the public around additional dwelling units include:

• Desire to preserve the rural character by limiting number of dwelling units allowed on a property
• Need for additional dwellings for relatives and family members
• Need for affordable housing

The PRRD is working hard to ensure that a diversity of residential uses are permitted, while protecting our region's rural character.

Many of the bylaw enforcement files opened by the PRRD each year are related to home-based businesses. 

In order to ensure we are supporting businesses within the region, while protecting residents right to peaceful enjoyment of their rural properties, we need to better understand what residents like and don't like about home-based businesses in the region. 

*NOTE: Home-based business regulations do NOT apply to agricultural uses.

Comments received from the public around home-based businesses include:

• Cost of renting commercial or industrial shops/land is prohibitive for small businesses
• Small businesses are essential for the PRRD
• Noise, traffic, lights and dust are disruptive to residential areas
• Smells from oilfield-related businesses are impacting residents
• Outdoor storage is unsightly

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That would actually mean more red tape, increased costs and longer timelines for residents. If someone wants to do something that isn’t permitted by zoning they can always apply for a Development Variance Permit, Temporary Use Permit or Zoning Amendment. However, these applications all have a fee and take a minimum of 2 months and up to 1 year to process, depending on the application. 

The PRRD is committed to reducing red tape for residents, so having clear, updated rules for people to follow means that if someone wants to do a development that meets the zoning regulations, they don’t have to go through additional application processes. 

The PRRD's bylaw enforcement process is largely complaint driven and we can only conduct enforcement if there is a rule (ie. bylaw regulation) which is not being followed.

If there are no bylaws or regulations, the PRRD cannot conduct enforcement. 

For more information on our enforcement policies and processes contact bylaw.enforcement@prrd.bc.ca

Without zoning anyone would be able to do anything they wanted, anywhere. 

The PRRD wouldn’t be able to enforce on noxious or hazardous land uses in residential areas, because there would be no rules for us to enforce. That’s right, someone could build a giant processing plant which operates 24 hours a day right beside your house! 

We heard lots of comments around using “common sense” through the first survey, but what may be common sense for one property owner, may not be common sense for their neighbour. Zoning helps ensure that everyone knows the rules, what is allowed on their property and within their neighbourhood and helps to protect a persons right to the peaceable enjoyment of their land.